Duratec won’t match straight six for grunt

FORD Australia says the “world-class” imported Duratec V6 that will replace its Geelong-built inline six after 50 years of Falcon service in 2010 will bring big advances in fuel efficiency – but don’t expect it to match the humble Aussie six for driveability.

Asked how the new engine will compare to the new FG Falcon’s upgraded 4.0-litre six, Ford’s new local chief - who started his career with Ford as the design supervisor for the Duratec V6 and launched the engine in Canada’s Edge model during his last posting as Ford of Canada boss - said some current Falcon six drivers may be disappointed by its bottom-end torque delivery, but not its fuel consumption.



Left: Current I6 six-cylinder engine. “I think the Duratec is world-class engine. We use it in a number of Ford products in North America today. In my prior job we just launched it in the Ford Edge in Canada and the reception to the Duratec 35 has been outstanding,” he said.

“It’s a great fuel-efficiency offering with modern technology (and) very good power and torque. So I think it’s a world-class offering.

“Now, how does it compare to the I6? Well from an architecture standpoint you can never duplicate the low-end torque of the I6 with the high-tech V6, which is what we have.

“So some customers who are more accustomed to low-end torque may not be as happy with the Duratec 35, but what I can tell you for sure is that they’ll be delighted with the fuel economy of the Duractec 35.

“And fuel economy is becoming a far more critical issue as a matter of choice for consumers. I think that at the time that we launch the Duratec 35 we will be in the right place for where consumer tastes are headed,” he said.

Asked if his reference to “Duratec 35” means the 2010 Falcon (and Territory) won’t employ the rumoured 3.7-litre version of the current Duratec V6, Mr Osborne said: “I can’t go into that detail at this point.” The final iteration of Ford’s inline six will produce 195kW and 391Nm of torque in the FG Falcon (198kw/409Nm on premium unleaded), and 270kW/533Nm in turbocharged guise. In the FG, it will return claimed average fuel consumption of 10.1L/100km mated to a five-speed auto and 10.5L/100km mated to a six-speed auto.

While the Duratec V6 is also expected to spawn a turbocharged performance version to eventually replace the lauded XR6 Turbo engine, the Duratec 35’s vital statistics, when fitted to the new Freestyle-replacing Taurus X SUV in the US, include peak power of 198kW and 339Nm of torque from 4500rpm.

Unlike Falcon’s current long-stroke engine, the all-alloy DOHC 60-degree Duratec V6 features oversquare cylinder dimensions (via a 92.5mm bore and a 88.7mm stroke). It is currently built at Ford’s Lima engine plant in Ohio.

In other Ford engine news, Mr Osborne admitted the company grossly underestimated the demand for diesel-powered versions of its new Mondeo.

He said diesel variants comprised 40 per cent of Mondeo sales last month. At double the 20 per cent ratio internally forecast by Ford, the larger than expected diesel demand has left Ford short of distillate-burning diesel stocks.

“Sales were limited by the availability of the diesel variant,” he said. “We’re working to fix that and essentially we undercalled the diesel numbers for Mondeo at its introduction. We did not have enough diesel stock at launch.” On a brighter Mondeo note, Mr Osborne said positive feedback from a fleet managers’ convention last week for the Mondeo wagon revealed at this month’s Melbourne motor show had increased the mid-sized load-lugger’s chances of being released here.

“I just had my first public speech this week with the fleet managers convention here in Melbourne and we got great feedback on the Mondeo wagon,” he said. “A number of fleet buyers see it as great option, for examples for sales reps and the like who need to carry loads in style.

“We haven’t come to a decision on that, but all the indicators are quite positive,” he said.

Backl on diesel, Mr Osborne said a compression-ignition Territory was still in the pipeline, but had been hampered by the need to meet Euro 4 emissions standards.

“We do still plan a diesel for Territory,” he said. “We’re moving as fast as we can knowing there’s a demand out there. Euro 4 will be a watershed, so that’s an important point for anyone in the business looking to develop diesels and these are dramatic new standards.

“So obviously when you’re developing something new like that it takes some time. I can’t give you a launch date right now,” he said.

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