As follow-up to my original post about the 2009 Escape, where I discovered in a vendor press release that a 6-speed automatic transmission was coming for the 2009 Escape (follow link in the title), I'll add that reports are beginning to appear about an update to the 3-liter V-6 engine. Apparently the engine will receive variable valve timing and an increase to 230 horses.
Speculation: this is a development of the the Fusion version of the "Duratec" 3 liter, which is already at 221 HP @ 6,250 rpm and 205 lb.-ft. @ 4,800 rpm. Furthermore, I'll speculate that the 2010 Fusion will receive the updated 3 liter as well. This would mean that only the Lincoln MKZ would continue to use the 3.5 - further differentiating the Lincoln from it's humble roots as a Fusion.
That's not all this engine is capable of making. In naturally aspirated 2006 Jaguar S-type form (with Jaguar designed cylinder heads), it makes 240 HP and 221 lb-ft torque. In the twin-turbo Noble 400, it makes 425bhp and 390 lb-ft. The engine has a long history in Ford. Ford subcontracted Porsche for the original engine design. It's been offered in 2 liter, 2.5 liter, and 3 liter form.
Apparently this engine it will continue to have a longer life than we might have thought and the all-new (and totally unrelated) Duratec V-6 will only be offered in larger displacements (3.5 for Ford, 3.7 for Mazda and Lincoln, and perhaps larger displacements for a future Ford truck).
Speaking of the "big" V -6, in 3.7 liter port-injected and variable intake-timing form it makes 270 HP @ 6,250 rpm and 265 lb-ft of torque @ 4,250 rpm (pre-production figures) in the 2009 Liincoln MKS. the 2009 Mazda CX-9 variation makes 273 HP and 270 lb-ft.
The industry-leading V-6 is the Infiniti 3.7 (port injected, variable timing on both intake and exhaust as well as variable lift) and it makes 330 HP and 270 lb-ft. Ford has some catch-up work to do in the naturally-aspirated area... although the upcoming single-turbo EcoBoost 3.5 amkes 340 HP (preliminary) and an unknown (although presumably very much higher) amount of torque. A twin-turbo version is also known to be in the works, although it won't appear until much later. It alledgedly makes almost 400 HP in early test form.
The Escape will finally have the transmission it needs to be competitive in 2009. However, it's V-6 it will still be limited in HP and especially in torque compared to the competition. We also know that the Fusion and Escape will receive an updated 2.5 liter 4-cylinder, as well as an updated hybrid engine based on this same 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine. These three powertrain options will provide a very broad range of offerings... arguably the broadest in the class.
Keep your eyes on the news... the 2009 Escape could be officially presented at the New York show in April.
