Ecoboost May Put The Squeeze On Ford's Canadian Engine Plants
Ford’s plan to ramp up production of their Ecoboost engines may negatively impact the Blue Oval’s Essex engine plant in Windsor, Ontario.
The Essex plant, which currently employes 800 workers and operates with three shifts, is in danger of moving to two shifts as Ford’s V8 engines are increasingly replaced by the forced-induction 4-cylinder engines. Essex produces the 5.0L V8 engine used in the F-150 and the Mustang.
According to the Windsor Star, the Canadian Auto Workers union says that the total volume of engines isn’t expected to decrease for 2013, but the next-generation Mustang’s likely move to an Ecoboost powertrain could bring lower demand for the V8. The addition of an Ecoboost Mustang is expected to increase its profile across the Ford lineup, with 95 percent of Ford’s cars offering it as an option (up from 90 percent currently).
On the bright side, the V8 doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Despite the Ecoboost’s popularity, a majority of F-Series buyers opt for the V8, – heavy-duty vehicles still rely on the naturally aspirated V8 for their motivation, while the Ecoboost makes up 40 percent of F-150 sales (V6s account for 53 percent overall). Meanwhile, Ford’s Oakville plant, which assembles the Edge and Flex crossovers, is slated to get an all-new global platform and add hundreds of jobs (largely composed of previously laid-off workers).
But nothing is a given with respect to Ontario’s auto manufacturing sector, and even though strong F-150 sales are keeping the Essex plant busy, nobody ever expected Oshawa to lose their truck plant either.
More by Derek Kreindler
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What would really be nice would be if Ford took the ancient turd of a 5.4L out of the Expedition and put the 5.0L in. There is not a single good reason to have the 5.4 vs the 5.0. Most of the Expedition's problems stem from it's lack of power and poor fuel efficiency, this is a quick and great fix. Also, a Lincoln MKFusion with the 5.0L and AWD would be an M3 Killer.
I thought the 5.0 in the new version Mustang was supposed to get direct injection and therefore higher power and mileage. This could even cause higher demand. And they would need to do this to widen the gap vs. the lower end Mustang, likely an ecoboost instead of the V6.
I'm really excited for the new F-150!
You know the 'breathless' 3.7L makes more hp than the "Bullit" Mustang. I mean the one in the movie. I've decided I like the muffled "angry hornet" sound and 7,000 rpm, and 18 mpg (city F-150 regular cab) just fine.