Ford To Discontinue Its In-line Six Engine Production.

[Forged]

Ford Australia has confirmed they will bring to an end 81 years of engine manufacturing at Geelong at the cost of 600 jobs in a move that will devastate the local economy.

As predicted, Ford said it a statement today that they would stop production of their in-line six cylinder engine and replace it with an imported V6.

"From 2010 Ford Australia will import a global new Duratec V6 engine, including high performance derivatives, for use in the company's locally made Falcon, Falcon Ute and Territory model lines," the statement said.

"As a result, the company will discontinue its Australian I6 engine operations in Geelong in 2010. Redeployment opportunities will be maximised wherever possible and the company will work closely with its employees and unions to minimise the impact on the 600 people affected by the decision across engine operations."

Earlier, "shattered" Ford workers learnt their fate as the federal government the job losses.

Victorian premier Steve Bracks and Prime Minister John Howard vowed to help affected workers find new jobs shortly after the announcement.

Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) vehicle division federal secretary Ian Jones said the workers felt cheated as moves were underway to cater for Ford employees put out of work.

Mr Jones said the state and federal governments would fund a $24 million regional development package, aimed to help the 600 workers secure suitable employment.

More at http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleD...ArticleID=41787

Why will it be missed?

Ford Australia's six-cylinder turbo is world class (quote from drive blog)

"There’s never been any question that Ford’s turbocharged engine is a good thing. Much to the frustration of some Ford marketeers, its V8-beating performance has made the XR6 Turbo something of an Aussie muscle-car bargain.

For me, though, BMW’s turbocharged six-cylinder is further justification of just how good the Falcon turbo is. Since arriving on the scene in 2006, the BMW engine has received rapturous praise, for good reason.

It’s been lauded for its supreme mid-range performance and enthusiastic high-speed response.

With 225kW and 400Nm – to deliver the sort of flexible mid-range response people once dreamed of – the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged six-cylinder is a deserving winner of the 2007 Engine of the Year award.

But the Ford engine ain’t far off it in terms of what it does. The first time I drove BMW’s engine, though, it instantly reminded me of the BMW turbo, which is hardly surprising given they’re two of a trio of turbocharged, inline six-cylinder engines on the market (the other being from Volvo).

The Ford engine dishes out 245kW and plenty of torque (480Nm), for effortless mid-range response. Sure, it’s bigger than the BMW (at 4.0 litres) and is lugging around more weight, but what it lacks in technology it makes up for with results.

Yes, the BMW engine is ultimately a lot more refined. It’s smoother, more responsive right down low in the rev range, and happier reaching to its higher revs.

But it would want to be; it’s an expensive engine with all the might of one of Germany’s finest behind it. It’s also got two turbos to the Ford engine’s one.

And, at the end of the day, the Ford’s six-cylinder turbo is in no way disgraced against the 'Engine of the Year'. "

Source:http://blogs.drive.com.au/2007/07/ford_aus...ylinder_tu.html

[Hillzy]

Such a shame for Ford and especially it's employees. This is the beginning of the end for car manufacturing in Australia (well it's been going on for a while now). Start getting used to speaking to a chinese GPS system... goodbye quality.

I also agree that the Falcon I6T is a fantasic engine, being an all blue man myself I was wrapped to see the SS commodore get whipped by not only a Ford but a turbo I6 Ford!

[M34N]

Serious question here, but why is an inline 6 better than a V6 when turbo'd? Is it just better air flow into the turbo and therefore better response, or is it more technical?

[dangerous_daveo]

I love the media.

2010 it gets shut down. So these workers have a fair bit of time to find new jobs. At the same time 2010 Ford will start producing the focus here in Australia, which will employ 300 workers (yes its not 600, but it is a start). This will then potentially become a good export for Australia, which will then inturn have more people employed as a result.

Sure its sad that its ended, but they really need to let go.

[VB-]

easier with piping/manifolding is probly the most obvious benefit with an inline motor. makes overall packaging easier IMO

[NYTSKY]

Ive owned 3 cars with inline 6 motors (2 fords and the skyline) IMO its a great engine design.Easy engine to work with,nothing is hidden or hard to get at.Ford are obviously going to the V6 option because of cost and the fact smaller more fuel efficient cars will be produced in the future.

I will always have an inline 6 in my garage

[GTAAAH]

On the up side ford are replacing there crappy 8's with jaguar engines in 2010.. hopefully they'll be some competition for the ls2 powered ss's by then

[Sarumatix]

another big reason for the inline 6 which is one of the reasons nissan stuck with it, is that they are perfectly balanced.

[RBwhatever]

another big reason for the inline 6 which is one of the reasons nissan stuck with it, is that they are perfectly balanced.

Nissan don't produce the RB series engines anymore. Nor the SR20's and VG30's.

The in-line 6 has been replaced with the VQ series V6.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Edited August 26, 2007 by KeyMaker

[predator]

This is old news isn't it? Announced a month or two ago??

V series engines are often smoother to drive and more refined than straight 6's.. Can't really write off the whole car just because they're changing the engine. I'm sure it will be much more advanced than the ford's old inline 6.

[djr81]

This is old news isn't it? Announced a month or two ago??

V series engines are often smoother to drive and more refined than straight 6's.. Can't really write off the whole car just because they're changing the engine. I'm sure it will be much more advanced than the ford's old inline 6.

There some fundamental differences between V & straight sixes & some important reasons why Ford has chosen to discontinue the inline 6.

1. There is a new emissions regulation being implemented which would start to affect Ford in, surprise, surprise 2010. It is the Euro 4 standard & the current inline 6 doesn't meet it. So Ford would have to do a large amount of engineering to bring the current engine up to that standard.

2. Ford would also have to do extensive work on the inline 6's NVH to keep it competitive.

3. Yes inline 6's are inherently balanced, but they do suffer from torsional vibration in their long crankshafts.

4. V 6's depending on whether they are 60 degree or 90 degree variants have different vibration characteristics.

5. Because of the extra space left uner the bonnet it is easier to engineer a v6 motor for crash testing.

The old inline 6 was a good motor. It is a shame to see them go the way of the dodo. I just hope that Ford can find a motor that is better than the POS Holden use & better than their useless bloody V8's.

[scathing]

But the Ford engine ain’t far off it in terms of what it does. The first time I drove BMW’s engine, though, it instantly reminded me of the BMW turbo, which is hardly surprising given they’re two of a trio of turbocharged, inline six-cylinder engines on the market (the other being from Volvo).

Driving the BMW engine reminds him of the BMW engine...? Ah, Drive's editors showing their mettle again......

[rollin_on_18_strong]

the duratec v6's have been out in the uk for a long time, not great engines in my book.

[mad082]

just think, with the new v6's you could bolt a twin turbo motor out of a noble straight in!!!!! if you can afford one.

the v6's have been round for years. they had a 2.5L v6 in the ford probe.

but with all the crap going on about ford having to sack workers, what is the alternative? keep the plant open, go bankrupt after 6 months and then have to fire everyone anyway? ford is a company, and companies are there to make money, not be a charity and employ heaps of people and pay out every cent they make in wages. especially when the unions keep wanting pay rises.

that's what puzzles me. all the unions want employers to pay people more to cover the rising costs of living. ever wondered why they are rising? you get a pay rise. the business then has to make more profit to cover this extra money so it has to put it's prices up. this makes things more expensive for you so you are no better off than where you were, so you get another pay rise, the business puts its prices up again, etc, etc, etc.

unions seem to want employers to make no money and employees to make millions

[Abo Bob]

Yes Mr Howard. You are soooo right.

[Forged]

Yes Mr Howard. You are soooo right.

LOL

from the latest MOTOR:

The replacement will be, as you all know by now, a US built 3.5l Duratec V6 which will arrive here first in Mazda's CX9 in December.

Its an all alloy 3.5l V6 outputs 197kw at 6250rpm on 87 octane US fuel, which should deliver well over 200kw on our premium fuel if not in par with the Nissan 3.5l V6 that comes in the 350Z.

The next XR6 Turbo has been assured by Ford displaying a twin-turbo version of the Duratec 35 aka TwinForce, in the Detroit Motor Show in Jan.

"TwinForce" produces 309kw and 540Nm on E85 ethanol.

The next Boss V8 will be replaced by the 5.0l all alloy V8 from Jaguar's C-XF, in both N/A and Supercharged versions.

[M34N]

that's what puzzles me. all the unions want employers to pay people more to cover the rising costs of living. ever wondered why they are rising? you get a pay rise. the business then has to make more profit to cover this extra money so it has to put it's prices up. this makes things more expensive for you so you are no better off than where you were, so you get another pay rise, the business puts its prices up again, etc, etc, etc.

Well, it's more like the problem is that governments keeps encouraging people to spend by giving yearly tax cuts, baby bonuses, no stamp duty for new home buyers, spending more in the budgets and pushing up costs, etc etc... then coupled with low unemployment, a rising stock market, tax breaks on superannuation and the resource boom, of course people have money to burn and that is what's causing so much price inflation. What makes it even worse is the banks loan out money to anyone and everyone, especially people it knows it shouldn't be giving more money to, causing credit bubbles for a lot of people who can't repay the money they've borrowed not only to buy rising house prices, but for things like TV's and cars and other luxury goods, and they have to pay even more interest on repayments they can't make. Companies are just as much to blame as all levels of governments (from local to state and federal) and even individuals for not saving and just persisting to spend all on growing credit. Plus, the lower Australian dollar making it easier to import more goods and spend even more money, then lets not forget the price of petrol, the drought pushing up prices on agricultural goods, a growing population with little increase in housing causing the housing problems and pushing up rent/land prices...

Anyway, that's my lecture on economics

[predator]

It's the individuals at the end of the day.. not companies, not the government, but each and every one of us.

The ones that don't care whether they're buying a cheap korean built car, or one built in Australia to keep jobs in Australia - simply as one of them is a lot cheaper for the same specs on paper. Only way the Aussie manaufacturers to compete is to start using more and more overseas parts. If people were prepared to pay more for quality, things would be different, but people simply don't care about this side of the buying equation anymore.

It's all the lowest price, which leads to lower quality products, and eventually even the higher quality manufacturers have to start shaving their costs, leading to even lower quality high-end products.

[Stinky Rooster]

yeah....so....about that ford engine...

[Gregors]

Isn't the new V8 they are using going to be pushrod now, the same as the LS1/LS2's and variants?