ecoboost | Lamarque Ford

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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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.

Gas Prices Plummet In Time For Holiday Season | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

December 9, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Thanks Giving drivers were greeted last week with a surprise at the pump: gas prices have been dropping consistently and are now at record lows, which started a driving craze. Now that we’re back at work, the trend seems to keep going. But for how long? Will this drive an SUV and big engine boom, as some suggest? Let’s follow the money and get to the bottom of this.

As you may already know, crude oil production (and a million other factors) dictates refined gasoline prices. So what happens when when there’s an overproduction of oil and a surplus of refined gasoline? Prices go down. So low in fact, that we’re are seeing recession level prices, when demand was low and production was up. So what does this mean for consumers and car manufacturers?

There’s this theory floating around that we might see an increase in SUV and big car sales, which we think is silly to associate it to the gas price phenomenon. For one, Ford’s SUV division has been growing constantly, with or without low gas prices. Second, car buyers moved away from big, inefficient engines not just because of crude oil prices, but because they actually care about the environment. The new generation of drivers has fueled (no pun intended) an increase on powerful yet efficient cars, like the EcoBoost series from Ford.

So in the mean time, let’s not freak out. A quick look at this 10 year average gas price in the U.S. tells us gas prices are historically higher than today. Although it is great for consumers to have access to cheap gas, we need to think about the other side of the coin. Just this morning, some news outlets were discussing oil companies planning on laying-off workers because of this same reason. Also, some lawmakers are in talks to increase gasoline taxes, since prices have dropped. So is there a happy medium?

While every driver would like to pay $2.00 or less for a gallon, others will argue there needs to be a sustainable gasoline market, both for consumers and producers. Remember, you don’t need to sacrifice power and speed to get great fuel efficiency. In 2009 Ford introduced its first EcoBoost, which is a line of small, turbo-charged engines that deliver great power and little fuel consumption. Today, almost every Ford vehicle comes in an EcoBoost configuration, form the sporty 2015 Mustang, to the powerful F-150.

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EcoBoost 1.0-Liter Engine Explained | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

June 27, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Earlier this week, the Ford EcoBoost 1.0-liter engine won the 2014 International Engine of The Year Award. The prize is given to the best engines in different categories and are judged on fuel economy, smoothness, performance and drivability. The 1 liter Ecoboost excels in just about every category, with its punchy acceleration and remarkable fuel efficiency, this three-cylinder engine can take on any competition. Other runner-ups in the Ecoboost’s category included BMW, Volkswagen, Fiat and Renault. Let’s take a closer look at the engineering behind the Ford Ecoboost engine.

Why EcoBoost?

Ford designed the EcoBoost technology from the ground up to bring power and torque to small displacement engines, resulting in improved fuel efficiency of up to 20%. Although Ford offers many engine sizes as part of their EcoBoost line, they’ve found great success in the small car market with its tiniest configuration: a one-liter, turbocharged three cylinder engine. With its introduction in 2012, 1.0 liter EcoBoost has set a new bar for performance and efficiency.

Seen by many as a laggard in fuel economy by the turn of the century, Ford has completely repositioned its brand and strategy as the American option for the green consumer. After the market flooded with Japanese and Korean fuel efficient competitors, many car manufacturers got caught off guard and realigned their priorities for the American market. Ford has been selling smaller engine cars in Europe for decades, but those vehicles never appealed the United States consumers until very recently.

1.0-Liter EcoBoost Engine Features

As we mentioned before, the engine is built around one key premise: better torque and power without sacrificing fuel economy. To get the most out of this tiny engine, Ford Team worked hard to rethink the purpose of each part. The build starts with a cast iron engine block, which some might point out as old-school or heavy, as aluminum is the trend on lighter cars. However, Ford engineers assure that since the engine is so small (less than a foot long), the cast iron works on its favor since is stronger and more rigid. Aluminum is used for the redesigned cylinder heads to improve fuel-to-air ratio. The main feature of the 1.0 Ecoboost engine is its turbocharger. The turbocharger acts as a turbine that forces more air and gasoline into the engine, thus producing more power at the same revolutions per minute than a car without it. The engine also uses a proprietary cooling system attached to the cylinder heads, which lowers exhaust temperatures and improves the fuel-to-air ratio. Since the EcoBoost produces so much power in such a small engine, a great amount of friction is generated in the piston chamber, which could negatively affect performance. Ford engineers, however, had an answer for this and redesigned the pistons, adding a special anti-friction coating, low-tension piston rings and low-friction crank seals.

What Cars Use 1.0 EcoBoost?

The smallest EcoBoost engine is found in a wide range of Ford vehicles, including some only available in international markets. The models include Focus, C-Max, B-Max, Fiesta, Ecosport and Mondeo. In the U.S., the 1 liter EcoBoost is best known in the Ford Fiesta, as it has the perfect combination of a small body with a powerful engine. The EcoBoost Ford Fiesta is already in dealerships and you can test drive one today at Lamarque Ford.

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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.

2014 Ford Transit Connect Revealed: Features, Specs | New Orleans

May 29, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Fans will be excited to see that the automaker has finally moved forward with the Ford Transit by introducing a new modern, sleek body style for the 2014 Ford Transit Connect. Although the previous model did have its perks, the new 2014 Ford Transit introduces an array of new appealing features that make this new Ford vehicle a must-get for Ford fans who want a combination of towing capacity, excellent fuel economy, and cargo-van/passenger-wagon capabilities. See your local Ford dealer for the new 2014 Ford Transit Connect today!

Engines and Sizes Galore!

The most noticeable change to the 2014 Ford Transit Connect is its sleek new appearance, but what’s going on with the under the hood specs? For starters, the old 2.0-liter engine found on the 2013 model has been replaced with two more powerful motors to choose from: the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and the turbocharged Ford Ecoboost 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine.

In addition to new engine power, the 2014 Ford Transit Connect will also introduce a passenger-wagon styled vehicle to move away from only contractors using the vehicle. It makes an excellent vehicle for families that want the towing capacity of a truck, but the comfort of a van or SUV. The 2014 model will introduce a 5-passenger and 7-passenger longer model. You have the option of getting the 5-passenger model with either a 2.5-liter, 169-horsepower I4 or a 1.6-liter, 178-horsepower turbocharged I4 Ford Ecoboost engine, or the 7-passenger model with only the 2.5-liter, 169 horsepower I4.

Not only does the 2014 Ford Transit Connect introduce more power via the 2.5-liter and turbocharged Ecoboost Engine, but it also introduces better fuel economy! The Ecoboost engine will deliver 22 MPG city and 29 MPG HWY, while the 2.5-liter engine will bring a less appealing 20 MPG city and 28 HWY. Keep in mind however, that you can only get away with the Ecoboost engine with the 5-passenger vehicle. So you’ll have to decide whether fuel economy is more important than additional passenger/cargo space that the 7-passenger vehicle offers.

Meet the New Interior

Whether you decide to get the 5-passenger or 7-passenger 2014 Ford Transit Connect, you will be introduced to a brand new, spacious interior with plenty of leg room, capacity, and comfort. If you require extra room for transporting cargo, you can fold the second and third rows to add an additional 104.2 cubic feet. You can also customize how you room the interior with second rows down but third rows up with reclining seats for extra comfort.

The 2014 Transit Connect basic features will include AdvanceTrac with roll stability control along with front, pelvis, and side airbags and side-curtain airbags for every row of seats, and anti-lock brakes.

Different Models Available

There will be five different models available with the 2014 Ford Transit Connect:

Van XL – will include the basics, 16-in steel wheels, remote keyless entry, power windows, A/C, AM/FM stereo with AUX input at $22,995.
Van XLT – includes power heated mirrors, fog lights, 4.2-in info display, CD audio system and upgraded driver seat at $24,520.
Wagon XL – includes the basics for 7-passenger (added seat rows) at $25,995.
Wagon XLT – includes XLT features and available at 5-passenger at $25,520 or 7-passenger at $27,520.
Wagon Titanium – includes 16-in alloy wheels, leather upholstery, power driver seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, SYNC voice-command and rear view camera at $29,995.

Stop by your local Ford dealership to see each of the 2014 Ford Transit Connect trims and walk away with yours today.

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2015 Ford F-150 Built Stronger, Smarter, with Ecoboost | New Orleans

May 25, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

The all-new 2015 Ford F-150 will prove to be the toughest, smartest, most innovative truck out there. Ford is calling its new truck “the most patented” thanks to its long list of amazing features and improvements. The new F-150 boasts over 100 new patents, as Ford engineers have redesigned many components to bring better performance, fuel efficiency and safety.

Stronger Steel Frame

Ford is introducing a brand new frame, in which it increases the amount of high-strength steel from 23% to 77%. This new alloy along with the Ford-developed heat treatment for the frame, allow for an impressively strong body. Believe it or not, even with its re-strengthened formula, Ford is shaving a few pounds off the 2015 Ford F-150’s frame.

Better Fuel Efficiency With Ecoboost

Ford is introducing the lowest displacement engine in a full size truck with the second generation F-150 Ecoboost. Rated at 2.5 liters, this turbo-charged V6 engine promises to deliver first-class fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance. Ford has achieved this through a variety of engineering tricks like using both aluminum and iron as part of the engine block, creating a powerful yet compact enclosure.

New Smart Technology

Ford is also betting on some interesting tech gadgets, like the 360º view camera. Already present in some high-end luxury cars, this is the first time a pick-up truck uses such technology. It consists of different cameras positioned in the back, front and sides, and provide a unified “birds-eye” image from above. Another first to pick-up trucks is Ford’s introduction of LED headlights. As the previous post on LED headlights discussed, LED lights not only last longer than traditional ones, but they also improve visibility and safety.

With the all-new 2015 Ford F-150, Ford is positioning its truck as not only the class leader, but as the future visionary. Ford has enjoyed the top spot for so long it can now think ahead and improve performance in new ways. If you would like to learn more about what Ford has to offer, stop by your local Ford dealership and take a look around.

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Engine Fuel Economy Improvements | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner

May 5, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Ten years ago, the top selling trucks in the U.S. had an average combined EPA fuel economy of only 14 mpg. Today, that number is closer to 20. What has happened? Have we sacrificed performance for fuel efficiency? Not at all. Although car manufacturers have shrunk the engines significantly, new technologies allow for better performance AND better gas mileage. Let’s take a look at some of the improvements in truck engines.

Fuel efficiency depends on factors other than the engine, like aerodynamics, weight and rolling resistance. However, it is increasingly harder for pick-up trucks to improve in other aspects of fuel efficiency while at the same time adding new technological improvements. Remember, the job a truck is hired to do is not to consume as little fuel as possible, but to tow, carry and drag.

Turbochargers
This technology has been around for a while and has been used in high performance cars for decades. Manufacturers started implementing turbochargers in trucks as it allows for a smaller engine without losing torque. Ford’s Ecoboost engines are use turbocharging to compensate for their small size (3.5 V6 to power a 6000 lb vehicle).

Variable Displacement
Variable displacement is also known as cylinder deactivation. The system works by allowing some of the cylinders to stop moving while the throttle is closed or running at steady speeds, like highway speeds, without affecting its power. Before its modern implementation, variable displacement technology failed to reach mass market because of unsolved engineering challenges dating back to the early 80s. Today, this technology is widely used by Honda, GM and Mercedes-Benz.

Direct Fuel Injection
Direct Fuel injection allows for a better control of the amount of fuel that goes into the cylinders as it is delivered directly, thus reducing waste. Ecoboost engines by Ford rely heavily on this technology coupled with turbocharging.

Lighter Materials
New manufacturing techniques have made materials such as aluminum a viable option for many parts of a vehicle, engines included. This reduces the weight of engines by about half, compared to iron block engines. However, there were some problems with early aluminum engines as they couldn’t handle the high temperatures. That’s all in the past as most of today’s standard small engines are aluminum.

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