Wednesday 10th October 2012

Ecoboost Formula Ford coming?

Limited edition, road-legal version of the Ecoboost Formula Ford could be built

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Could this be the least sensible Ford ever to come out of a showroom? The company has told us that it is considering selling road-going versions of the one-off Formula Ford car powered by the one-litre Ecoboost turbo engine that recently blitzed the Nurburgring in 7 minutes 22.

"It's certainly feasible and we're looking at the possibility," a spokesman told us.

Road legal? Are you sure? Apparently...

The figures are certainly tempting. The Nurburgring car makes 205hp in a 420kg chassis and Ford claims a 0-60mph of below four seconds. It's even said to return 57mpg at 75mph. The engine could make up to 220hp according to engineers, but even if the production version was throttled back a bit, there would be still little to touch it.

But come on Ford, we know this one is road-legal, but you can't really be serious about sticking it showrooms next to the S-Max, can you?

"There's been much talk about whether we do a limited run of 50 cars. We are looking at it." confirms Roger Ratley, petrol calibration manager and one of the lead engineers on the project. He admits to a "whole host of issues" such as needing to subcontract out the production, but there was definitely a collective gleam in the eye of engineers and marketing men at the event we were told this.

It's mainly to show off the one-litre three-cylinder turbo unit, most recently revealed for the Focus and B-Max. The hike in power from 125hp to 205 was achieved simply by bolting on the bigger turbo from the 1.6 Ecoboost engine.

Max revs were increased to 7,500rpm by removing the heavy dual-mass flywheel (fitted to improve refinement and reduce gear rattle) and replace it with a lightweight steel version. It was dry-sumped and that was about it.

Look, it's got a numberplate and everything!

Ford says there's no plan to replace the 1.6-litre Ecoboost engines currently running in Formula Ford cars, but this does have the advantage of being about 32kg lighter, largely down to the loss of a cylinder.

Of course the engine in road going applications is all about trying to give a petrol the economy and torque of a diesel, but that frugal thinking helped here. "Everything we did to make it lightweight and economical, for example low friction, helps with producing more power. Put a big turbo on it, help it breathe and it just goes," Ratley told us.

But aren't small, high-powered engines a nightmare to tune reliably? Wrong, we're told. For a start it's a turbo, so the engine is already built to withstand high temperatures. But the biggest reason is that it's built to a global spec. "We have to sign it off to run on rubbish fuel, in 40 degrees C temperatures, towing a caravan up a hill with five people and a dog. To some extent it's been compromised." says Ratley. "World engines are very tuneable."

 

[DanDC5]

They could make a lot more of these and I think they'd sell. I want one.

[J-P]

I think so, too. I'd love one as my track car - what an absolute riot!

[kambites]

I doubt they'd make any money on them, but it'd be a wonderful loss-leader.

I'd love something like this as a summer commuter vehicle.

[MarJay]

Legendary. If I was in the market for a track car this would be at the top of my list!

[Aizle]

So, estimates on how much Ford would sell these at.

1) A limited run of 50.
2) Supply to meet demand (many more?)

I'll open the bidding at £30k

[TheDeadPrussian]

Where do I sign? I'll take one.
And with MSV insisting upon Track Days being for road registered cars that are driven to the circuit only, this would fit the bill nicely...

[chuntington101]

Aizle said:

So, estimates on how much Ford would sell these at.

1) A limited run of 50.
2) Supply to meet demand (many more?)

I'll open the bidding at £30k

Ford sell the race chassis and 1.6ecoboost engines for about £50K at present! I would guess the price would be higher than £30.

[kambites]

I'd be amazed if it came in at under £50k, and I suspect they'd still happily sell a run of 50 of them at that price.

[Mastodon2]

kambites said:

I

I'd love something like this as a summer commuter vehicle.

No you wouldn't, you'd moan constantly about the "poor throttle response" and how it "didn't fit the car".

[kambites]

Mastodon2 said:

No you wouldn't, you'd moan constantly about the "poor throttle response" and how it "didn't fit the car".

True, I'd rather it was normally aspirated, but sadly such things seem to be coming to an end. I could live with the turbo for the rest of the package.

Maybe they'll produce an electric one. That would be a fantastic commuter machine.

[J4CKO]

Cool, looks like Technic Lego.

[GroundEffect]

Aizle said:

So, estimates on how much Ford would sell these at.

1) A limited run of 50.
2) Supply to meet demand (many more?)

I'll open the bidding at £30k

No chance.

[Boydie88]

DanDC5 said:

They could make a lot more of these and I think they'd sell. I want one.

Yep. Can't help but think it could be made very cheaply if they made more of them. There's nothing to it.

I love my VX for 40 mpg commuting on twisty road, but this thing would be even better... might have to invest in some serious thermals though.

[Uncle John]

I'm saving already...

[Krikkit]

Love it! No matter how many they build they get kudos from me, what a thing!

[M@1975]

I think my erm.. success ballast would prohibit ownershi9p of one of these.

[CBR JGWRR]

Yes please!!!

[Matt UK]

Watch out Caterham...

[Krikkit]

M@1975 said:

I think my erm.. success ballast would prohibit ownershi9p of one of these.

[DaveH23]

Is this going to be the most expensive 1.0 Litre engined car ever? Impressive BHP figures for a 1.0 litre aswell.

Looks like you could have alot of fun in it though.

If I had the money it would be my daily, cant be anyworse than what I already drive.