Ford has announced a GBP70m investment at its Bridgend engine plant in Wales to produce next generation, low CO2, 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engines.
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The latest spend takes the automaker’s investment at Bridgend to GBP315m in the last five years and increases the capacity to almost 1,000,000 units a year.
The latest spend includes Welsh Assembly Government support of GBP13.4m.
The new 1.6-litre engines will go into production within two years and will be among the first of a new generation of global petrol powertrains, known as EcoBoost, featuring turbocharging and direct injection technology.
Ford said the EcoBoost engines would deliver improved fuel economy and emissions without compromising driving performance and provide an alternative route to hybrid or diesel efficiency.
Compared with current larger displacement petrol engines of similar power, these new engines are expected to provide up to 20% better fuel economy, 15% lower CO2 emissions and superior driving performance.
Bridgend currently makes four-, six- and eight-cylinder petrol engines for Ford, Jaguar and Volvo with capacities ranging from 1.25 to 4.4 litres.
Ford of Europe chairman and CEO John Fleming said: “We’re pleased to be able to invest further in the Ford Bridgend facility. The Bridgend team will play an important role in delivering these new engines, which add an innovative ingredient to petrol engine technology and deliver a combination of low emissions and efficient performance that will be vital to meet future customer needs around the world.”
