The Duratec name has been in use since at least 1996 if not 1995.... First in the Ford Contour/Mondeo on the 2.5L V6 engine all around the world... Then the 3.0L Duratec engine in the Taurus, Lincoln LS, Jaguar X and S-Type, Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute, etc.....

They have been using these new Duratec 4 cylinder engines over in Europe in the newly redesigned Mondeo in a 2.0L version, they also have 1.8L and 1.8L Turbo Diesel engines that are Duratec's.....

I havent seen any ads for any car using a Duratec engine that actually says it is a Duratec engine... They only state the engine size and the number of valves i.e :

Mercury Cougar 2.5L 24v DOHC All Aluminum V6

Granted the Cougar's Plastic engine cover says DURATEC on it....

Nevertheless... the 2.3L engine in the Ranger, Mazda6i, and soon to be Focus and Protege is a Duratec through and through...

Nikolas

"Duratec"

Ford's badge engineering at best... since they didn't do SHIT in the (4 cyl) engine designing process!

Yeah. Duratec and Zetec are just BS trade names for "Hey, we actually put more than one camshaft in here, aren't we frickin special".

Its a motor through and through. It is only a Duratec if Ford actually decides to call it that. There is no specific Duratec or Zetec technology that is any different from any other manufacturers DOHC technology.

Duratec && Zetec && VORTEC != variable_valve_timing

variable_valve_timing == VTEC, VTC, S-VT, VANOS, NeoVVL, VVT-i, VVTL-i, VVC, MIVEC

I think the pinto 2.3l engine is the pushrod version like that ised in the Tempo/topaz, and I'm not sure what else. I'd think that at the very least they would have used the sohc 2.3l that they used in the 4cyl MUstang and the Ranger. Which I would assume would be a different block.

nevermind

Ford and its love affair with the 2.3L. Had both the pushrod and SOHC versions, didn't really care for either.

I have a 2.3 SOHC ranger and it is very slow. There are many reasons for this: 1. it is a heavy little truck(3,200 lbs.) 2. it has a final drive ratio of 3.45:1 3. it is built like a brick 4. The head design is very inefficient because it's a dual plug head. I have been very satisfied with the little truck except it needs a little more power. It runs very well though.

later,
james

p.s. the name for the block is referred to as the lima block

Its going to look pretty good, needs bigger wheels though. As long as its got power, sign me up.

I don't know why a year ago, when Mazda6 was not out yet I heard that it will be one of the quietest cars in it's class compared to BMW 3 series due to it's rigid suspension and .....
new family of engines 2.3 liter was called as one of the smoohtest , vibration free , light , economical just one of the best engines in it's class!!!!
Is Mazda 6 really as quiet as a BMW3?
I don't think so.
And is 2.3 ( same family with Ford's Duratec HE used in european Mondeo, but let's not call it names)really a leader in it's class???
I know that it is a sporty sedan and it's engine (exhaust/intake design) was not tuned up to be really quiet, it's not powerful either like it's 6hp more EURO version and 15hp more Japaneese version.
Which way is Mazda really going?
Luxury = (quieter engine) but less power.
Sporty = (louder engine) but more power.
Where is the sence here, several people have complained that M6 2.3 is not really quiet and smooth like Mazda advertized it.
???

it's quieter and rides smoother than the new camry to me

the hp issue is EMISSIONS

What about this ? http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/...rachlos020.gif

http://pages.infinit.net/nasa/28888.jpg
http://pages.infinit.net/nasa/28889.jpg

that is quite photochopped

Hatch Photo
 

The top photo of the silver hatch IS the real thing. The bottom one is photoshopped. Someone over at edmunds.com has confermed that this is the real thing but the one coming to America looks a little more aggresive. He also added that we will be surprised how much difference there is between the sedan and the hatch. I can't wait to see a photo of the sedan!

I test drove one the other day and it had no more noise than the previous 626. IMO I like hearing the engine, in case there was something that didn't sound right you'd be able to hear it. Rather than BMW or Merc that are like soundproof bomb-shelters.

Hearing the engine noise annoys people, thus keeping them awake at the wheel.. haha that's my theory on it. :D