Replying to Topic 'THE V6 is actualy a Mazda engine not a Ford like it states in car and driver and
It makes no sense that the Duratec was first developed by Mazda. Mazda was using the KL series V6 when the Duratec first came out in the Contour/Cougar. The Duratec never matched the KL series smoothness or power output. In the 2.5L version, the Mazda KLZE made 200 hp in j-spec form in 1993 while the SVT tuned Duratec's only mustered 190 hp several years later. The KL series was always commented for its smoothness while the Duratec was never complimented for anything. The engine layouts are also totally different between the two engine series.
However, over the life cycle of the Cougar especially, the Duratec went through 4 (i think) revisions. This is where Ford turned to Mazda to help get the Duratec running smoother as the stories I've head always go. If you drive a 1999 Cougar and a 2002 Cougar, there is a noticable difference in engine refinement.
As for the the 3.0L V6 being completely redone by Mazda, I still have a few doubts. The Mondeo ST220 is also comming out with a 3.0L Duratec V6 with variable valve timing and with 220 hp. I hope I'm wrong here, but it sounds like its the same engine and when you think about it, why would Ford leave Mazda develop all these parts for the Duratec when its only being used in 1 model and in that model only in North American cars. All along Mazda has been developing the 2.3L to be able to be boosted to levels past what the Duratec will ever see, it doesn't make a lot of sense for them to be spending time and money developing the V6. It makes a whole lot more sense that the engine was developed in Ford Europe for the Mondeo.
One way to tell would be to order some parts for the V6 and see where the parts were manufactured, its an easy way of telling what parts came from which company in my Probe. If its expensive and was made in Japan, its pretty safe its from Mazda.
