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News: Ford Racing EcoBeast Engines

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By EditorTurner

News: Ford Racing EcoBeast Engines

’Beast Mode

Ford trademarked the EcoBeast moniker for Ford Racing’s growing line of EcoBoost crate engines

By Steve Turner
Photos by Stacy Stangz and courtesy of Ford Motor Company

Recently word spread throughout the Internet that Ford had trademarked the name EcoBeast. Since the company’s future seems tightly intertwined with its EcoBoost technology, it should be no surprise that Ford wanted to lock down such a cool variation on the theme. However, many people wondered what that trademark foreshadowed for these Gas Turbo Direct Injection engines.

This is the original EcoBeast! The moniker began as a nickname for Ford Racing’s silver EcoBoost Mustang, which ran a 12.56 at 109 mph as part of the company’s famous .99 Challenge video.
This is the original EcoBeast! The moniker began as a nickname for Ford Racing’s silver EcoBoost Mustang, which ran a 12.56 at 109 mph as part of the company’s famous .99 Challenge video.

While automotive gossip sites have speculated that the name would find itself on the fender of a production vehicle, that sort of talk is just speculation. We learned the real story when we spotted an EcoBeast sign in front of the Ford Racing display at last year’s SEMA Show. Seeing that artwork in front of the Ford Racing trailer made it quite clear this branding was more about parts than vehicles.

However, the moniker originated with a significant EcoBoost vehicle. Ford Racing put together three Mustangs for its famous .99 Challenge video, where the factory performance parts division modded 2015 Mustangs and ran record-setting e.t.’s before the cars even hit the streets. One of those cars was its silver 2015 EcoBoost Mustang, which ripped off a 12.56 at 109 mph.

If you need a refresher, you can watch the video right here:

Wondering why Ford trademarked the name EcoBeast? Well, we learned that way back at The SEMA Show when we saw this sign. The name will be applied to Ford Racing’s burgeoning line of EcoBoost crate engines.
Wondering why Ford trademarked the name EcoBeast? Well, we learned that way back at The SEMA Show when we saw this sign. The name will be applied to Ford Racing’s burgeoning line of EcoBoost crate engines.

The Ford Racing EcoBoost Mustang ran this number with nothing more than a performance calibration, an off-road exhaust, and 3.73 gears. Sure, it also had beefier halfshafts and sticky tires, but those were the basic performance mods. Significant to this story was the off-road exhaust, which was nothing more than a cat-free downpipe that dumped out right under the car. It sounded so badass that the car earned the nickname EcoBeast.

As Ford Racing sought a way to brand its growing lineup of EcoBoost crate engines, the EcoBeast name fit the bill and they trademarked it. Currently, there are two EcoBoost engines in the Ford Racing catalog—the 2.0-liter from the Focus ST and the 3.5-liter from the F-150. However, we are certain that the list of EcoBoost crate engines will grow.

Right now only the 2.0-liter is supported by one of Ford Racing’s Control Pack PCM/harness packages, but the 3.5-liter Control Pack is on the way. A fine example of the 3.5-liter EcoBeast swap is a Factory Five ’33 Hot Rod that debuted at The SEMA Show and held court in Ford Racing’s booth at the PRI Show.

You can learn a little more about the EcoBeast Hot Rod right here…

Now you know the real story behind the EcoBeast name. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for EcoBeast-powered vehicles.

You have to love the Ford Racing EcoBeast artwork. Could the Gas Turbo Direct Injection engine in this Pony’s car be inhaling a Brand X engine?
You have to love the Ford Racing EcoBeast artwork. Could the Gas Turbo Direct Injection engine in this Pony’s car be inhaling a Brand X engine?
The poster child for Ford Racing’s growing line of EcoBoost crate engines is this 3.5-liter EcoBeast-powered Factory Five ’33 Hot Rod. With 365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm, this 2,500-pound car must be a blast.
The poster child for Ford Racing’s growing line of EcoBoost crate engines is this 3.5-liter EcoBeast-powered Factory Five ’33 Hot Rod. With 365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm, this 2,500-pound car must be a blast.
Ford Racing offers the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine out of the Focus ST as a crate engine and supports it with one of the company’s famed Control Pack PCM and wiring harness setups, which give you all the support needed to swap the engine in an older vehicle. This engine produces 252 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm.
Ford Racing offers the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine out of the Focus ST as a crate engine and augments it with one of the company’s famed Control Pack PCM and wiring harness setups, which give you all the support needed to swap the engine in an older vehicle. This engine produces 252 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm.
Also offered as a crate engine from Ford Racing is the 365hp, 3.5-liter EcoBoost from the F-150. A Control Pack for this engine is forthcoming, which will ease the swap of this engine as well.
Also offered as a crate engine from Ford Racing is the 365hp, 3.5-liter EcoBoost from the F-150. A Control Pack for this engine is forthcoming.

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