Ford Edge Will Get First I4 EcoBoost Engine

What you see is the 2010 Ford Edge. At the 2010 Chicago Auto Show a refreshed 2011 Edge will make its debut and feature an all new engine.

Ford’s EcoBoost engine technology, introduced last summer in the Lincoln MKS, Ford Taurus, and Lincoln MKT, will soon get expanded to other vehicle lines. That original 3.5L V6 represents the first of a family of direct injection, turbocharged engines, with a 2.0L I4 up next. The smaller engine will find its way under the hood of the Ford Edge, a medium sized crossover model.

The Importance of EcoBoost

EcoBoost is important for a number of reasons. First of all, the technology squeezes more horsepower and torque out of a smaller engine, giving it the ability to work as efficiently as a larger motor. Secondly, the engine burns cleaner, resulting in fewer harmful emissions. Thirdly, EcoBoost is more fuel efficient, allowing drivers to enjoy the mileage benefits of a smaller engine, while receiving the power of a larger one.

The 2011 Ford Edge will make its bow at this year’s Chicago Auto Show. According to The Detroit News, this model will also be the first to feature the automaker’s MyFord Touch system, an arrangement which replaces most of the standard gauges, switches and knobs with full-color computer screens and sensitive to the touch buttons.

Mid-Cycle Refresh and More

The changes made for the Ford Edge represents a mid-cycle refresh, with the nose, hood, and windshield tweaked accordingly. But underneath the hood, the base 3.0L V6 will be replaced by the 2.0L I4 EcoBoost, offering similar power levels as the engine it replaces but with improved fuel economy. The optional 3.5L V6 remains; but engines will be paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Last month, Ford unveiled its refreshed Lincoln MKX, the luxury version of the Ford Edge. It, too, is receiving a significant mid-cycle upgrade, but Ford has not announced whether an EcoBoost engine will be made available for that model when it goes on sale later this year.

Both the Ford and the Lincoln are built at the company’s Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, with the Edge ranked as the top selling midsize crossover model.

Other Ford Motor News

In other news, Ford’s January 2010 US car sales increased by 25 percent over January 2009, on the strength of fleet sales. Retail sales were actually down for the month, but the fleet sales helped Ford record the best month over month improvement among the Big Six automakers. Ford also replaced Toyota as the second best selling brand in the US as the Japanese automaker saw its sales decline in the face of a recall and sales halt.

Ford Still Wants To Retire 4200 Workers

In the midst of multibillion losses and a historic restructuring of its domestic product line, the Ford Motor Company has made it known that they still need to let 4200 workers go according to a report in yesterday’s The Detroit News.

Meeting with union officials earlier this week, Ford says that additional blue collar workers will need to be let go, though they haven’t said exactly by when this must happen. Over the past three years, Ford has trimmed its workforce by 40%; General Motors and Chrysler have also implemented similar labor reductions.

9000 Wanted, Less Than Half That Found

Earlier this year Ford announced a new round of retirement packages to encourage workers to leave, looking for 9000 employees to take up their offer, but having fewer than half that number of people interested in the offer. Though the package is quite generous, many workers are concerned that the present economic climate would make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to find work elsewhere. Hence, the resistance by some to retire now.

To help workers make the transition from Ford to other careers, the company has hosted several job fairs to convince workers to take buyouts and recently created a Web site, www.yourjobconnection.org, in a bid to help workers move on.

Factories Closed, Production Cut, New Cars Planned

Earlier this summer Ford announced that the company would cut SUV and truck production to be more in line with customer demand. With that change, the company closed some factories while converting others to begin producing smaller cars. Ford also announced that the company would bring as many as six small European models to the North American market, building these cars on assembly lines in factories in Mexico, Canada, and the US.

Through August 2008, Ford’s U.S. sales were down by more than 15%, though its smallest car, the Ford Focus, is on track to see year over year increases of more than 25%.

Suzuki Plans To Skip 2009 NAIAS

They’re one of the smallest automakers in terms of sales in the US automotive market, but Suzuki has managed to attract some attention of late especially through its zero percent financing and its US sales increase for May 2008. While other automakers struggle to ratchet up production of their fuel efficient cars, Suzuki doesn’t have that problem. Every vehicle they sell is fuel efficient, just the kind of wheels American drivers are flocking to these days.

One thing that Suzuki won’t be doing in 2009 is attending the NAIAS, commonly known as the Detroit Auto Show. The Detroit show is one of the top events on the auto show calendar every year, but it won’t be a priority for Suzuki.

According to The Detroit News, Suzuki will bow out of the upcoming show, citing an inability to secure enough space to launch display their vehicles. With three new models set to come out over an eighteen month period, Suzuki’s show floor needs have increased. Unfortunately, the Cobo Center, where the show is held, is maxed out.

Porsche also chose not to appear at the show beginning in 2008 citing that the Detroit area isn’t where many of their customers are. Suzuki is saying the same thing, but there is another problem that very much needs to be addressed: the Cobo Center must be expanded.

At the 2008 show, space was very tight with a few manufacturers assigned to the basement or lobby areas. Though these were Chinese manufacturers who don’t yet have a toehold in the North American market, it is clear that more space is needed or the unthinkable may happen — Detroit could lose its status as the NAIAS (North American International Auto Show) host, a title New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or some other city wouldn’t mind wresting from the Motor City.

Crain’s Detroit Business reported in May that a $287 million, 120,000 square foot expansion of the Cobo Center is being hashed out with participants of regional governments who are needed to support the project. At issue was a proposal to accept no-bid contracts for the project, something opposed by several government leaders.

The NAIAS has an estimated annual economic impact of $500 million and produces some 13,000 jobs. The annual show boasts the most unveilings of new models and concepts of any other show in North America.