- Ford announces four engine options for its 2011 F-150 pickup.
- A 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 is available, along with a 3.7-liter V6, 5.0-liter V8 and 6.2-liter V8.
- Horsepower and fuel economy ratings have not yet been released.
DEARBORN, Michigan — Saying it is in the midst of a "powertrain revolution," Ford on Wednesday detailed its engine lineup for the 2011 F-150, which includes a new fuel-saving 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. Consumers will pay top dollar for the EcoBoost engine, since it will be pitched as the "premium" engine in the lineup, said Mark Grueber, F-150 marketing manager in a phone conversation with Inside Line.
"EcoBoost will be the premium engine for us," Grueber said. "It will be above the 3.7-liter V6 and the 5.0-liter V8."
Ford declined to release horsepower or torque numbers on the EcoBoost engine for the F-150. "We're not releasing any of that until closer to launch," said Ford spokesperson Anne Marie Gattari in a phone conversation. The 2011 F-150 debuts later this year. The EcoBoost engine option will not be available in the F-150 until early 2011, said Gattari.
Ford already is offering the 3.5 EcoBoost V6 in a variety of vehicles, including the Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKT, Ford Flex and Ford Taurus SHO. Depending on application, the engine delivers 355 to 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque.
The fourth engine option for the 2011 F-150 is a 6.2-liter V8 engine.
Grueber said pricing and fuel economy estimates are not available for the EcoBoost or any of the other three engine options on the 2011 F-150. But he said that Ford is expecting up to a 20 percent increase in fuel-economy ratings on the 3.5-liter EcoBoost versus what the company says is the comparable 5.4-liter V8 engine in the 2010 F-150. That engine returns 14 miles per gallon in city driving and 20 miles per gallon on the highway, Ford said. A 20-percent increase would translate into city/highway ratings of 17 and 24 mpg, respectively, for the EcoBoost V6.
Grueber said the EcoBoost engine is more "capable" than the 5.0-liter V8 engine offered in the 2011 F-150 lineup. A truck equipped with the EcoBoost engine can tow 11,300 pounds, versus a towing capability of 9,800 pounds with the 5.0-liter V8, he noted.
A six-speed automatic transmission is standard for each of the four engines for the 2011 F-150.
The 3.7-liter V6 in the F-150 will deliver an estimated 300 hp and 275 lb-ft, said Ford. The 5.0-liter V8 makes 360 hp and 380 lb-ft, while the 6.2-liter V8 makes 411 hp and 434 lb-ft.
Ford made it clear that it is going after the fuel-economy crown in the bread-and-butter truck segment with the powertrain lineup in the 2011 F-150. At this point, many of the domestic brands are neck-and-neck. The 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 with a 5.7-liter V8 returns 14 mpg in city driving and 20 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA.
"Our new engine lineup allows greater flexibility for customers to select the powertrain choice that best suits their need," said Barb Samardzich, Ford vice president of powertrain engineering in a statement. "We are in the midst of a powertrain revolution."
Inside Line says: It's the unanswered question: Will F-150 buyers pay more for a smaller, albeit more fuel efficient, engine? — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
themennis says:
03:46 PM, 08/17/2011
It sounds like some people just blog to see it in print!
I run a service dept and we have 14 of the 20011 F150 with V-6 ecoboost engine installed in them.
We have had zero issues with the engine or the trucks and we plan on ordering more for the fleet.
and getting rid of our aging fleet all of my drivers love the way the trucks run and look.
storemannc says:
01:23 PM, 01/19/2011
I would have to test drive the 3.5 pulling my trailer before I would buy it. That said I still don't like the super tall bed sides. They are hard to work out of.
Storemannc
lashbera says:
08:38 PM, 11/19/2010
I have done a ton of research on these new engines all of which are pretty amazing but for those of you that want a diesel or think the 3.5 isnt the best truck engine ever, you are wrong. The 3.5 makes 90% of its maximum torque between 1500 and 2500rpm(perfect for a truck where torque is far more important then horse power). Find any engine anywhere in a pickup that even comes close. This is a diesel like engine that runs on gas and will be cheaper to operate then an equal powered diesel. This engine is why the 4.4L diesel is put on hold and untill diesel fuel is cheaper then gas the diesel will be on hold. I did order the 5.0 only because the fuel tank is bigger and you should get 250miles more range with the 5.0. Bigger tank with 3.5 and that is the way I would have went even if it had cost 2grand more. 3.5L is the absolute best gas truck engine ever.
meyeste says:
09:19 PM, 09/26/2010
I'll be in the the Market for the F150 and I'll go for the 5.0, of course I'm not driving 40k a year and that is the customer Ford is targeting the eco-boost to. Me, I'll be replacing the cast iron exhaust manifold and replacing it with a performance exhaust + cat back duals.
BTW I signed up for the "drive the F150" to test them all out, but unless the 6.2 just blows me away it'll be a 5.0 in mine.
the_hemi_rocks says:
06:42 PM, 09/17/2010
"Consumers will pay top dollar for the EcoBoost engine, since it will be pitched as the "premium" engine in the lineup, said Mark Grueber, F-150 marketing manager"
Mark, with all due respect, you need to find a third grader to help you pull your head out of your @SS! No truck guy in their right mind is going to pay the top option price for a V6 with a blow job.
Do you really think this is what truck buyers want? If I am going to pay a premium for power and economy, I want a diesel. You know, a real truck motor? Why don't you ditch the focus groups and actually talk to those us still buying pickup trucks.
For thirty years I've driven nothing but Ford trucks, but now I'm mad and I'm not getting over it.
klapper says:
10:12 AM, 08/12/2010
"...I smell severe B.S. somewhere...."
Not really. It all makes sense. Ford wants to sell more fuel efficient pickups to meet coming corporate fuel economy goals. So why not give a higher tow rating to the engine they want you to buy. Warranty claims will no doubt be higher, but maybe not excessively so, and hopefully these ecoboosts will at leat last until the end of the warranty.
rdyoungdds says:
07:08 AM, 08/12/2010
I'm confident the 3.5 ecoboost will put out significantly more hp and torque than it does in its current applications. Its rated at 355-365 hp in its current applications (unibody platforms). The ecoboost is intentionally restricted in power because these platforms cannot handle more power and torque. The transmissions and transfer cases are the limiting factors. The 3.5 ecoboost is capable of putting out significantly more power. Most direct injected turbocharged engines put out around 120-130 hp and torque per liter. This would translate to around 420-455 hp and torque output from this engine if it not restricted.
goaterguy says:
06:04 AM, 08/12/2010
Yes the V8 will work better for when a truck is doing truck stuff but how many times have you seen a truck with just the driver and an empty bed?
Most trucks are not even used as trucks either most of the time or ever and during those times, the V6 will provide much better fuel mileage.
tcair says:
08:39 PM, 08/11/2010
@angry_mushroom
Peak torque for the Ecoboost is 1500 rpm which is very truck like and the 5.0 (in mustang form) is 4400 rpm (Ford rates it at 4250.) although I am sure the 5.0 will be given a different intake system and tuning in a truck application to move the power band lower in the rpm in range.
so yeah I will stick with BS.
EcoBoost costs more of course they want to up sell everyone to it. 500 lbs maybe but not a 10% difference.
wjtinatl says:
08:00 PM, 08/11/2010
Nice to see Ford finally bring the powertrain choices up to the level of the rest of their trucks. To me that 5.0 seems like the sweet spot motor; iron block 6.2 more suited for the Super Duty's and the V-6's for either the economy (3.7L) or technology oriented (EcoBoost) buyer. Modern turbo, engine management and induction technology being what it is however, I'm confident the EcoBoost will be up to the towing challenge and likely be more impressive than the gas V-8's. Climbing a steep grade against a torque-converter automatic keeps the engine right in the fat part of the power curve and the turbo's spinning, so the power should be there. And truck manufacturers know how to keep monster heat pumps cool; I don't see heat being a problem. However, I can't see a hard working EcoBoost getting any better mileage than the gas V-8's. GM better upgrade those 4.8 and 5.3L motors quick!