Sierra 18-4206 Outdrive Cover on 2040-parts.com

Ford to triple production of EcoBoost engines by 2015

Ford EcoBoost Engine production to increase In another clear sign of engine downsizing by car makers Ford has announced it will triple production of its EcoBoost engines in Europe by 2015. The petrol engine is fighting back against hybrids and diesels with downsizing and forced induction creating petrol engines that work more pleasingly than  diesels – and with lower particulate emissions – whilst delivering proper performance and levels of economy that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. Ford is in the vanguard of this mainstream push to make petrol engines relevant even in a car world dictated by government CO2 targets (which aren’t really CO2 targets , they’re official economy targets) and they’re planning to triple production of their very good range of EcoBoost engines in Europe over the next three years.

Toyota Yaris HSD Concept (2011): full photo gallery

Toyota’s goal is to offer a hybrid powertrain in every one of its European models ‘as early as possible in the 2020s’. That means electrified drivetrains in everything from the Avensis to the Auris, and everything from 4x4s to sports cars in between. The Auris HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive) was the first mainstream Toyota model to gain hybrid power in 2010, and up next is the new-generation Yaris.

Volkswagen Golf R 400 Concept with 395bhp heading for Beijing

The VW Golf R 400 can hit 62mph in 3.9 seconds Volkswagen usually reserve their extreme concepts for the Worthersee Show, but they’re heading to next week’s Beijing Motor Show with a very extreme Golf R. The VW Golf R 400 Concept takes the regular Golf R – perhaps the most ‘grown-up’ hot hatch you can buy – and not only adds more power but extreme styling too. That means the 2.0 litre turbo 4-cylinder engine in the Golf R being crankes up to deliver 395bhp (400PS) which cuts the 0-62mph time by a full second over the production Golf R with the DSG ‘box to a supercar-bashing 3.9 seconds.