VIDEO: EcoBoost-equipped Taurus drag races Cadillac and BMW
Though we already miss the Twin-Force name, Ford's newly minted family of turbocharged, direct-inject EcoBoost engines has our curiosity piqued. The first application of an EcoBoost engine will be the twin-turbocharged, direct-inject 3.5L V6 available in the 2009 Lincoln MKS. Ford claims it will produce an estimated 340+ horsepower and 340 ft-lb of torque, so even thought it may be down a couple cylinders on the competition, it will clearly be competitive.
Autoblog reader Joshua found this video on YouTube that demonstrates just how competitive this engine will be. Fast forward to about 6:54 and you'll see Ford engineers take a Taurus mule fitted with the EcoBoost 3.5L V6 and drag race it against a Cadillac STS and BMW 3-Series. We're not entirely sure which engines were powering the competition, but if it were a fair fight than the Cadillac would be fitted with the 320-hp 4.6L Northstar V8 and the BMW with its 300-hp twin-turbo 3.0L inline-six. The Taurus mule has more power of course, but we thought the lighter BMW stood a chance. Apparently not, as after they leave the line and the Taurus exhibits some serious squat, it begins to pull away decisively from the other two.
Now, shoehorn that twin-turbo 3.5L V6 into an all-wheel-drive Fusion. We want SHO, we want SHO!
[Source: YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Troy 7:37PM (3/29/2008)
Don't know if i missed it or what but does it say anywhere if the ecoboost v6 Taurus with be FWD or AWD ???
the future looks good ford !
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John R 3:11PM (1/09/2008)
I would also like to know what motors were powering the CTS and the BMW...and whether the Taurus mule had a stock interior...and would have liked to see all three launch off the line in the camera shot, not just the Ford. I dunno how much faith I can put in this demonstration.
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zach 3:15PM (1/09/2008)
I agree, this means nothing without knowing what engines are in the bmw and sts (and how the cars are being driven). frankly i don't think there's a chance in hell it would outrun the turbo bimmer... those things are freakishly quick.
that said, its still a step in the right direction for ford.
Frank in L.A. 6:06PM (1/09/2008)
What does it matter smallest engine you can get in both cars are the V6. They are all V6
Craig 6:32PM (1/09/2008)
Wow, I didn't know BMW made a V6. I thought they only made straight 6s.
I might have to go and talk to the nearest BMW dealer...
/sarc
tuna 7:05PM (1/09/2008)
@ Frank
You think all 6 cyclinder engines are created equal?
A guy the same height and weight as you could either beat the crap out of you in no time or make you cry from laughter. Which one you piss off makes a big difference.
Doesn't matter you say? Think again, grasshopper.
Dustin 12:41AM (1/10/2008)
Tuna, that's exactly the point. So, if this video means anything, it's that Ford's V6 is the most competent.
John R 6:47AM (1/10/2008)
Not neccessarilly, Dustin. If I were to plant a CTS motor in a car that weighed as much a '95 Civic it might be able to beat that Taurus and 3-series in a drag, too.
The point is without more info who's to say that this demonstration isn't stacked in the Ford's favor.
tuna 1:10PM (1/10/2008)
@ Dustin
Let me see... Um, NO. It's painfully obvious.
The video doesn't prove jack squat. Just in engines alone, two V6's can weigh the same, have the same displacement and still not have the same power output. Plus, the total weight of the cars can be different as well. There's also the issue of gearing; you can gear a car to be dog slow to 60 mph with 400 hp, and you can gear a car to be very quick with just 150 hp. Since the video doesn't address any of these variables... this discussion is a complete waste of time.
The video doesn't prove anything. End of story.
Sam 3:12PM (1/09/2008)
where can i buy that taurus mule. that looks awesome!
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Joe K. 3:15PM (1/09/2008)
So it takes longer to recover the costs from hybrids and diesels, but Ford still wants to look into making them?
Well thats all well and good but lets make ethanol or some form of self-dependence in there for good measure...
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Scott Werner 3:16PM (1/09/2008)
I am not an American car fan, but if this race was actually real, not fixed in anyway, then good job Ford! There cars are starting to look decent so hopefully they are on the right track. I would like to see that engine in the Mazda6speed, or just make room for it in the RX8!
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Franz 3:16PM (1/09/2008)
That's a very deceptive video. I'm not really one for conspiracy theories but how can you show a drag race for comparison purposes and not do have a shot of all three cars leaving the line? From this video we can't even tell if they all got out at the same time. I'm sure a Taurus test mule could pull whatever number they wanted in a Ford promo drag race, but it would make for a more interesting video if they actually gave us a more credible video. I'd have felt better if they showed me a secretly hotted up Taurus whooping some BMW and Caddy butt, than this inconclusive vid.
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MrMorix 3:17PM (1/09/2008)
Good stuff now if the outside could mimic the heart of the car they would be even more competitive. Is it me or does the MKS look like what the MKZ should have looked like?
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C.W. 3:53PM (1/09/2008)
the fusion, milan and Z are all receiving a a heavy facelift later this year. all 3 look totally different and the Z is going to carry over the waterfall grill as seen here on the mks. so the Z will resemble this design, but will of course be smaller and have different rear-fascia
Level 3:18PM (1/09/2008)
side note...The more I look at the this new 500/Taurus the more it resembles the original Taurus....
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Brendan 3:18PM (1/09/2008)
Though I don't trust the demo, Ford's finally got a little bit of good sense it seems...should've kept the SHO in the first place.
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Shawn 3:21PM (1/09/2008)
Curb weight of a BMW 3 Series Sedan 335xi with AT is 3825 lbs with 300 hp. Ford Taurus Limited AWD is 3814 lbs with more than 340 hp.
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compy386 3:25PM (1/09/2008)
Look at those numbers it's really not all that surprising. Plus all that torque is delivered early and consistently. I wonder what transmission Ford put in the engine though because I don't know if a stock Taurus tranny can support all that Torque.
As a side note I hope Ford can expand this lineup of engines quickly. Id love to see a 1.6 liter turbo that can get 160+ HP. Also a Boss that gets 500+ HP would be cool as well.
John R 3:27PM (1/09/2008)
That doesn't tell me anything. We don't know what was powering the BMW and we don't know if the Ford had a stock curb weight.