We constantly hear discussion of how certain engine families have evolved into near perfection and heaps of praise are then hoisted upon them.
Nissan's VQ series comes immediately to mind. So does VAG's VR6 and 1.8/2.0 four cylinders.
But Ford's Duratec never seems to get the acknowledgment it deserves.
The engine's R&D involved input from Ford's Cosworth division, and Porsche.
The Duratec appeared for the first time(in the US, anyway) in the 1995 Contour. 175hp, DOHC, all-aluminum construction, and improved gas mileage highlighted the new, modern powerplant.
In '96 the 3.0L stepped in the new Taurus/Sable. As an optional upgrade over the aging iron block, OHV, Vulcan engine, it put out 200hp vs the aging Vulcan's 160hp with no penalty in MPG's.
Since the debut of the Duratec back in the mid-nineties, there have been numerous evolutions and varients. Power for the 2.5L increased in the SVT Contour in '98 to 200hp. In '03 Mazda stuffed a version of the 3.0L into it's new Mazda6 with VVT. It put out 220hp.
Today, the Duratec line powers many different vehicles. Fusion, Edge, Flex, Mazda6, Mazda CX-9, MKZ, MKX, MKS, and more Im not thinking of at the moment. In these various applications it appears in 3.5L, 3.7L, and 3.5L w/ecoboost dress pumping out 250-350hp. That's what I call progress!
Supercar manufacturer Noble recommends the Duratec 3.0L as the donor engine of choice for a radical build-up that includes twin-turbos to power it's M12.
So, again I ask, does the Duratech get it's just due? When introduced, it definitely trumped any modern V6 lineups of the other two of the big three.
GM' mish-mash of sixes still utilized archaic technologies that were on their way out in favor of the DI lineup they have today.
Chrysler didn't have much to brag about during that era either. They sourced some of their sixes from Mitsubishi, and some of their own developments like the 2.7 and 3.5L proved to be pretty unreliable and have since been sent out to pasture.
IMO, the Duratec has evolved impressively over the past 15 years, and deserves to be equally well-regarded as other such long evolving engine families like Nissan's VQ series, for example.
Nissan's VQ series comes immediately to mind. So does VAG's VR6 and 1.8/2.0 four cylinders.
But Ford's Duratec never seems to get the acknowledgment it deserves.
The engine's R&D involved input from Ford's Cosworth division, and Porsche.
The Duratec appeared for the first time(in the US, anyway) in the 1995 Contour. 175hp, DOHC, all-aluminum construction, and improved gas mileage highlighted the new, modern powerplant.
In '96 the 3.0L stepped in the new Taurus/Sable. As an optional upgrade over the aging iron block, OHV, Vulcan engine, it put out 200hp vs the aging Vulcan's 160hp with no penalty in MPG's.
Since the debut of the Duratec back in the mid-nineties, there have been numerous evolutions and varients. Power for the 2.5L increased in the SVT Contour in '98 to 200hp. In '03 Mazda stuffed a version of the 3.0L into it's new Mazda6 with VVT. It put out 220hp.
Today, the Duratec line powers many different vehicles. Fusion, Edge, Flex, Mazda6, Mazda CX-9, MKZ, MKX, MKS, and more Im not thinking of at the moment. In these various applications it appears in 3.5L, 3.7L, and 3.5L w/ecoboost dress pumping out 250-350hp. That's what I call progress!
Supercar manufacturer Noble recommends the Duratec 3.0L as the donor engine of choice for a radical build-up that includes twin-turbos to power it's M12.
So, again I ask, does the Duratech get it's just due? When introduced, it definitely trumped any modern V6 lineups of the other two of the big three.
GM' mish-mash of sixes still utilized archaic technologies that were on their way out in favor of the DI lineup they have today.
Chrysler didn't have much to brag about during that era either. They sourced some of their sixes from Mitsubishi, and some of their own developments like the 2.7 and 3.5L proved to be pretty unreliable and have since been sent out to pasture.
IMO, the Duratec has evolved impressively over the past 15 years, and deserves to be equally well-regarded as other such long evolving engine families like Nissan's VQ series, for example.