Ford has finally revealed the much awaited 1.5 Dragon engine. With this, India becomes the first market to receive the new-age petrol motor. The new engine will debut on the upcoming Ford EcoSport facelift and will replace the current 1.5 TiVCT engine. The new motor is being produced at the company’s engine factory at Sanand, Gujarat. The new Ford 1.5 Dragon engine will be exported to many countries from here. Ford’s engineering team in India has played a key role in the development of this motor. The new engine has over 80% localized components.
Also See – Old vs New – Ford EcoSport
The new EcoSport will launch with a host of styling updates and a new Arpoador Red colour shade. The interior will also have a new look and will come with many new features. It will get a new dashboard and an updated instrument console among other things. The exterior will come with a new single-frame grille, new bumper and new fog lamp bezels. The new front-end makes the car look a lot fresher and bolder, too. The car also gets new alloy wheels and updated taillamps.
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Ford 1.5 Dragon Engine Specifications
| Discplacement | 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, naturally aspirated |
| Fuel Type | Petrol |
| Maximum Power | 123 PS |
| Peak Torque | 150 Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed Manual |
Ford’s new 1.5 Dragon engine gets the company’s Ti-VCT (Twin-independent Variable Camshaft Timing System) and produces a maximum power of 123 PS along with a peak torque of 150 Nm. This is a full 11 PS and 10 Nm more than what the current 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit produces. Also, Ford insists that enough has been done to keep the NVH really low. The engine will come mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. It’s currently unknown if the motor would get an optional 6-speed DCT automatic.
The engine’s balance shaft is supported by hydrodynamic bearings and works to eliminate natural first-order vibrations typical in standard three-cylinder engines. A belt-in oil primary drive system contributes to further reductions in both noise and friction. Other NVH improvements include a Valve actuation system with hydraulic lash adjusters and roller finger followers to reduce friction and an acoustic-isolation system to cut down on engine noise.
Ford 1.5 Dragon Engine Mileage
| City | 12 kmpl |
| Highway | 16 kmpl |
Ford claims that the new engine is not only more powerful but also offers a higher mileage. If these company claims are to be believed, the new 1.5 Dragon engine also offers as much as seven percent reduction in CO2 emissions. This has been achieved through modern engineering and the resultant reductions in weight and size, as well as the application of innovative technologies. We are expecting the new engine to offer at least 12 kmpl in the urban environment and over 16 kmpl on the highway. This will be a marked improvement over the mileage from the current 1.5-litre motor.
Features that aid fuel mileage include-
- Crankshaft off-set from cylinder centre line
- Centered spark plugs
- Coil-on-plug system
“Ford’s promise to give the power of choice to consumers in India today is not just limited to the world-class product portfolio. We are proud to offer some of the most efficient, and advanced powertrains – ranging from 1.0 Litre EcoBoost to 5.0 Litre V8,” said Anurag Mehrotra, president and managing director of Ford India.
“With India taking the lead in producing our new, highly advanced petrol engines, we remain committed to making in India and bring products and technologies that Indian customers want and value,” Mehrotra added.
