Ford CHT engine
| Company type | Internal combustion engine series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Ford Motor Company (Brazil) |
| Headquarters | Brazil |
| Products | Inline four-cylinder engines (1.0L to 1.6L) |
| Parent | Ford Motor Company |
The Ford CHT engine represents a series of inline four-cylinder internal combustion engines manufactured by Ford Motor Company in Brazil throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Originating from the Renault Cléon-Fonte engine, it bears no relation to the similarly named Ford CVH engine.
Ford Cléon-Fonte
Following its acquisition of Willys' Brazilian operations in the late 1960s, Ford do Brasil secured production rights for the Cléon-Fonte engine. This powerplant was integral to the Renault-based "Projeto M," a joint initiative between Willys do Brasil and Renault. The Cléon-Fonte incorporates a cast iron block with wet liners and five main bearings, paired with an aluminum cylinder head. It utilizes a single camshaft positioned high within the block to operate two overhead valves per cylinder via pushrods and rocker arms—characteristics preserved in the CHT design.
The "Projeto M" debuted in 1968 with the Ford Corcel, initially offering a 1.3 L displacement that was later increased to 1.4 L by enlarging the bore. Engine variants included the "1300-B" featuring a single-barrel carburetor and the "1300-C"/"XP" equipped with a two-barrel carburetor. By 1979, displacement had further expanded to 1.6 L.
Redesign
In mid-1981, Ford do Brasil launched "Projeto Zeta" to develop a Brazilian adaptation of the MkIII front-wheel-drive Ford Escort. Introduced in August 1983, this model featured a locally engineered engine, replacing the CVH unit found in other markets. Ford promoted this modified Cléon-Fonte as offering improved fuel economy and easier conversion for ethanol use.
Under Luc de Ferran's leadership, with collaboration from Ford of Europe and consultation from Renault, development began using the largest Cléon-Fonte block dimensions (77×83.5 mm bore and stroke) yielding 1555 cc displacement, alongside a smaller 1341 cc variant with a 71.5 mm bore.
The redesign emphasized enhancing combustion efficiency by generating intake charge turbulence. A new cylinder head tailored for the Cléon-Fonte block resulted in the CHT ("Compound High Turbulence") designation. Adjustments were also made to intake and exhaust manifolds, valve timing, and compression ratios.
The CHT became known for its smooth operation and strong low-speed torque, although it delivered less peak power compared to contemporary SOHC engines such as Volkswagen's EA827. Its straightforward construction, durability, and robust torque at lower RPM suited typical driving environments effectively.
Production use
The CHT engine first appeared in 1983 on Brazil’s MkIII Ford Escort—the initial Escort model launched in that market. Higher-output ethanol variants were reserved for the Escort XR3. Subsequently, Ford expanded CHT application across multiple models, substituting the Cléon-Fonte engine in vehicles including the Corcel II sedan and Belina II wagon, Del Rey sedans and wagons, first-generation Verona two-door sedan, and Pampa coupé utility.
In response to tax legislation changes in March 1992, Ford introduced a compact 997 cc CHT version featuring a 70.3×64.2 mm bore and stroke for use in the Escort Hobby. The CHT was gradually discontinued after 1996, succeeded by the Kent Endura-E engine and eventually replaced by the 1.0 L and 1.6 L Zetec RoCam engines from 2000 onward.
Versions
At launch, the CHT was available in both 1.35 L and 1.6 L capacities with gasoline and ethanol variants. Two primary tuning configurations existed: the standard CHT and the more fuel-efficient CHT E-MÁX ("Economia Maximizada"), which gained acclaim as Brazil’s most economical engine during its era, achieving fuel consumption rates of up to 17.1 km/L on gasoline.
Early development produced up to seven variants: regular and high-compression gasoline versions (1.35 L and 1.6 L), ethanol counterparts for both displacements, plus a high-performance ethanol model:
- 1341 cc CHT E-MÁX gasoline (9.0:1 compression ratio), producing 41.7 kW at 5000 rpm with 96.8 Nm torque
- 1341 cc CHT E-MÁX gasoline (9.5:1 compression ratio), delivering 42.4 kW at 5000 rpm and 99.3 Nm
- 1341 cc CHT E-MÁX ethanol (12.0:1 compression ratio), outputting 46.2 kW at 5000 rpm with 103.3 Nm
- 1555 cc CHT gasoline (9.0:1 compression ratio), rated at 47.9 kW at 4800 rpm and torque of 105.9 Nm
- 1555 cc CHT gasoline (9.5:1 compression ratio), producing 48.4 kW at 5400 rpm with 105.8 Nm torque
- 1555 cc CHT ethanol (12.0:1 compression ratio), delivering 53.7 kW at 5200 rpm alongside 116.2 Nm
- A performance-oriented version of the 1555 cc CHT ethanol (12.0:1 compression ratio) with unspecified output figures
In its initial offering for the Ford Escort in 1983, five versions were available:
- 1341 cc CHT E-MÁX gasoline (9.0:1 CR), generating41.7 kW at5000 rpm with96.8 Nm torque
- 1341 cc CHT E-MÁX ethanol (12.0:1 CR), delivering46.2 kW at5000 rpm alongside103.3 Nm
- 1555 cc CHT gasoline (9.0:1 CR), rated47.9 kW at4800 rpm with105.9 Nm torque
- 1555 cc CHT ethanol (12.0:1 CR), producing53.7 kW at5200 rpm alongside116.2 Nm
- 1555 cc CHT ethanol (12.0:1 CR), outputting61 kW at5600 rpm with124 Nm torque
The engine received updates coinciding with the MkIV Escort launch in 1987; by 1988 it featured one gasoline variant and two ethanol-fueled options:
- 1555 cc CHT E-MÁX gasoline (9.0:1 CR), producing54.9 kW at5200 rpm with123.6 Nm torque
- 1555 cc CHT E-MÁX ethanol (12.0:1 CR), rated55.9 kW at5000 rpm alongside129.6 Nm
- 1555 cc CHT E-MÁX ethanol (12.0:1 CR), delivering62.9 kW at5600 rpm with126.3 Nm torque
The smallest version, a 997 cc CHT variant, was exclusive to the Escort Hobby:
- 997 cc gasoline engine generating37 kW at5800 rpm with72 Nm torque
Volkswagen
Between 1987 and 1996, Ford and Volkswagen collaborated in Brazil through the joint venture known as AutoLatina. During this alliance, the CHT engine was rebranded as the AE engine, an abbreviation for Alta Economia (High Economy). Volkswagen marketed Ford-derived models under its brand, with some continuing to use the 1.6 L CHT (AE-1600) engine, while others did not. The Volkswagen Apollo, essentially a rebadged first-generation Ford Verona coupé, was never equipped with the AE-1600. Conversely, the Escort-based Volkswagen Logus coupé offered an AE-1600 variant, but its counterpart, the first-generation four-door Volkswagen Pointer, did not.
Within Volkswagen’s proprietary lineup, the AE engine was exclusively installed in the Volkswagen Gol. The AE-1600 was available in the initial generation of Gol hatchbacks, as well as in the Voyage sedan, Parati station wagon, and Saveiro coupé utility models. Following regulatory adjustments favoring engines below 1 L displacement, Volkswagen introduced a 1.0 L AE-1000 variant for its hatchback range. The second generation of the Gol featured single-point fuel injection and marked the final application of this engine series before it was phased out after 1996. Subsequently, the AE-1000 was replaced by the EA111 engine family, while the AE-1600 gave way to the EA827 series.