Turbocharged engines appear poised to stay despite mediocre sales
11-30-10, 06:16 AM
#1
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Turbocharged engines appear poised to stay despite mediocre sales
Interesting. So V-8 take rates are low but so are turbo V-6 rates for Ford.
Turbocharged engines appear poised to stay despite mediocre sales
November 29, 2010 - 4:05 pm ET
Jamie LaReau covers Ford Motor Co. for Automotive News.
Ford Motor Co.'s direct-injection, turbocharged EcoBoost engine offers a boost of power without sacrificing fuel economy.
So the engine should be popular, right?
I looked up the sales figures to see whether most consumers are indeed shelling out an extra $750 to $1,700 for the EcoBoost option.
According to Edmunds.com, of all the 2010 Flex models sold through October, about 11.5 percent had the EcoBoost engine. The 2010 Taurus SHO, which offers the 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost, comprised 14.2 percent of all Taurus sales.
About 30 percent of all 2010 Lincoln MKS sedans were sold with EcoBoost, and about 46 percent of the 2010 MKT crossovers sold had EcoBoost.
It's not surprising that more premium brand buyers will pay for an upgraded engine. But does lower demand on some Ford brand models spell doom for these engines in a mainstream division?
Not necessarily.
Ford has said EcoBoost sales are meeting its expectations. And outside experts note that the Flex and Taurus EcoBoost engines are paired with all-wheel drive.
“If you live in the Sun Belt states, you have to pay extra for awd and then pay for the EcoBoost on top of that,” said Dan Edmunds, director of vehicle testing for Edmunds.com. “It's a double whammy.”
Pairing the engine with rear-wheel-drive or front-wheel-drive options would make the cost less prohibitive.
Going forward, Ford will offer 4-cylinder EcoBoost engines on smaller vehicles such as the Focus ST, due in 2012. Those engines won't require an awd application.
Likewise, the V-6 EcoBoost coming on the F-150 pickup will be an rwd application.
Overall, 3 percent of new vehicles sold today are equipped with turbocharged engines, Edmunds says.
But demand aside, turbocharged engines help automakers meet CAFE standards.
And with competitors such as General Motors Co. now offering a turbocharged engine on volume models such as the Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan, Edmunds concludes that no matter the sales results, this engine “is here to stay.”
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/2010...#ixzz16m7g0tR3
November 29, 2010 - 4:05 pm ET
Jamie LaReau covers Ford Motor Co. for Automotive News.Ford Motor Co.'s direct-injection, turbocharged EcoBoost engine offers a boost of power without sacrificing fuel economy.
So the engine should be popular, right?
I looked up the sales figures to see whether most consumers are indeed shelling out an extra $750 to $1,700 for the EcoBoost option.
According to Edmunds.com, of all the 2010 Flex models sold through October, about 11.5 percent had the EcoBoost engine. The 2010 Taurus SHO, which offers the 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost, comprised 14.2 percent of all Taurus sales.
About 30 percent of all 2010 Lincoln MKS sedans were sold with EcoBoost, and about 46 percent of the 2010 MKT crossovers sold had EcoBoost.
It's not surprising that more premium brand buyers will pay for an upgraded engine. But does lower demand on some Ford brand models spell doom for these engines in a mainstream division?
Not necessarily.
Ford has said EcoBoost sales are meeting its expectations. And outside experts note that the Flex and Taurus EcoBoost engines are paired with all-wheel drive.
“If you live in the Sun Belt states, you have to pay extra for awd and then pay for the EcoBoost on top of that,” said Dan Edmunds, director of vehicle testing for Edmunds.com. “It's a double whammy.”
Pairing the engine with rear-wheel-drive or front-wheel-drive options would make the cost less prohibitive.
Going forward, Ford will offer 4-cylinder EcoBoost engines on smaller vehicles such as the Focus ST, due in 2012. Those engines won't require an awd application.
Likewise, the V-6 EcoBoost coming on the F-150 pickup will be an rwd application.
Overall, 3 percent of new vehicles sold today are equipped with turbocharged engines, Edmunds says.
But demand aside, turbocharged engines help automakers meet CAFE standards.
And with competitors such as General Motors Co. now offering a turbocharged engine on volume models such as the Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan, Edmunds concludes that no matter the sales results, this engine “is here to stay.”
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/2010...#ixzz16m7g0tR3
11-30-10, 06:40 AM
#2
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I think that you have to see the global demand of the group of options that also comes with the engine choice. As per many others constructors, when you get a «top of the line» motor you also get «top of the line» equipment, which also brings the cost a lot higher.
11-30-10, 07:56 AM
#3
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most people sit stuck in traffic or on side streets or at cruise speed on the highway. ANY vehicle can do those things so most people have no interest in paying a premium for a turbo.
one day though i drove two versions of the mazda cx-7 - one with their turbo engine and one without. i think the one without is a 2.5/4 and the one with is a 2.3/4! the turbo was SO much more pleasant to drive, as it felt so much more effortless and the non-turbo one seemed to have to work really hard even on boring surface streets. but as 1JZsoarer said, the turbo model also came with a ton more equipment fancier wheels etc., so the price difference was about 7K
one day though i drove two versions of the mazda cx-7 - one with their turbo engine and one without. i think the one without is a 2.5/4 and the one with is a 2.3/4! the turbo was SO much more pleasant to drive, as it felt so much more effortless and the non-turbo one seemed to have to work really hard even on boring surface streets. but as 1JZsoarer said, the turbo model also came with a ton more equipment fancier wheels etc., so the price difference was about 7K
11-30-10, 10:41 AM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
At this point, I have no desire to own a turbo, especially a 4 banger one. None (so far as of today) have achieved the reliability and refinement of the best normally aspirated engines.
11-30-10, 11:42 AM
#5
If 15% of Taurus owners are opting for the SHO, I think that's a pretty good take-rate. Keep in mind this is a big, wallowy mainstream car that just so happens to also have a 360hp TT variant.
Not surprised to see the higher rate on Lincoln's as well...so...pretty much, all of this is to be expected.
Not surprised to see the higher rate on Lincoln's as well...so...pretty much, all of this is to be expected.
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