Stacy94PGT

Ford halts work on engine

Development costs shelve V-8 intended to compete with high-output rivals.

By Eric Mayne / The Detroit News

Ford Motor Co. has halted development of a new, high-output V-8 engine designed to boost the performance of future F-150 pickup models and challenge the popularity of DaimlerChrysler AG's acclaimed Hemi.

The program was suspended because of high development costs, according to Ford officials.

Code-named Hurricane, the 6.2-liter engine was seen as Ford's response to the 5.7-liter Hemi, which has attracted a cult-like following among consumers. A larger 425-horsepower 6.1-liter version of the Hemi will debut this year on the Chrysler 300C SRT8 sedan and Dodge Magnum SRT8 wagon.

While consumer demand for horsepower remains strong, Ford has come under repeated attack from environmentalists for placing at or near the bottom of the industry's fuel economy rankings.

For years, the automaker's average fleet fuel economy has been lower than competitors, spawning anti-Ford campaigns such as Jumpstart Ford, which urges the automaker to adopt advanced fuel efficiency technologies more quickly.

Ford is not abandoning the profitable high-output or high-performance engine market, however. And the automaker's racing arm continues to research and develop new engines.

On Sunday, Ford Racing recorded a 1-2 finish at the opening event of the 2005 Grand-Am Cup season at Daytona with a pair of Mustangs powered by 5.0-liter V-8 engines that debuted at the 2004 New York Auto Show in the Mustang GT-R concept car.

"The 5.0-liter Cammer engine family represents the future of Ford Racing Performance Parts," said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology.

Ford is also developing an all-aluminum 6.4-liter V-10 engine that produces 605 horsepower. Featured in the Shelby GR-1 concept car that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show, it's lighter than the 550-horsepower supercharged V-8 engine that powers the 2005 Ford GT.

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Stacy94PGT
My first car was a 67 Mustang Coupe, 2nd one was a 67 Cougar XR-7, 3rd one was a 66 Mustang Coupe. Why did I get rid of these cars for ? I know why, because I'm stupid, stupid, stupid.

My next Ford.....