If you're looking to tune your Ranger for speed, the Blue Oval has given you a heck of a starting point. Check out how similar it is to the RS motor here.

 

Now, what's the difference between this and the 2.3 Ecoboost used in the Explorer, Lincoln MKC, and the Mustang?

 

HP said that the block's deck is cross-drilled for cooling, which apparently the other variants aren't? And the internals are apparently beefier as well.

 

One would THINK the Mustang variant would be beefed - I can understand the Explorer and Lincoln versions being "ordinary".

 

I guess I'm the only one that would notice how deep the crankshaft sits in the engine. At first I thought they were using a bed plate but from the pic, it appears they aren't. Noting they're using balance shafts, I'd agree with the article that Ford is apparently building a torque monster. Should be interesting to see just how much this little engine can. Certainly come a long way since the old Model T 4 bangers.
FWIW, when I was a kid trying to eat, I worked for an old man drilling water wells. The old rig used a pounder type drill and baler. The engine used, a Model T 4 banger complete with hand crank start. Thing run like a fine swiss watch.