Ford 1.0 Liter Ecoboost Wins Int’l Engine of the Year Award…Again

Tiny powerhouse pushes the boundaries of power plant engineering.

For the sixth consecutive year, Ford’s tiny 1.0 liter Ecoboost engine has been named the International Engine of the Year Best Engine Under 1.0-liter. That makes the pint-sized powerhouse undefeated in the category since its 2012 debut, which is a testament to just how far ahead of the curve this revolutionary engine remains.

Over that same time span, the 1.0 liter Ecoboost has racked up ten total International Engine of the Year awards. They include a record three overall wins and a best newcomer award in 2012. The latest win comes from the award’s panel of 58 automotive journalists that span 31 countries. And this year, the competition was stronger than ever, with a total of 35 sub-1.0 liter engines vying for the prize.

“The baby Ford Ecoboost engine is still the best 1.0-liter, three-cylinder design around, despite newer powertrains arriving on the scene,” says Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the 19th International Engine of the Year Awards that were held in Stuttgart, Germany, and editor-in-chief of Engine Technology International. “Even more impressive is that it is the first-ever powertrain to secure its class title every year it has been nominated.”

The 1.0 liter uses loads of technology to strike a balance between efficiency and power in a tiny package. For 2018, that includes cylinder deactivation, which automatically stops one of the engine’s cylinders when coasting or cruising. The activation/deactivation takes a mere 14 milliseconds — 20 times faster than the blink of an eye.

Even without that latest tech, the 1.0 liter Ecoboost returns upwards of 45 mpg’s in the Fiesta. But even more impressive than that figure is its power output – either 99, 123, or 138 horsepower. That might not seem like much on paper. But the 123 hp version has the same power per liter as a Bugatti Veyron. And it has more torque per liter than any other engine in Ford’s lineup. Now that’s what we call efficiency.

Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.