After witnessing the giant success of Fiat’s TwinAir engine, Ford decided they need their very own super small engine. So that they made a 1 liter three-cylinder EcoBoost unit.

To be launched globally in Ford small cars, this new engine promises power and function of standard four-cylinder units with much greater fuel economy. Ford also announced development in their first eight-speed automatic transmission. That and its new hybrid transmission will further strengthen the corporate’s lineup of fuel-efficient vehicles.

The new 1 liter engine was designed and developed in UK and introduces many new technologies which may someday join the DNA of future Ford engines. They’ve thinking about improving thermal efficiency and reducing friction of the engine’s internal moving parts, especially during warm-up.  The 1.0-liter engine features:

An offset crankshaft that helps improve fuel economy
An advanced, Ford-designed split cooling system that enables the cylinder block to warm up before the cylinder head. Faster cylinder block warm-ups save fuel, especially in cold weather
An exhaust manifold cast into the cylinder head. The only-piece assembly lowers the temperature of the exhaust gases. This permits the engine to run in a wider rpm band with the optimum fuel-to-air ratio. The hot design also saves weight and allows the engine to function more smoothly
EcoBoost technologies, comparable to turbocharging, direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT)

Performance and fuel economy figures of the recent engine are yet to be announced, but when Ford want’s it to achieve success, they must make sure that it’s not dull and slow. That’s what makes the Fiat’s engine so popular. That isn’t particularly economical for a 2-cylinder unit, nevertheless it’s so fun to drive that you just wouldn’t care!

As mentioned Ford has also developed two new transmissions. Here’s some technical details on them:

This year, Ford offers more automatic, manual or dual-clutch automatic six-speed transmissions across its lineup than the other full-line automaker. From the subcompact Fiesta to the industrial-strength F-Series Super Duty pickup, one hundred pc of Ford’s lineup of cars, trucks, SUVs and CUVs feature fuel-saving six-speed transmissions.

Like the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine, advanced technology might be a key feature of the hot Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built eight-speed automatic currently under development, Bakaj said. “The recent gearbox stands out as the first with a variety of advanced new technologies for you to provide faster, smoother and more positive shifts,” he said.

The eight-speed transmission will feature:

Ford’s next-generation clutch controls
An input torque sensor, which measures torque entering the transmission. The sensor enables faster choice of the correct gear, reduces hunting and helps smooth out shifts
Actuators built into the case for tighter, more precise control of hydraulic pressure
Closed-loop control

More details on production and applications shall be released at a later date.

In-house hybrid transmission

Another new Ford transmission, to be installed in hybrid vehicles, starts production late this year at Van Dyke Transmission Plant in suburban Detroit. Full volume production is slated for the 1st quarter of 2012.

By next spring, Ford expects to be manufacturing more hybrid transmissions in North America than every other automaker or supplier. The recent transmission replaces a unit currently made in Japan this is used today in Ford and Lincoln hybrids.

As with the recent eight-speed, the brand new hybrid transmission is Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built. It’s an e-CVT or electronic continuously variable transmission. The brand new hybrid transmission will offer improved performance over the present unit. The present Ford Fusion Hybrid can reach a top speed of 47 mph on electricity and go as far as one mile.

Within the last year, Ford has invested $135 million to design, engineer and manufacture key components for its expanding lineup of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. The investment not just brings in-house battery and hybrid transmission production, it also has created not less than 220 jobs in Michigan.

Ford is heading in the right direction to launch five electrified vehicles within the U.S. by 2012 and in Europe by 2013.

“It’s absolutely essential for Ford to further develop its core competencies in engineering electrified powertrains,” Kuzak said. “With this new Ford-built hybrid transmission, and assembly of battery packs at our Rawsonville plant, Ford can be positioned well to satisfy the standard and performance requirements of future electric and hybrid vehicles.”