According to a Thursday announcement by US automaker Ford Motor Co, a nearly $200 million investment is being planned by the company for expanding its Cleveland engine plant for building the 2-liter `EcoBoost' engine.

As per the details shared by Ford, the production of the 2-liter version of its popular turbocharged engine for its North American lineup will likely commence in late 2014; with the company equipping more and more of its models with smaller, fuel-efficient powertrains. The creation of new jobs will be in line with Ford's plans to add 2,200 salaried employees in the US this year.

About the models equipped with the company's 2-liter `EcoBoost' engines, Ford revealed that the engines are presently being used in its Focus, Fusion, Escape, Explorer, Edge and Taurus models, along with the new Lincoln MKZ sedan.

The expansion of the Brook Park, Ohio, engine plant by Ford will bring along the addition of 450 jobs at the factory - situated 14 miles southwest of Cleveland - which currently manufactures Ford's 3.5-liter turbocharged engine and the 3.7-liter V6 engine.

About Ford's decision to expand its Cleveland engine plant, LMC Automotive analyst Mike Omotoso said in a telephonic interview prior to the Ford announcement: "It definitely makes sense to have local production, especially now with the lower UAW wages. The 2-liter turbo is close to the power of a V-6 with much better fuel economy."