Ford Unveils Made For India 1.5-litre Ti-VCT Petrol Engine

Ford’s new 1.5-litre Ti-VCT petrol motor belongs to the Dragon family of engines and will make its debut under the hood of the Ecosport later this year.

Ford has today unveiled their brand new Made For India, Made In India engine. This new 1.5-litre engine belongs to the latest Dragon family and will replace the existing 1.5-litre 4-cylinder unit across the Ford range. The 1.5-litre Ti-VCT engine is a 3-cylinder unit that is lighter than before and offers 7 percent more fuel economy. It develops a class leading 123 PS and 150 Nm. The tried and trusted Ti-VCT (Twin independent Variable Camshaft Timing) system on the new engine allows each intake and exhaust cam to function independently of each other as operating conditions change. This delivers faster throttle response and better fuel efficiency. Meanwhile, the engine’s bore and stroke ratios have been optimised to produce higher torque at lower engine speeds.

the all-new 1.5-litre Ti-VCT engine will offer a seven percent reduction in CO2 emissions, through reductions in weight and size, as well as the application of new technologies. The engine downsizes from four cylinders to a three-in-line formation, resulting in decreased weight, lower friction and is expected to deliver an overall 10 percent reduction in volume. The aluminium engine block and cylinder head contribute to substantial weight reduction and better fuel economy. The exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head helps to heat up the catalyst faster, decreasing emissions. The variable oil pump can operate at a lower pressure at slower speeds with reduced friction loss, providing higher fuel economy.

This motor being a 3-cylinder, will suffer from higher NVH levels. But Ford has applied some innovative techniques to keep it to a minimum. The engine’s balance shaft is supported by hydrodynamic bearings and works to eliminate natural first-order vibrations typical in standard three-cylinder engines. A belt-in oil primary drive system contributes to further reductions in both noise and friction. Other NVH improvements include Valve actuation system with hydraulic lash adjusters and roller finger followers and Acoustic-isolation system that cuts down on engine noise.