ecoboost new orleans | Lamarque Ford

Ford Tuning Via Your Car’s Computer | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

December 24, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Vehicles have always been subject to tuning or after market modification, either to change their appearance or to enhance the engine and its parts. Ford is introducing a new way to tune cars taking advantage of computer-controlled engines. Thanks to the implementation of EcoBoost and custom software, the company is calling this move a new revolution in the way we interact with our vehicles.

The system, Ford says, is really straight forward: since a computer already controls every aspect of your car’s engine, the company is giving access to modifications via a handset. The advanced technology in EcoBoost engines controls direct injection, variable cam timing and turbo-charging, which give these engines its superior performance and fuel efficiency as from-factory tuning. However, the new system allows for tuning professionals to tweak different attributes that make significant performance gains without adding new parts.

The handset is being distributed through Ford Racing and is already available at FordRacing.com for Focus ST and Fiesta ST. By simply plugging in the device into the car’s diagnostic port, owners have access to a myriad of characteristics of the car’s performance like spark plugs timing, turbo, wastegate control, idle speed, throttle and more. Modifying different engine parameters has never been easier, thanks to the new hand-held programmers.

One of the less obvious benefits is that when used within recommended limits, vehicles will still remain under Ford’s limited warranty. The company is also working with professional tuners to develop high quality parts that will take Fords to the next level. For instance, Ford reported gains of up to 90 lb. of torque in the Focus ST without voiding the warranty, and similar results for Fiesta ST and Mustang EcoBoost. Ford is readying similar devices for other EcoBoost engines in its line-up.

By introducing this new computer-based tuning, Ford is empowering more customers and shops to truly test the limits of the new EcoBoost engines, now available in every model. It seems like all the pieces of Ford’s new global strategy are falling into place.

Visit us at the dealership or online to check out our current inventory and test drive an EcoBoost engine today.

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Lamarque Ford is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in New Orleans, LA. Located in Kenner, LA, Lamarque Ford is committed to providing you the best customer service and vehicle service for the life of your vehicle. Whether you’re on the market to purchase, finance, or service a new or used Ford vehicle, you’ve come to the right place.

Ford EcoBoost Engine Family | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

December 22, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

EcoBoost engines are now available on every nameplate of the Ford family and as a result, the company offers an unparalleled selection of green vehicles. Customers wanted a wider selection of options that did not sacrifice performance to achieve better fuel efficiency, and EcoBoost did just that. Today, EcoBoost engines are present across the board, from the smallest Ford Fiesta to the powerful F-150. Let’s look at these models and their features and how they stack up against their predecessors.

Earlier in the decade, car manufacturers struggled to find a solution to the fuel efficiency dilemma, and many sacrificed performance or drivability to get better numbers. By relying heavily on either diesel or hybrid models, the industry shifted away from improving gasoline engines. Ford, however, developed a strategy that could help consumers save at the pump with refined versions of smaller gas engines: EcoBoost relies on turbo-chargers and other small changes to get equal or better performance than bigger blocks.

One of Ford’s first EcoBoost applications was the Fiesta, the popular sub-compact which relied on a small 4-cylinder engine. For the 2015 model, Fiesta offers two EcoBoost options. The smallest is a 3-cylinder gas-sipper, rated at 36 MPG combined and 126 horsepower, which outperforms the four-cylinder base model in every category (31 MPG combined and 120 HP). The second is a performance focused four-cylinder EcoBoost, which outputs an astonishing 197 horsepower and gets an impressive 29 MPG combined. The three-cylinder EcoBoost also won Ford an engine of the year award in 2013.

Ford also infused its compact, mid-size, and full-size sedans with EcoBoost. The company focuses on fuel efficiency for low-end models and performance for its top-of-the-line stock. Most notably, the performance version Taurus SHO uses a powerful V6 EcoBoost with a 365 horsepower output, rivaling even some competitors’ sports cars. Taurus SHO achieves its impressive performance thanks to a unique engine architecture, twin-turbocharged.

Ford is betting the future of the company on its EcoBoost technology, so much is now introducing it to the most important nameplates: Mustang and F-150. That’s right, EcoBoost has come a long way and Ford engineers are confident the four-cylinder is ready for a performance-first car. The 2.3 engine produces up to 310 horsepower, outperforming its base V6 sibling by 10 HP. When was the last time your sports car got a 22 city/30 highway MPG rating?

Finally, EcoBoost’s most impressive feat is to power Ford’s workhorse, the F-150. Although the top-performer is still Ford’s 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 engine, it only outperforms the largest EcoBoost by 20 horsepower. The 3.5 EcoBoost produces 365 HP and an impressive 420 lb. of torque, a 33 lb. improvement over the V8. Also, the smaller V6 EcoBoost gets 325 HP and 375 lb. of torque, beating the V6 base model.

So, what do you think? Would you give an EcoBoost a shot? Visit our website to look at our current EcoBoost inventory.

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2015 F-150 Engine Recap | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

July 25, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Whether you need to transport your tools or tow your trailer, the 2015 Ford F-150 has a range of engine choices to meet your needs; now adding two new engines to their existing line-up.

One of the new configurations is the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine. It has twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) that has incredible power to tow as much as 7,600 pounds, 1,910 pounds of payload, 283 horsepower, and 255 lb./ft. of torque. However, the model that has everyone talking is the high-output 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, which is as powerful as a V8 engine. This new engine has standard Auto Start-Stop and delivers 325 horsepower and 327 lbs. of torque. The EcoBoost model has an incredible towing power of up to 8,500 pounds and delivers great efficiency thanks to its turbo-charged technology. Additionally, the 2015 F-150 uses high-strength steel and aluminum alloys that helps the truck shed over 700 pounds. Thanks to its light weight, the power-to-weight ratio of the 2015 F-150 has been improved by 15 percent over the 2014 V8 model.

As we mentioned before, the 2015 F-150 EcoBoost comes equipped with Auto Start-Stop technology. This innovative idea is designed specifically for Ford trucks, and it helps boost fuel efficiency by turning off the engine when it is stopped. When the brake is released, the engine automatically restarts. This is also the first time Ford used a concentrated graphite iron cylinder block in their gasoline engine. This is the same material used in Ford’s 6.7-liter PowerStroke turbo diesel V8 in super duty trucks and saves weight while providing reliable durability.

Compared to other trucks, testing shows that the Ford F-150 2.7-liter EcoBoost outperforms other vehicles’ engines such as the Ram 1500 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3-liter V8 when towing a 7,000 pound enclosed trailer up Davis Dam in Arizona.

So if you need more proof that F-150 is THE truck to own, stop by Lamarque Ford and test drive one today.

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