FuelTech launches FT470 ECU, newest member of the VisionFT line

Screenless ECU that uses a phone, tablet or Android head unit as the dash, with integrated wideband, two CAN FD buses, port and direct injection, DBW and 10-speed auto control. Priced under US$1,000 with no paid feature licences.

FuelTech has added the FT470 to its Vision FT range of engine control units (ECUs). It is the brand's first ECU designed with no screen at all: instead, the owner uses the FuelTech Vision app on a phone, tablet, Windows or Mac computer, or an Android head unit as the display, with up to four custom dashboards. Because there is no screen to mount in the cabin, the unit can sit in the engine bay, which shortens the harness and reduces firewall holes.

The FT470 handles both port injection and gasoline direct injection (GDI), including high-pressure pump control, and can calculate fuel either by volumetric efficiency (VE) or by FuelTech's traditional injection-time method. Drive-by-wire (DBW) throttle control, a built-in wideband oxygen controller, knock monitoring, Wi-Fi and USB-C are all included. Its Flex IO layout gives 7 universal inputs plus 20 outputs that can be repurposed as inputs, for up to 27 inputs. Two configurable CAN FD (Controller Area Network with Flexible Data-rate) buses support custom frames and DBC file import/export.

Drag racers get solenoid-level automatic transmission control up to 10 speeds, a strain-gauge shifter input and up to 12 progressive nitrous stages. Every feature is unlocked with no paid licences. The FT470 is on sale now from US$999 (ECU only), and requires FuelTech Vision 3.0, released the same day. FuelTech also flagged an upcoming AI log-analysis assistant called FT Pilot.