Ford Confirms Essex Plant to Build New Engine
Eric Mayne with Byron Pope Ward's AutoWorld, May 1, 2008 12:00 PM

Ford Motor Of Canada Ltd. Makes official plans to launch a new engine program at its mothballed Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, ON, Canada.

Joe Hinrichs, Ford group vice president-manufacturing, tells journalists the new engine assigned to Essex will be produced exclusively at the plant during the program's “first phase,” and that it is “both” an incremental product, as well as a replacement product, because initial volumes will not satisfy demand.

Citing “competitive reasons,” the auto maker is mum on product details and timing, but sources tell Ward's the plant will produce a new fuel-efficient modular 5.0L 3-valve V-8 for use in the next-generation Ford Mustang, expected to debut as a '10 model.

The 5.0L engine program, codenamed “Coyote,” will use aluminum blocks, and possibly crankshafts, sourced from Ford's Romeo, MI, engine plant.

The new engine is expected to replace the nearly 20-year-old 4.6L V-8.