2020 Ford Escape To Have Three Engines, Including A Three-Cylinder
BY Michael Gauthier
More interesting is the revelation that the Escape will be offered with three different powertrains. The
entry-level unit is a 1.5-liter three-cylinder that will replace the 1.5-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder which has 179 hp (133 kW / 181 PS) and 177 lb-ft (240 Nm) of torque.
https://www.carscoops.com/2019/02/2020-ford-escape-three-engines-including-three-cylinder/I know BMW has been doing this for a while, but I didn't think mainstream brands would go to chopping one cylinder off a 2.0 four to make a 1.5 three. I expect more companies to follow this tactic. Maybe they'll eventually figure out a way to make a three cylinder as smooth as a four cylinder. Not that four cylinder engines are particularly smooth.
I expect more companies to start using two cylinder engines as well like the fiat 500.