DETROIT – Ford Motor Company is introducing a new engine technology called EcoBoost that will deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy on half a million Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles annually in North America during the next five years. The EcoBoost family of four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines features turbocharging and direct injection technology.

“EcoBoost is meaningful because it can be applied across a wide variety of engine types in a range of vehicles, from small cars to large trucks — and it’s affordable,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development. “Compared with the current cost of diesel and hybrid technologies, customers in North America can expect to recoup their initial investment in a 4-cyl. EcoBoost engine through fuel savings in approximately 30 months. A diesel in North America will take an average of seven and one-half years, while the cost of a hybrid will take nearly 12 years to recoup — given equivalent miles driven per year and fuel costs,” he said.

Ford will introduce EcoBoost on the new Lincoln MKS flagship in 2009, followed by the Ford Flex and other vehicles. By 2013, Ford will have more than half a million EcoBoost-powered vehicles on the road annually in North America.

In 2009, Ford first will introduce EcoBoost on the Lincoln MKS featuring a 3.5L twin-turbocharged V-6. It will produce the power and torque of a V-8 engine with the fuel efficiency of a V-6.

EcoBoost — combined with multi-speed transmissions, advanced electric power steering, weight reductions, and aerodynamic improvements — is part of Ford Motor Company’s strategy to deliver sustainable, quality vehicles. Additional hybrid offerings and diesel engines are planned for light-duty vehicles.

Longer term, Ford plans to remain aggressive in the development of plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles.