Ford unveils new made-in-India 1.5L Ti-VCT petrol engine

Ford has unveiled its new 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine. The new power plant will make its debut on the upcoming EcoSport facelift. It will be manufactured at Ford's Sanand plant and will also be exported to other markets. The engine is 80% localized. 

The new 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder, naturally aspirated engine delivers a peak output of 121 BHP and churns out 150 Nm of torque. It uses an aluminium block and has an integrated exhaust manifold that helps reduce emissions.

It also features variable valve timing (Ti-VCT) and optimized bore and stroke ratios. The crankshaft sits offset from the cylinder centerline. The spark plugs are centered for efficient and a coil-on-plug system is used. Ford claims that it delivers better combustion and aids for quicker engine starts.

According to Ford, downsizing the 1.5-litre unit from 4-cylinders to 3-cylinders has reduced the overall weight, lowered friction and the engine's overall volume is down by 10 percent. The company also claims that the CO2 emissions are down by 7%. A variable oil pump helps reduce frictional loses and improves fuel economy.

To lower NVH, the engine's balance shaft uses hydrodynamic bearings and a belt-in oil primary drive system. A valve actuation system with hydraulic lash adjusters and roller finger followers reduces friction while an acoustic-isolation system is claimed to cut down on engine noise even further.