Ford is tapping boost gurus Honeywell for the turbochargers on its soon-to-launch EcoBoost engine technology that will be applied to the Lincoln MKS sedan next year.

The new Lincoln flagship will lead the first wave of Ford Motor Co. vehicles to use the EcoBoost strategy, which uses direct-injection fuel supply and turbocharging to get more torque and horsepower from smaller-displacement engines.

The twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine in the MKS is rated at 340 hp and more than 340 lb-ft of torque. That compares with 273 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque from the normally aspirated3.7-liter powerplant used in the MKS, as the vehicle was launched this summer.





The Ford Taurus and Flex also are expected to offer EcoBoost engines next year. Ford anticipates the technology will be on more than 80 percent of its North American lineup by the end of 2012.

"It is our core strategy," said John Viera, Ford's sustainable business strategies director.

A Mustang with EcoBoost, possibly a turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant, also is likely.

Ford says EcoBoost technology on smaller engines improves fuel economy by 20 percent and cuts emissions by 15 percent.

Ford and other automakers are turning to turbocharging as a way to maintain performance levels as gasoline prices remain high.

Honeywell, which makes more than 9 million turbochargers per year, is forecasting significant growth in the segment through 2013. The company also produces turbo technologies for Volkswagen, Mercedes and some European Ford vehicles.