- Unique Formula Ford race car makes its first appearance in Australia
- Unique road-legal racer records the 11th fastest lap ever at the Nürburgring’s famed Nordschleife circuit – 7 minutes, 22 seconds
- 1.0-litre EcoBoost-powered Formula Ford boasts an unofficial top speed of 255.5 km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of less than four seconds
SYDNEY, 09 Aug, 2013 – Ford’s tiny but feisty 1.0-litre EcoBoost open-wheeler race car has made a quick dash to Australia after winning rave reviews across Europe and on the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.
The diminutive race car has scored one of the fastest lap times ever at Germany’s famous circuit, proving that EcoBoost technology is a replacement for displacement.
“We built this road-legal race car to demonstrate the outer limits of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost in terms of performance and fuel efficiency,” according to Ford President and CEO, Bob Graziano.
“Once you experience the innovative 1.0-litre EcoBoost’s blend of performance and economy, everything else seems old school.”
Although the 1.0-litre EcoBoost-powered Formula Ford car isn’t available to buy, Ford has brought the car to Australia for the Go Further event on August 13.
Ford customers will soon be able to experience the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine in both the new Ford Fiesta and the all-new Ford EcoSport SUV.
By the end of 2013, almost 80 per cent of Ford’s global nameplates will be available with fuel-efficient EcoBoost technology.
Australian customers are already experiencing EcoBoost technology in the Focus ST, Mondeo, Falcon, and Ford Kuga SUV. The new Fiesta ST, on sale from September, also sports this premium engine technology.
Last September, the one-of a-kind, road-legal version of the Formula Ford single-seat racer completed the lap of the Nürburgring circuit in 7 minutes, 22 seconds to register the 11th fastest time ever on the circuit – a performance that puts it ahead of a host of Italian supercars.
The car’s unofficial top speed is tipped to be around 255.5 km/h with a 0-100 km/h time of less than four seconds. The vehicle completed the 20.832 km Nordschleife circuit at an average speed of 169 km/h.
The 1.0-litre EcoBoost-powered race car beat previously recorded fastest times of many supercars including the 515 kW Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, the 485 kW Ferrari Enzo and the 442 kW Pagani Zonda. No other three- or even four-cylinder car has posted a faster time at the legendary circuit.
In-house testing also showed the 1.0-litre EcoBoost-powered Formula Ford is capable of extremely frugal fuel economy, delivering 2.4 litres / 100 km at 56 km/h, and 5 litres / 100 km at 120 km/h.
Ford engineers have led several months of work on the project to switch the Formula Ford’s usual 134 kW1.6-litre EcoBoost power unit with a specially tuned 152 kW version of the company’s global 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, recently named “2013 International Engine of the Year” for the second year in a row.
The project team also modified the vehicle so it would be fully street legal for on-road use by fitting it with wheel covers, front and rear lights and indicators, aerodynamically designed wing mirrors and a horn. The car is fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox and was driven on road-legal tyres.
Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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