Small size, big brawn

A modern Formula One engine produces 700+ hp from a 1.6 liter engine. When you think of the technology trickling down to road cars from motorsport, the concept of making big power from small displacement engines is probably one of the most significant.
For the Americans, gone are the days of 6000cc V8s producing a little over 150hp. There is a replacement for displacement, as the need for appealing to a larger, more global market are forcing these behemoth engines to be reduced in size. And as far as global American brands go, Ford is right up there at the top.
Ford's operations in Bangladesh started a long time back. Due to a range of market friendly models being introduced into the global Ford lineup, their business is fast picking up.
Take their Ecosport, for example. One of the most eye-catching engine options for the Ecosport min-SUV is the 1.0 liter EcoBoost engine. Currently unavailable in Bangladesh (Ford's dealership in Dhaka confirmed with us that they are looking into bringing the 1.0 to Bangladesh), the 1.0 liter EcoBoost is making waves elsewhere. A tiny 3 cylinder turbocharged unit, the smallest EcoBoost engine generates 123 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque from 1300 to 5300 RPM, surprising figures considering the fact that the engine's cylinder head assembly can fit on a regular A4 sized piece of paper. And guess what? The displacement to power ratio is the same as the Bugatti Veyron, and it has the highest torque per liter figures of any engine in Ford's lineup ever made.
What are the benefits of tiny engines with good power figures? Besides the low fuel costs and less emissions, a smaller engine can yield a low center of gravity for the car which gives it better handling and stability, reduced proportions for the body for a city car, and further improved front impact zones for safety.
Manufacturers like VW, BMW, Mazda and more have successfully experimented with the concept of small engines producing similar power figures to larger, heavier engines. The Wankel Rotary, the marvel it is, is probably the only alternative to conventional piston power. Almost all of BMW's lineup of small engines are turbocharged, and Volkswagen found a unique mix in its TSi engines, combining a supercharger and turbocharger to reduce low RPM lag usually associated with a small, turbocharged engine. However, Ford's entry into the foray is possibly even more significant, considering the beleaguered US manufacturers are looking for a way out of financial red zones, and small efficient cars for the global market might just be the solution.

Look for a review of the Ford EcoSport in an upcoming issue of Shift.