Using the latest common-rail fuel-injection technology, the 128 horsepower (130 PS) engine delivers peak torque of 244 lb-ft (330 Nm) at a relatively low 1,800 rpm - an ideal quality for off-roading or urban driving. Plus, Ford has engineered the engine technology to deliver overboost that provides an extra surge of power on driver demand for situations such as hill climbing. Overboost generates an even higher torque of 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) for a limited time under full throttle.

Sophisticated, electronically controlled injectors are central to the Bronco concept's common-rail system. The system delivers fuel at extremely high pressure Ð up to 20,300 psi (1,400 bar) - to the injectors. The fuel is delivered to the cylinders with high precision and control that results in greater performance and torque and excellent fuel economy.

Power is transmitted to the Bronco's wheels through a revolutionary new six-speed PowerShiftª transmission that significantly improves performance and fuel economy.

PowerShift is the result of a Ford-Getrag joint venture, a transmission that will be seen in Ford Motor Company products later in the decade. In gasoline applications, PowerShift promises a 12-percent fuel economy advantage over today's four-speed automatic transmissions and provides capability to handle a whopping 332 lb-ft (450 nm) of torque in a compact package.

"A twin wet-clutch module replaces the traditional torque converter and operates using hydraulic actuation. This feature is similar to the clutch found on a typical manual transmission," said Ernie DeVincent, department manager for transmissions and drivelines in Ford Advanced Research and Engineering.

"However, manual transmissions or automated manual transmissions change gears by disengaging the clutch, which interrupts the flow of torque and can cause rough shifts," DeVincent said. "The PowerShift approach changes gears by power-shifting from one clutch to the other, giving smooth shift quality equal to a typical automatic transmission."

The PowerShift transmission uses a layshaft architecture, which also has more in common with manual transmissions than typical automatics, with gears arranged on two parallel shafts. Within the PowerShift transmission, one clutch connects to the odd gears (1, 3, 5), the other clutch to the even gears (2, 4, 6). The dual-clutch layshaft has better mechanical efficiency than conventional automatic transmissions by eliminating the torque converter and the drag losses of an open clutch. A typical four-speed FWD automatic transmission has approximately 68 percent mechanical efficiency (on the EPA fuel economy test), vs. 80 percent for a PowerShift transmission.

Combined with the Duratorq TDCi diesel, the PowerShift promises 5 percent better fuel economy than a conventional six-speed automatic transmission, and 6 percent better acceleration times...more