Ford will drop its all-new, second generation 3,5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine under the hood of the 2017 F-150.
The new twin turbo V6 engine will offer 30lb ft (40Nm) of torque more than its predecessor for a total of a 450lb ft (610Nm) and will be mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Power remains at the same 365hp as before.
Ford has installed for the first time dual-direct and port fuel-injection system in the new engine with two injectors per cylinder, and a pair of new turbochargers with a lighter turbine wheel work in conjunction with electrically activated wastegates, improving the efficiency of the engine.
Reducing mass was a key priority and as such the camshafts are now hollow, saving four pounds overall while the new turbine wheel is made out of an alloy usually found in the aerospace industry.
The gearbox, developed in-house by Ford, offers improved acceleration and performance compared to the previous six-speed automatic units. Featuring three overdrive gears and a much wider ratio span, the new transmission not only improves fuel economy on the highway, retaining a best-in-class towing figure at the same time.
This is the first time that Ford didn’t used any cast-iron components in the construction of a gearbox while a specially developed software adapts the shifting pattern during tow/haul mode to ensure that the right gear is always selected, including in sport mode. A start-stop system works together with the integrated electric pump for seamless restarts.
“The Ford truck team lives to serve our hardworking truck customers,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, Product Development, and chief technical officer. “The powertrain is the heart of every F-150, and together our all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 10-speed transmission will give our customers better power, efficiency and confidence.”
The 2017 Ford F-150 with the new EcoBoost and 10-speed automatic gearbox will go on sale this fall, with full details to be revealed at a later date.
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