Lincoln MKC Debuts With The 2.3 Liter EcoBoost We’re Waiting For

lincoln-mkcEver since Ford first announced its new line of turbocharged, direct-injected engines known as EcoBoost, the question has been “So when does the Mustang get one?” While we hoped against hope that the current S197 Mustang would get an EcoBoost engine, it just wasn’t meant to be. Instead we’ll have to wait for the 2015 Mustang, set to debut next month with a rumored 2.3 liter EcoBoost engine slotted between the standard V6 and beefy V8.

It seems like the rumors just might be true, as last week the Lincoln MKC crossover debuted with a 2.3 liter EcoBoost engine making 275 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 300 ft-lbs of torque at just 3,000 RPM. This evolution of the 2.0 liter EcoBoost found in, among other things the Focus ST, could herald the long-awaited return of the Mustang SVO, at least in spirit.

Ford-2.0-liter-EcoBoost-2So far Ford’s most powerful four-cylinder engine is the 2.0 liter EcoBoost, which makes as much as 252 horsepower and 270 ft-lbs of torque in the Focus ST. That’s plenty of power for a hot hatchback, but buyers expect more from the Mustang. This 2.3 liter EcoBoost engine could be the answer to the four-cylinder Mustang question, though the increase in displacement isn’t the only improvement Ford made.

Ford engineers set out to improve performance all around, and the two most important improvements were the three-port integrated exhaust manifold and a new twin-scroll turbocharger. The exhaust manifold design has been incorporated into the cylinder head making the two one piece. The design improves airflow by keeping the exhaust gases from the inner and outer cylinders separate, reducing backflow and allowing for virtually zero turbo lag, one of the main drawbacks of a turbocharged engine. Ford engineers say that the design also allows the exhaust valves to remain open longer than on traditional designs, improving engine efficiency.

These advances resulted in about a 15% improvement all around in power, though there is almost certainly more power left on the table. If Ford could free up say, another 25 or so horsepower, this new 2.3 liter EcoBoost engine could make an attractive alternative to the larger-displacement engines the Mustang is known for. We expect to see a hotter version of this engine in the next Mustang, although official details have yet to confirm that. With the engine debuting just weeks before the reveal of the all new 2015 Mustang we can be fairly certain that this is one of the engine’s in the 2015 Mustang lineup.

 

About the author

Chris Demorro

Christopher DeMorro is a freelance writer and journalist from Connecticut with two passions in life; writing and anything with an engine.
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