Ford is getting ready to roll out its new EcoBoost engine that the company says could improve mileage by as much as 20%. The new engine uses turbocharging, which forces air through it

Ford is also promoting the engine as a less expensive alternative to hybrids and direct-injection diesels. The EcoBoost engine can be smaller and lighter without sacrificing power.

Ford plans to introduce the first production V-6 EcoBoost engine in 2009 for the Lincoln MKS sedan. The MKS will go on sale in mid-2008 as a 2009 model.

The V-6 EcoBoost engine will produce about 340 horsepower, or about as much power as a V-8. A four cylinder is also planned.

Ford says it will have about 500,000 EcoBoost-powered vehicles on the road by 2013.

Other automakers are likely to go in a similar direction the next few years because the industry has to trim vehicle size and weight and develop smaller engines that go farther on a gallon of gas in a race to meet tougher fuel economy standards signed into law recently by President Bush.

The requirements for different vehicle classes won’t be written for months, but the law requires that by 2020 automakers average 35 miles per gallon for all cars and light trucks they sell, about 40 percent more than the current industry average of 25.

To promote EcoBoost at the Detroit Auto Show, Ford will showing a protype Explorer called the America fitted with the new power plant.