Ford investing $500M in engine plant for 2.7L EcoBoost production

Sun, 30 Mar 2014

Ohio is a hot area for Ford at the moment with the announcement just a few weeks ago that production of the next-generation F-650/F-750 medium-duty trucks would move from Mexico to the Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, Ohio. Now, Ford is investing $500 million to hire 300 workers at its Lima Engine Plant in Lima, Ohio, to add production of the twin-turbo 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 for the 2015 F-150.

The latest investment will be used to add a new flexible engine assembly system and renovate 700,000 square feet of the plant for machining and assembly areas. The Lima factory already builds Ford's 3.5-liter and 3.7-liter Duratec V6 engines. The plant opened in 1957, and it's on track to build its 40 millionth engine later this year.

Ford claims that the 2.7-liter EcoBoost will offer V8 performance with better efficiency in the F-150. It comes standard with intelligent stop/start that doesn't activate when the truck is towing or in four-wheel drive, and it's made from a combination of compacted graphite iron and aluminum for low weight and high strength. The company says that V6 engines have already proven popular in the F-150 with 57 percent of trucks in 2014 being equipped with either the naturally aspirated 3.7-liter or turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost engines.

The new F-150 is scheduled to hit the market in the fourth quarter of this year, and it will be offered with the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6, 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and 5.0-liter V8. Scroll down to read the full press release.

FORD INVESTS $500 MILLION IN OHIO ENGINE PLANT, CREATES 300 JOBS TO BUILD ALL-NEW 2.7-LITER ECOBOOST FOR 2015 F-150

28/03/14
Ford investing $500 million to add 300 jobs and upgrade Lima Engine Plant in Lima, Ohio, to support production of the all-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost® engine for the 2015 F-150

Latest EcoBoost technology in an all-new lightweight design provides extremely high output coupled with standard truck-optimized Auto Start-Stop

2.7-liter V6 EcoBoost delivers the performance of a mid-range V8 with greater efficiency, and builds on strong sales of V6 engine-equipped F-150

Ford Motor Company will invest $500 million to upgrade its Lima Engine Plant and add 300 new jobs to support production of the all-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost® specifically engineered for the next-generation 2015 Ford F-150.

The high-output, twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 EcoBoost with standard Auto Start-Stop features an entirely new design that delivers power and performance in a stronger, smarter package.

This new EcoBoost engine builds on recording-breaking customer demand for F-150 pickups equipped with V6 engines. In fact, 57 percent of new customers in 2014 have opted for either a 3.7-liter V6 or 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost to power their new F-150. Since 2010, retail registrations of light-duty pickups with V6 engines have grown more than 600 percent, with Ford F-150 directly responsible for 91 percent of this growth, according to Ford analysis of Polk retail new vehicle registration data from IHS Automotive.

"Our truck customers have spoken, and we continue to meet their evolving needs by providing another V6 option in the all-new 2015 F-150," said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. "The hardworking team at Lima Engine is thrilled to begin building one of the most technologically advanced engines ever designed for America's No. 1 truck."

Ford's investment in Lima follows an announcement in early March that the company will shift production of Ford F-650/F-750 medium-duty trucks from Mexico to Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, in the Cleveland area, early next year.

Lima Engine Plant
Lima Engine Plant produces the 3.5-liter and 3.7-liter Duratec® V6 engines for multiple Ford vehicles including Edge and Explorer utilities, as well as the Lincoln MKX crossover, MKT utility and MKZ sedan. The $500 million investment will go to a new flexible engine assembly system and renovation of 700,000 square feet of the facility for machining and assembly functions.

Lima Engine Plant Fact Sheet

"Lima Engine has kept Ford and Lincoln vehicles running for nearly 60 years," said Bruce Hettle, Ford vice president, North America manufacturing. "Bringing production of the new 2.7-liter EcoBoost to Lima Engine Plant helps build a solid future both for Ford and the dedicated workers in Ohio."

Lima Engine Plant, which opened in 1957, employs more than 900 people and is one of the largest employers in Allen County. On March 13, the 3-millionth Duratec V6 was built there, and later this year the 40-millionth engine produced at the plant will roll off the assembly line.

"The new jobs at Lima Engine Plant will be a major boost to the community, and continue F-150's reputation as one of the most American-made vehicles," said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president, National Ford Department. "It's especially exciting that these jobs will go to support a new technology like the 2.7-liter EcoBoost for the all-new F-150."

All-new 2.7-liter Ford EcoBoost
The high-output, twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 EcoBoost features a new design that delivers power and performance in a strong and smart package for the 2015 Ford F-150.

2015 Ford F-150 2.7L EcoBoost

Standard Auto Start-Stop technology boosts fuel efficiency and is specially tuned for truck customers. Auto Start-Stop turns the engine off automatically when the vehicle is at a stop – except when towing or in four-wheel-drive mode. The engine quickly restarts once the driver releases the brake.

The materials used to make the new V6 EcoBoost enable its fuel efficiency. The engine uses a compacted graphite iron engine block, the same material used in Ford's 6.7-liter Power Stroke® turbo-diesel V8. The composite of compacted graphite iron and aluminum saves weight while providing strength where it's needed most for durability.

All-new 2015 Ford F-150
The all-new 2015 Ford F-150 is tougher, smarter and more capable than ever. It's completely redesigned – establishing a new standard for full-sized pickups by bringing together improved capability, fuel efficiency and cutting-edge smart vehicle technology.

Using advanced materials – including more high-strength steel than ever in the frame and high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy throughout the body – improves durability while saving as much as 700 pounds, giving truck customers greater towing, payload and fuel efficiency performance.

2015 Ford F-150 Platinum

When it goes on sale late this year, the all-new Ford F-150 will have undergone more than 10 million miles of torture testing to ensure it meets or exceeds Built Ford Tough standards.

Along with the all-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost, the new F-150 will feature a complete lineup of powertrains to let customers tailor the nation's best-selling truck to their needs. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine returns, an all-new normally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 debuts and there is an improved 5.0-liter V8.

EcoBoost leadership
In the three years since Ford launched the 3.5-liter EcoBoost in F-150, the company has sold more than 2 million EcoBoost-powered vehicles; EcoBoost is now the most recognized fuel-efficient engine among consumers.

Ford sells approximately 100,000 EcoBoost vehicles monthly around the world, equating to roughly one out of five Ford vehicles sold.

EcoBoost has been a resounding hit with truck buyers, delivering V8-like power along with outstanding towing capability and V6 fuel efficiency. Since 2011, Ford has sold more than 450,000 F-150 trucks equipped with EcoBoost. Through the first two months of 2014, the V6 EcoBoost engine has accounted for approximately 46 percent of F-150 sales.

ABOUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 181,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

By Chris Bruce