Ford Motor Co. has started producing its 2.0-liter and 2.3-liter EcoBoost engines at the Cleveland Engine Plant for North American assembly lines. The 2.0-liter engine is installed in the new Ford Edge. The 2.3-liter engine is installed in the new Ford Mustang and Explorer, and the Linoln MKC.

EcoBoost is a series of smaller engines that offer power and fuel economy by incorporating turbocharging, gasoline direct injection, and variable valve timing. The two engines added to the Cleveland Engine Plant production program are redesigned, four-cylinder designs, with a higher compression ratio (9.7:1) than the preceding design (9.3:1) and updated turbocharger, fuel, and oil system upgrades.

It’s the first time these two engines are being produced in North America.

Ford retooled the Cleveland operation to handle regional demand for EcoBoost engines in its larger vehicles, which had been supplied by Ford from its plant in Valencia, Spain. The automaker noted that utility vehicle sales are up 135% since 2009, its fastest-growing segment globally, and they account for roughly 20% of overall market globally. By 2020, utility vehicle sales are expected to reach 23% of global sales.

“With more than 4 million Eco Boost-powered vehicles on the road today, Cleveland Engine has been at the forefront of our plan to provide our customers with fuel-efficient, affordable engines,” stated Bruce Hettle, Ford v.p. - North America Manufacturing.

In 2013, Ford outlined a $200-million plan at Cleveland to expand production of the two engine series, identifying rising consumer demand and its own strategy of establishing regional engine assembly for its engine series.

The Cleveland Engine Plant also builds the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine and 3.7-liter V6 rear-wheel drive application. The plant has over 1,300 workers now, and has produced more than 1 million Eco Boost engines since 2009, for Ford assembly lines in North America and around the world.