Ford Could Build Next Generation 4-Cylinder Engines In Canada

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Ford is deciding between Windsor, Ontario and Mexico for the production site of its new 1.5L and 1.6L four-cylinder engines. As many as 5,000 direct and indirect jobs could be created for the former hub of Ontario’s auto manufacturing sector.

The Windsor Star is reporting that the new engines would be used in the next-generation Ford Fiesta, which is slated to be built in Thailand. According to the paper, gasoline, diesel and hybrid powertrains all have the potential to be built at the two engine plants, which currently produce the low-volume 5.0L Coyote V8 and other engines for heavy-duty trucks.

Funding from Canada’s federal government is expected to be a key factor in the deal, with the Ontario government already earmarking $385 million for the two plants. Unifor, the union representing Canada’s domestic auto workers, has also apparently given $150 million worth of concessions to secure the new investment.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Aug 25, 2014

    If you're building an econobox in Thailand, you're not going to produce its engine in Canada.

    • Lorenzo Lorenzo on Aug 25, 2014

      The engines are likely to find their way into other models here, and they won't all be econoboxes.

  • Onus Onus on Aug 25, 2014

    Makes sense. The 2.0 is actually quite old. It's a mazda engine ford owns the rights too. It has been in production since 2001.

    • See 1 previous
    • Onus Onus on Aug 25, 2014

      @wmba Isn't the 1.6 an evolution of the zetec? I know the 1.5 has many more advanced features like cast in exhaust manifold. To me it sounds like ford used what they had while doing the heavy engineering later. Gives them some time and the results aren't half bad. I think the 1.5 is coming from Romania? I thought the 1.6 was coming from Valencia Spain? I also know some stuff comes out of the Dagenham plant but, not sure what.

  • Rockets Rockets on Aug 26, 2014

    Why does Ford even have both engines? (1.5 and 1.6) If the 1.5 is the newer design, why not just produce that now for simplicity's sake? Oh wait, maybe I just answered that...

  • Dougjp Dougjp on Aug 26, 2014

    Yeah sure, why not. Go for it. Give out money you don't have and never will have. www.debtclock.ca/provincial-debtclocks/ontario/ontario-s-debt/ www.fraserinstitute.org/research-news/research/publications/Comparing-the-Debt-Burdens-of-Ontario-and-California/

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