I am anxiously waiting for more specs like HP, TQ, and mileage of the Ecoboost I4. I think it could be a very compelling package. However, I don't know if I'd want to give up that Mustang V8 sound. Anybody know if Ford made it a point in development to make the turbo 4 sound good? Has anyone heard one yet?

 

Its a 4 cylinder, there isn't much that can be done. I bet it will sound almost exactly like the Focus ST, which unfortunately sounds very much like your garden variety fart can civic once you add exhaust. It does sound decent in the cabin though with the sound symposer.

 

The only good sounding 4 cylinder engine in my opinion is Subaru's WRX/STI turbo engine.

 

^ Agree

 

Yep, i think it will sound like a Focus ST .

 

I'm getting the 2,3 litre eco-boost and I'm hoping it makes some noise too. I'm dreaming it makes that high pitch noise a formula racer makes when I open it up on the autobahn.

 

Thankfully I'm always inside my ST. And yes, that sound is addicting.

 

I'll agree!

I used to have an SVT Focus with a high flow cat and Borla cat-back... Man it sounded so good! I know a turbo would only make it sound better.

 

I find very few I4s that actually sound good. Sure, it's easy to make them loud, but that's not the same as good, which would be a shocking and disappointing revelation to legions of fart-canned four-bangers. Not that they can't be made to sound good - deep, rich, melodic - listen to a Fiat 500 Abarth or an old Saab 900 for example, but they're few and far between.

 

Fiat 500 Abarth is exactly the sort of low end burbly four noise I'll be shooting for with, thats for sure.

But OP has a really good point. I was considering this yesterday while driving around with my cousin in my Bullitt. The ecoboost stang is probably going to handle better, accelerate faster, be more comfortable and have more cool stuff inside, but man... I really love the sound of the bullitt's exhaust.

edit: did some googling... this sounds pretty good

 

I have heard some of those furrin cars with 4 cylinder engines and a big diameter muffler at the end of the exhaust and they sounded really tuff. I am wondering if a turbo would really subdue the sound.

 

Yeah I would think the turbo would mess with the sound. Back in the day I had a Jensen-Healey/Lotus and the DOHC 4V had a nice mellow British I4 sound - not the Japa rasp or fart can sound.

 

I have an 88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe with the old 2.3 turbo. it still has the stock exhaust and the tone is throaty. However, it's not a V8 sound. It has somewhat of a BMW sound. I'm assuming that Ford will do dual exhaust, which is what they did on the TC. The down pipe goes into a reverse Y-pipe into two mufflers and tailpipes. I think this is what gives it the european sound.

 

A 3" turboback no cat exhaust on a 2.4L SRT-4 sounds nasty...in a good way. I have a feeling the EB4 will sound good with the same exhaust.

 

I could live with that.