1.0-EcoBoost Race Car Visits Australia

**russellw** · 09-08-2013, 07:13 PM

Unique Formula Ford race car makes its first appearance in Australia

Unique road-legal racer records the 11th fastest lap ever at the Nürburgring’s famed Nordschleife circuit – 7 minutes, 22 seconds

1.0-litre EcoBoost-powered Formula Ford boasts an unofficial top speed of 255.5 km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of less than four seconds

SYDNEY, 09 Aug, 2013 – Ford’s tiny but feisty 1.0-litre EcoBoost open-wheeler race car has made a quick dash to Australia after winning rave reviews across Europe and on the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.
The diminutive race car has scored one of the fastest lap times ever at Germany’s famous circuit, proving that EcoBoost technology is a replacement for displacement.

“We built this road-legal race car to demonstrate the outer limits of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost in terms of performance and fuel efficiency,” according to Ford President and CEO, Bob Graziano.

“Once you experience the innovative 1.0-litre EcoBoost’s blend of performance and economy, everything else seems old school.”

Although the 1.0-litre EcoBoost-powered Formula Ford car isn’t available to buy, Ford has brought the car to Australia for the Go Further event on August 13.
Ford customers will soon be able to experience the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine in both the new Ford Fiesta and the all-new Ford EcoSport SUV.

By the end of 2013, almost 80 per cent of Ford’s global nameplates will be available with fuel-efficient EcoBoost technology.

Australian customers are already experiencing EcoBoost technology in the Focus ST, Mondeo, Falcon, and Ford Kuga SUV. The new Fiesta ST, on sale from September, also sports this premium engine technology.

Last September, the one-of a-kind, road-legal version of the Formula Ford single-seat racer completed the lap of the Nürburgring circuit in 7 minutes, 22 seconds to register the 11th fastest time ever on the circuit – a performance that puts it ahead of a host of Italian supercars.

The car’s unofficial top speed is tipped to be around 255.5 km/h with a 0-100 km/h time of less than four seconds. The vehicle completed the 20.832 km Nordschleife circuit at an average speed of 169 km/h.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost-powered race car beat previously recorded fastest times of many supercars including the 515 kW Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, the 485 kW Ferrari Enzo and the 442 kW Pagani Zonda. No other three- or even four-cylinder car has posted a faster time at the legendary circuit.

In-house testing also showed the 1.0-litre EcoBoost-powered Formula Ford is capable of extremely frugal fuel economy, delivering 2.4 litres / 100 km at 56 km/h, and 5 litres / 100 km at 120 km/h.

Ford engineers have led several months of work on the project to switch the Formula Ford’s usual 134 kW1.6-litre EcoBoost power unit with a specially tuned 152 kW version of the company’s global 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, recently named “2013 International Engine of the Year” for the second year in a row.

The project team also modified the vehicle so it would be fully street legal for on-road use by fitting it with wheel covers, front and rear lights and indicators, aerodynamically designed wing mirrors and a horn. The car is fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox and was driven on road-legal tyres.

**Fordman1** · 09-08-2013, 07:47 PM

This will have zero impact on sales here, unless it is done well.

FOA will stuff this up too.

4stanger · 09-08-2013, 07:54 PM

I'll buy one for $11990 drive away, no more to pay, on road, 3 year warranty etc.

Fordman · 09-08-2013, 08:02 PM

That looks tough

pauljh74 · 09-08-2013, 08:08 PM

Fifth Gear did a test of the Focus Ecoboost. They did a drag race against the 1.6 litre N/A version and the 1.6 got the jump, but the Ecoboost ran it down and then drove away by a few car lengths. So in terms of replacing the larger 1.6 litre, it appears to be up for the job.

malazn mafia · 10-08-2013, 01:17 AM

Looks simple enough for broadmeadows or Geelong to screw together , they probably could get by with a team of 10 and a small garage

. Screw mustang, replace falcon with this bad boy and make the FT86 look like the toy car it really is and for half price

No need to engineer for RHD or LHD.

**GasoLane** · 10-08-2013, 10:24 AM

The ideal P platers car.

Small 1L engine.

Not a V8.

Can't carry nasty distracting passengers.

And with 'Eco' in the name Political parties would it's another Prius.

GASWAGON · 10-08-2013, 09:19 PM

Hmmm ...Wonder if they'll run it around Phillip Island a few times lol! Would love to see what lap it does there...

2011G6E · 11-08-2013, 02:15 AM

I fail to see a problem registering that...it has lights, it has tread on the tyres (which, incidentally, look to be of a sensible size that wouldn't mean you had to be bent over too badly every time you went to pay for new ones), it has wheel-covering fenders.
In basic design it's really no more radical than half the street rods and T-buckets running around the place now. Plenty of hot rod companies could spit out bodies like that in no time using modern fiberglass and CF manufacture.

Those of us of a "certain age" will be amazed at little (physically and in capacity) engines like the 1.0ltr Ecoboost and the power being wrung out of them even in street form...what are they, 92kw standard?
I mean, parked outside my house I have my 1982 Celica which, in it's day, put out a perfectly normal (for the era) 60kw out of its 2ltr engine and probably using three times the fuel or more than that tiny little Ecoboost...

GASWAGON · 12-08-2013, 12:24 AM

Does anyone know if they will run this around Eastern Creek raceway.....Would be great way to advertise the mighty 1.0....And I would looooove to see what sorta times it can do there!

#Russ#Es# · 12-08-2013, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EF_6

Does anyone know if they will run this around Eastern Creek raceway.....Would be great way to advertise the mighty 1.0....And I would looooove to see what sorta times it can do there!

I would love to see this too. I drove a Formula Ford there last Friday (1600cc kent motor) and that was fast, the EB version looks insane!

Noddy · 12-08-2013, 10:07 PM

Here's a good vid of said car in action. Boooost!!

If the link doesn't work just search Chris Harris On Cars.

It was shot recently, it's well worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmZMwk14r4c

GASWAGON · 13-08-2013, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #Russ#Es#

I would love to see this too. I drove a Formula Ford there last Friday (1600cc kent motor) and that was fast, the EB version looks insane!

Ah o.k what sorta times did you do in the kent? What you reckon the Ecoboost would do around E/C?

**GasoLane** · 13-08-2013, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Those of us of a "certain age" will be amazed at little (physically and in capacity) engines like the 1.0ltr Ecoboost and the power being wrung out of them even in street form...

You mean like the old 3 cylinder 2 stroke SAAB 95 and 96's that killed everything on the rally circuits back in the 60's-70's

#Russ#Es# · 14-08-2013, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EF_6

Ah o.k what sorta times did you do in the kent? What you reckon the Ecoboost would do around E/C?

Oh nothing hugely competitive, was just one of those drive days. Damn fun though! I know the Duratec 1600 was 4 secs a lap faster than the Kent so the EcoBoost would easily shave a few seconds again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noddy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmZMwk14r4c

That video is insane, thanks for sharing!

GASWAGON · 14-08-2013, 04:53 PM

Ah o.k.....well Ford Oz really should be having an 'open day' with this car and doing a few laps so people can see it in action.