Think quick — what has the following specs, wears the Ford badge, and is entirely road legal?
- 1.0 liter EcoBoost engine good for 206 PS (203 horsepower)
- 2.5 bar (36 PSI) turbo boost pressure
- 215,000 RPM turbo speed
- 6-speed sequential gearbox
- 490 KG (1,080 pound) curb weight
If you answered “Formula Ford EcoBoost”, then you’re absolutely correct, and have earned the honor of being one knowledgeable reader.
Powered by Ford’s 1.0 liter EcoBoost three-banger that took the International Engine of the Year award in 2012 and in 2013, the Ford-spec race car is capable of reaching 60 MPH in under 3.5 seconds and attaining a top speed of 157 MPH. Interestingly, it has no windshield wipers, no Ford SYNC/MyFord Touch infotainment system, and very limited luggage space. But all that doesn’t prevent it from conquering the Nürburgring Nordscheleife in a blazing 7:21 — giving it the right to brag about running the 11th-fastest lap at the legendary track. For the sake of comparison, that’s roughly 18 seconds faster than the all-powerful Shelby GT500.
While the following video isn’t of the record-setting lap, it still shows the race car prowling the track and enticing us with that wonderful exhaust note. Watch for yourself:
Notice that the final few seconds of the video state that the Formula Ford EcoBoost is “not for sale… yet”? The key word is “yet”.
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