Ford India has launched an all-new 1.5-litre Ti-VCT Petrol Engine in India. This engine codenamed as Dragon will be made at the company’s manufacturing and assembling factory at Sanand, Gujarat and will be introduced to the market with the launch of the new Ford EcoSport later this year.
The new 3-cylinder naturally aspirated 1.5-litre Ti-VCT Petrol Engine produces a peak output of 123 PS (90.5 kW) at 6500 rpm and maximum torque output of 150 Nm at 4500 rpm. This new engine will be mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission. When compared to the I4 engine this new I3 engine produced 10% more power and 7% more torque.
The Sanand plant will be manufacturing this new engine both for domestic production as well as exports across the world. The engine is heavily localized and has more than 80% of its parts sourced from Indian suppliers. The engineering team at Ford India has steered the development of the new engine with key insights at every stage – from design, development to production.
“Ford’s promise to give the power of choice to consumers in India today is not just limited to the world-class product portfolio. We are proud to offer some of the most efficient, and advanced powertrains – ranging from 1.0 Litre EcoBoost to 5.0 Litre V8,” said Anurag Mehrotra, president and managing director of Ford India.
“With India taking the lead in producing our new, highly advanced petrol engines, we remain committed to making in India and bring products and technologies that Indian customers want and value,” further added Mr. Mehrotra.
Downsizing the engine from 4-cylinder to 3-cylinder has resulted in decreased weight, lower friction and an overall 10 percent reduction in volume. The aluminium engine block and cylinder head contribute to substantial weight reduction which leads to better fuel economy. The exhaust manifold has been integrated into the cylinder head and helps to heat up the catalyst faster, decreasing emissions. The new engine achieves 7% decrease in Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) and CO2 emissions.
The All-New petrol engine is equipped with Twin independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) system which allows each intake and exhaust cam to function independently of each other as operating conditions change. Thus, delivering faster throttle response and better fuel efficiency.
The All-New 1.5-litre Ti-VCT Petrol Engine is also equipped with a double stage variable oil pump that can operate at a lower pressure at slower speeds with reduced friction loss, providing higher fuel economy.
Other optimised measures for better fuel efficiency include Crankshaft off-set from cylinder center line, which improves both performance and fuel efficiency. It also gets Centered spark plugs that promotes more standardized and efficient combustion and Coil-on-plug system which delivers better combustion and quicker engine start.
The all-new Ti-VCT engine has been designed and fine-tuned to deliver a quieter, smoother and more relaxing experience for occupants. The engine’s balance shaft is supported by hydrodynamic bearings which works to eliminate natural first-order vibrations that is 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 to reduce friction and Acoustic-isolation system which helps to cut down on engine noise.
Ford 1.5L Ti-VCT Petrol Dragon Engine Image Gallery:
Ford 1.5L Ti-VCT Petrol Dragon Engine Specifications:
No. of cylinders: 3 Inline Cylinders
Compression Ratio: 11:1
Displacement: 1497 cc
Max. Engine output: 123 PS / 90.5kW @ 6500 rpm
Max. Torque: 150 Nm @ 4500 rpm
Bore: 84 mm
Stroke: 90 mm
