A pair of jocks, a few shirts, a toiletries bag and . . . a car engine? This, obviously, is not your average suitcase.

Ford has shown off just how light its new 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is – the company has taken the tiny powerplant onto a plane as hand-luggage.

Photos of the disassembled three-cylinder engine in a small suitcase surfaced on Ford's Facebook site recently, with a description for the photos saying: “We're packing it in a carry-on for the Los Angeles Autoshow!”

The engine in the bag is purely the bare block, without all the essential engine peripherals – including the all-important turbocharger. It was required to be lifted from the bag and placed into a plastic tray - much like you'd do with your laptop when you go through security at the airport.

The EcoBoost is being taken to the Los Angeles motor show as it will soon be offered in the US in the updated Fiesta city car.

The EcoBoost engine will also be offered here in the new Fiesta, which is due to arrive in Australia sometime in 2013. That car will be followed by the new EcoSport micro SUV which will have the 1.0-litre petrol turbo and possibly a small diesel engine, too.

The 1.0-litre engine is also available in the Focus small car in Europe, but Ford Australia chose to offer a 1.6-litre four-cylinder in favour of the technologically advanced three-pot.

The three-cylinder EcoBoost will also be offered in Europe in the Mondeo family sedan and wagon, but again, Ford Australia has ruled out that engine for local launch.

The Ford EcoBoost three-cylinder won the coveted International Engine of the Year award for 2012.