Yahoo Autos How Ford Performance Squeezed So Much Torque Out of the Mustang EcoBoost
Ford Performance released a calibration kit for the EcoBoost Mustang this week, and the numbers are very impressive. The EcoBoost's 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder now produces 335 horsepower, up from 310 stock, and rather astoundingly, 390 lb-ft of torque, a 70 lb-ft increase. That's only 10 lb-ft less than the Mustang GT's 5.0-liter V8, so how did Ford do it?
For answers, we spoke with Jesse Kershaw, the parts product manager at Ford Performance. The calibration kit for the EcoBoost Mustang does come with a new cold air intake, but Kershaw says a "vast majority" of the gains come from recalibrating the engine programming. Essentially, the Mustang's stock 2.3-liter four comes with a fairly conservative tune from stock, but Ford Performance offers a hotter setup.
"There's opportunity left in the base calibration," said Kershaw. "We can be a little more aggressive with some of the spark, and we can make the assumption that the customer will always use premium fuel."
That assumption is the most important bit here. It's what allows Ford Performance to change the spark timing and fuel maps for the engine, and also increase turbo boost pressure slightly. Since Ford Performance is an in-house tuning division as well, it can tweak the engine software in ways others can't.
"We have access to things in the software that the typical aftermarket would not," said Kershaw. "When we send out our calibrations, all of our stuff is encrypted because we don't really want to see the aftermarket where we're going and what we're doing."
Ford Performance proudly backs this calibration kit with a warranty, and says it's emissions legal in all 50 U.S. states. Fuel consumption increases slightly depending on how you drive, but since the tune is an aftermarket upgrade, it's not governed by EPA fuel economy regulations. Kershaw also told us that Ford Performance did simulated 60,000-mile tests on the calibration, and it found no discernible decrease in durability.
Considering the tuned EcoBoost Mustang is only slightly less torquey than the heavier, V8-powered GT, we think a head-to-head comparison is in order. We also can't wait for Ford Performance's upcoming kit for the Focus RS.
You Might Also Like
