EcoBoost!  and The 2012 Ford Explorer

by Rochelle Brown 

EcoBoost!  I love the sound of the word. It’s powerful.  It’s speaks of the earth and energy.  Recently, I was invited by Ford to learn what EcoBoost is all about and to drive one of its most popular vehicles with this technology, the 2012 Ford Explorer.

A knowledgeable Ford Engineer explained to our group that EcoBoost is actually a group of engines produced by the Ford Motor Company.  These engines boast of delivering approximately 20% better fuel efficiency and about 15% less greenhouse emissions.  EcoBoost technology can be found in several Ford turbocharged six- and four- cylinder vehicles.  The energy savings could asily make these vehicles an affordable alternative to the hybrids on the market.   In womanspeak, that means for me, if I choose to drive a Ford vehicle with EcoBoost,   I get to do something good for the earth and I’ll have more money to spend on shoes.  Sounds like a deal to me.

After a great presentation about the technology, I was able to experience EcoBoost first hand with a drive in a 2012 Ford Explorer.  Let me offer a disclaimer here.  One of the cars I own is actually a Ford Explorer.  It is 13 years old and has never heard of EcoBoost.  So, I was too excited to feel this new technology and get back home to tell Goldie, that my ’98 Explorer, all about it.

A marketing representative from Ford and I took off for a jaunt through the countryside.  It only took about 30 seconds to understand what EcoBoost was all about.  EcoBoost is a smooth burst of energy that propels the vehicle through all sorts of road conditions.  Smooth stretches of highways, hills, curves and bumps all while getting nearly 30 miles per gallon of gas.  Of course, the Ford Explorer is one of the most exciting and reliable SUV’s on the market. I guess what I noticed most was not what I could see about the car, but how it felt as I drove it.  Quite comfortable.  Easy to handle and absolutely beautiful inside and out.  Now I know why it won the 2011 Truck of the Year award.

Upon returning to our destination, I was invited to try a couple of other quick demos that would show us even more how special the Ford Explorer really is.  First, I drove an obstacle course weaving in and out of cones.  Luckily, I didn’t down too many of them.  Then, I had a chance to experience the blind spot technology, which is really terrific for me.  Changing lanes these days can be treacherous, but a quick glance in the exterior mirrors will show any car that is in your lind spot before you make your move.  But best of all, I love the park assist.  Parallel parking is not something I’m really good at...at all!  But in a Ford Explorer with park assist, I don’t have to be.  I simply kept tapping the break and the car parked effortlessly on its own.  So wonderful!!!

I do need to tell our readers that EcoBoost is an option on many Ford vehicles.  It costs about $995 more.  A small price to pay for better gas mileage and an effort to help the earth. 

About the author:

Rochelle Brown is an Emmy-winning broadcast  journalist now writing about cars and the auto industry and travel.