The Ford F-150 is getting a new six-cylinder engine in addition to the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 that’s slated to arrive by the end of this year, according to PickupTrucks.com sources. The new mill is the same Ti-VCT 3.7-liter V-6 that debuted recently in the 2010 Ford Mustang, the sources said.
The 3.5-liter V-6 twin-turbo gasoline direct-injection EcoBoost engine promises to deliver the performance of a V-8 with the fuel efficiency of a V-6, and is expected to cost more than previous V-6 engines in the F-150 lineup.
The V-6 shared with the Mustang is expected to be the base engine for the F-150 and will likely only be available for the XL and STX models, though it could make its way into the XLT. Fleet owners are most likely to be its customers, looking for a low-cost pickup. Ford Ranger buyers are another potential target for the 3.7-liter V-6 when production of Ford’s compact pickup ends in 2011. The 3.7-liter V-6 is rated at 30 mpg in the Mustang, and while fuel economy won’t be close to that in the F-150, it could give mid-size truck buyers the option of buying a fuel-efficient full-size truck.
Ford hasn’t offered a V-6 option for the F-150 since the 2008 model year. The 3.7-liter is expected to be available before 2012.
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Updated Jan-13-2010 07:37 am EDT:
2008 was the last model year the Ford F-150 had a V-6, not 2009 as originally reported.
