The Struandale Engine Plant (SEP) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, will begin production of a new Power Stroke 3,2-litre diesel engine for the North American market in early 2014.
The five-cylinder engine, built off the Puma Global Ranger family of i4 and i5 engines, will be one of three engines available for the new North American Transit produced in Kansas City, Missouri. Transit will eventually replace the current Ford E-series commercial van family sold in the US.
“The build-up to Job 1 for the North American Transit engine production is proceeding well and according to plan,” says Satya Banda, Plant Manager of the Struandale Engine Plant.
Installation of the new equipment required for the 31 000 unit increase in installed capacity has been completed and several batches of trial and pre-production engines have been shipped to the vehicle plant in Kansas City.
“This is the first time Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa will be exporting to the US, and the feedback from the Kansas City plant, as well as the results from the series of extended durability tests performed on production validation engines on our high-tech dyno have been very encouraging,” Banda states.
The new Power Stroke 3.2 engine is expected to be B20 biodiesel compatible and to appeal to commercial van customers in industries such as emergency services, construction and delivery logistics, where fuel economy, cost of ownership and longevity are of paramount importance.
North American Transit i5 engine – just for engineers to salivate over – go ahead and save the image!
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