Ford Fiesta EcoBoost

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http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/18/s...esta-ecoboost/

Spy Shots: 2011 Ford Fiesta EcoBoost

by Damon Lavrinc (RSS feed) on Mar 18th 2010 at 2:57PM



The EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6 found in the Ford Flex and Taurus SHO has quickly become one of our favorite mills on the market. But what we've really been hankering for from FoMoCo is its smaller displacement offerings, specifically the 1.6- and 2.0-liter turbocharged engines slated to arrive next year.

Along with the Fusion, the all-new Fiesta is set to get a boosted mill sometime in 2011, and these newest spy shots reveal that a high-performance version of Ford's diminutive hatch is in the works.

Tucked behind a modified version of the Euro-market Fiesta's Titanium Trim front fascia is a slim intercooler matched with blacked-out trim, a subtle body kit and a prototype rear diffuser modified to fit the European-spec rear bumper and dual exhausts. A set of 17-inch anthracite Speedline wheels complete the package, which poses two questions.

One, is this a prototype of a production vehicle or something that's planned for this November's SEMA Show? Either way, Ford's got big plans for its new three-door and showing off its aftermarket potential is sure to be high on the priority list.

Two, which EcoBoosted engine is powering the mule? The smart money's on Ford's new 1.6-liter inline four, which should be good for around 170 horsepower and a similar amount of torque in turbo'd form. The less-than-plausible, yet far more compelling, option is the Fusion's forthcoming turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot, which is good for between 230 and 250 hp and 240 pound-feet of twist. Obviously, we're hoping for the latter, but we'd be just as content with the 1.6-liter option and the possibility of future models turning up the wick even further.

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