- Ford will contest the Baja 1000 with a 2011 F-150 powered by a stock EcoBoost engine.
- The event will mark the EcoBoost's world racing debut.
- The engine to be used for the Baja 1000 was "selected randomly off the line" at the Cleveland engine plant, says Ford.
DEARBORN, Michigan — Ford is putting its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 to an impressive real-world endurance test: the Baja 1000. The automaker has announced it is entering an F-150 with the stock EcoBoost engine in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race that takes place in November. The event will mark the EcoBoost's world racing debut, says Ford.
The 2011 Ford F-150 race truck will use the new EcoBoost V6 that makes 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. The engine to be used for the Baja 1000 was "selected randomly off the line" at the Cleveland engine plant.
Ford has made much of its "torture" endurance testing of the new engine using dynamometer and laboratory testing. In addition to the Baja 1000, Ford has posted a series of Internet videos hosted by Mike Rowe of Discovery Channel program Dirty Jobs. The videos show the EcoBoost-equipped F-150 working as a log skidder in Oregon and towing a pair of NASCAR Sprint Cup Ford Fusions for 24 hours around the Homestead-Miami Speedway oval, at speeds up to and beyond 90 mph.
The 43rd annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 runs November 17-20.
Inside Line says: Ford wants you to see the EcoBoost engine as tough and ready for anything. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
sevenman says:
05:01 AM, 07/11/2011
I bought a new ford f250 back in 1987.Nice truck but poor engine!It was the first year they came out with unleaded verision.It pinged the whole time I had it!I am a now retired 30 year master diesel mechanic.I swore I would never buy a ford product again after that truck!Well never say never.I went out two weeks ago and bought another ford.After driving the f150 with the ecoboost engine I had trouble believing this thing is only 3.5 litre.I don't plan on towing anything at the moment however this truck sure feels like it will do the job.You ask why didn't you buy a diesel?Well for a few reasons.One was cost, although not alot more than the fully loaded f150.Two was fuel cost .Ecoboost runs on regular which is 22 cents cheaper where I live a gallon. even with four wheel drive mileage from 16 to 21.So far I love this truck.I suggest that anyone in the market for a new truck drive one of these, what have you got to loose? And no I don't work for ford and have no ties to them.
windsor5 says:
09:44 AM, 09/25/2010
@rusty
I agree that ford should due the test for the new engines that have just been released but they have just released the powertrain options realistic tow ratings for all engines should be out soon and possibly a SAE J2807 test. However, remember the tests are not expected to take in full effect until 2013 so dont expect the new ratings to take place until 2012 model year or possibly until 2014. Ford is not going to jump the gun early if Chevy their main competitor wont. Lets be honest most people dont care about SAE ratings and it wont do Ford any good in the advertiseing department if chevy gets to claim biggest tow ratings. Now with the new powertrains the HP and torque of these new engines are very high which makes me think the new 6.2L could definetly handle 11,300 pounds.
skunkworks says:
01:29 AM, 09/25/2010
As with most factory turbo-charged engines, they usually run a pretty wide margin of safety, so I am extremely curious to see how much power can be extracted from an aftermarket tune.
rustyshunt says:
08:04 PM, 09/24/2010
High-risk, high-reward type of product marketing
Any engine malfunction during the race could really hurt the interest in this engine, as they trying sell it as capable of towing 11k (Not SAE J2807 Tow Test certified)
It would be nice if Ford stood behind their engines, and had their tow rating SAE certified
That would be nice.........but I'm not expecting that any time soon
Rusty
cz_75 says:
03:45 PM, 09/24/2010
Will they be running a Raptor too? Off-road running, like Baja, is supposed to be its forte.
ajayboyapati says:
03:05 PM, 09/24/2010
good going ford.its a perfect demonstration of the next generation engines just before f-150 hits the showrooms.good luck to ford.
norsairius says:
02:36 PM, 09/24/2010
Good for Ford! With the new, revised engines in the 2011 Mustang, the Ford Fiesta, the new Focus (and the ST coming too!), and now this. Ford has really come along way in a relatively short time. I'm very, very impressed.
ocramidajzj says:
02:26 PM, 09/24/2010
Wow Ford is really intent on showing the world how far they've come in a short time. Good for them. It will be interesting to see how well the Eco-Boost does. Chances are it be fine since Ford probably engineered the hell out of hte engine like they did the new powerstroke diesel.
felonious says:
02:15 PM, 09/24/2010
Sounds like a good plan! Hope it doesn't backfire. (figuratively and literally)