News concerning Ford's future engines, including the 5.0!

PickupTrucks.com is reporting that by the end of 2010, Ford will alter the three engine options that currently make up the engine choices in the F-150. What is coming in time for the 2011 model year will be a new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and a 5.0-liter V8 code-named "Coyote."



Subbing the V6 EcoBoost for the V8 is about providing the same power with more efficiency. Said to be the premium engine for light-duty trucks, the direct-injection gas engine will offer something like 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque while carrying an EPA rating of "at least 23 miles-per-gallon on the highway." Those power numbers handily beat what you'll get from any of the current engines on offer, even though it's down two cylinders.



The "Coyote" 5.0-liter, modular, four-valve V8 will have "huge heads," and will return the same numbers as the V6: 400 hp and 400 lb-ft. This engine will become the standard F-150 lump, returning the same gas mileage as the current 5.4-liter but with much more power. This same engine will also reportedly find its way into the Mustang. That will leave the 6.2-liter V8 (the Boss) slated for the Raptor later this year as last engine choice (unless there's a 4-cylinder EcoBoost added in 2013), and it will go into special edition F-150s and the Super Duty trucks.



[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

2009 F-150 fuel efficiency details revealed

Image via WikipediaWe still don't know when it will officially go on sale (maybe in a month or so), but more details of the upcoming F-150 have been revealed, including fuel efficiency ratings. Ford is promising that it will be the most fuel efficient truck in it's class.



Using the tried-and-true fuel-saving techniques of lowering weight and improving aerodynamics, Ford claims the 2009 F-150 models will get, on average, 8%-better fuel economy than their 2008 predecessors. The SFE package will get as much as 21 mpg city with a V-8 engine, which, as full-size-truck drivers know, is a substantial improvement.



"Ford has committed to have the best or equal to the best fuel economy with every new product we introduce, and we are delivering with the new F-150," says Matt O'Leary, Ford F-150 chief engineer. "Fuel economy has moved from 10th to third place among pickup buyers' top purchase considerations -- right behind durability and value. The new F-150 delivers on all three as the industry leader."



To maximize your fuel economy with the F-150, you'll want to opt for the SFE package, which stands for "Superior Fuel Economy." The SFE package is available only on the F-150 SuperCrew XL and XLT 2WD models with the 5.5-ft beds. They'll come with a 4.6L three-valve V-8 that's been worked over to squeeze every last bit of efficiency out of it. It will feature a new technology called open-valve injection, which will allow the engine to run more spark advance at high engine speeds and loads and get the most efficiency out of each drop of gas. The engine will also use an aggressive fuel cutoff program that will cut fuel to the engine the instant you take your foot off the gas pedal and turn it back on when the engine reaches a low speed, or when you put your foot back on the gas.



Proprietary Ford software keeps the fuel cutoff and restart smooth, unlike, say, the fuel cutoff when you hit the rev limiter. The SFE also picks up a six-speed transmission, 3.15:1 rear-axle ratio and 18-in. chrome wheels with low rolling-resistance tires. The SFE's drag coefficient has been dropped to 0.403, 6% better than the 2008 F-150. All this is good for 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. Even with the small V-8 and low-ratio rearend, the SFE can still tow up to 7500 lb. The SFE package will be a no-cost option on SuperCrew XLTs, but will cost $1095 on SuperCrew XLs.



Across the entire 2009 F-150 lineup, Ford has switched to lighter-weight ultra-high-strength steel that shaves 100 lb off the curb weight. Every model also features improved aerodynamics, such as a reworked front valence that will improve airflow under the truck. Up top, the rear of the cab has been reworked to smooth out airflow over the bed, and a lip on the top of the tailgate helps direct airflow cleanly off the back of the truck. The larger 5.4L 3-valve V-8 in non-SFE-equipped trucks also gets open-valve injection for maximum power and efficiency, though it isn't clear whether non-SFE equipped trucks will get the six-speed automatic. The 5.4L-equipped trucks will tow up to 11,300 lb and can haul up to 3030 lb in the bed, the best in the class.



Delaying the new F-150 may have aggravated some that were anxiously awaiting it's arrival, but Ford has seemingly done the right thing by fine tuning the truck. With the economy in a state of flux and gas prices still rising, it will be important for the venerable F series to continue to enjoy some success. Even if it's long run as the best selling vehicle in America has finally come to an end.



Check out AmericanTrucks.com and their line of Ford Truck Parts.

Ford to charge $700 for EcoBoost option, F-150 to have 340+ horsepower

Image by Ford Motor Company via Flickr Ford will reportedly charge $700 for it's upcoming EcoBoost engines as an option on many of it's future vehicles when the engine goes on sale in 2009. The first of the EcoBoost engines will be a 3.5L V-6 that will first find its way into the 2010 Lincoln MKS sedan and the 2010 Ford Flex crossover.



A version of the engine is on it's way for the 2010 F-150 that will reportedly develop in excess of 340 hp and at least as much torque, easily besting the present the F150's 300 hp 5.4L V-8.



Ford is heavily promoting it's EcoBoost engines, which are turbocharged four and six cylinder engines, as an alternative to V8 power with much better gas mileage. Ford will use the increased efficiency of the smaller engines as an explanation of the increased premium in price.



Six cylinder EcoBoost engines will feature direct injection and twin turbos. The smaller four cylinders will use single turbos. The EcoBoost has produced a lot of positive PR for Ford, but we'll have to reserve judgement until they finally hit the road next year.



Check out AmericanTrucks.com and their line of Ford F150 Truck Parts.

Taurus X and Mercury Sable to be axed next year

Image via Wikipedia
Keeping with previous chatter out of Detroit, it has been reported that the Taurus X SUV and the Mercury Sable are on the chopping block for next year.

Officials at Ford Motor Company are stepping up their efforts to significantly restructure it's lineup after multiple rounds of recent layoffs.

Word coming out of Dearborn is that the Taurus X crossover and the venerable Sable are being axed due to slow sales combined with the companie's efforts to produce smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles.

Rumors surround the demise of the Taurus X have been going around ever since the new Flex hit showrooms.

The decision to stop producing the Sable is in tune with Ford's vision to utilize Mercury as a critical outlet to sell small cars.

Last July, the Taurus X sold 2,304 units, down from the 2,705 the same time last year. The already slow-selling Sable managed only 2,276 sales last month compared to 2,589 a year ago.

Ford to delay the release of Fusion GT and F-100

In some more discouraging news to enthusiasts, Ford has recently decided to focus (no pun intended) all of it's efforts towards it's line of Ecoboost engines. This means a delay in two of the expected recipients of said turbocharged engines, the Fusion GT and F-100.

The F-100 is a downsized version of the company's F-150 pickup, which has been rumored to replace the Ranger. It was scheduled to debut in three years. As part of its restructuring efforts, Ford is looking to double its hybrid and four-cylinder engine production by as late as 2011 and is planning the introduction of a number of EcoBoost powered models beginning next spring.

Through the use of direct-injection and turbocharging, engineers claim the EcoBoost units produce fewer pollutants, achieve greater fuel efficiency figures and make enough power to rival bigger displacement (and gas guzzling) engines.

First to get an all-new EcoBoost powerplant will be the 2009 Lincoln MKS sedan when it hits U.S. showrooms next spring.

Ford's ultimate goal is to increase the efficiency of the F-150 to the point where it doesn't need to build the F-100. So for now the project remains on the back burner.

"We have no intention of giving up our leadership in trucks," Ford's global product development chief Derrick Kuzak told reporters. "Fuel economy (will be) a reason to buy -- no longer a reason to reject -- Ford vehicles."

Ford powertrain head barb Samardzich told company officials the shift from V-8s and V-6s to four-cylinder engines will be a top priority despite initial capacity restraints. "You are going to see more four-cylinder capacity," Fields said. "The key is having the flexibility to respond to the marketplace, whichever way it goes."

In other, related news, the planned Fusion GT is off until the vehicle's next interation in 2012. The biggest obstacle in producing the GT isn't the fact that Ford is afraid to introduce a new performance vehicle, but rather the fact that the company is trying to roll out the EcoBoost for the Lincoln MKS first. The original plan was to produce the GT as an end of production, limited volume performance car. It will be more of an image car for Ford.

Ford is also discussing the possible use of ethanol technology to double the efficiency of it's EcoBoost engines. Produced by Massachusetts company Ethanol Boosting Systems LLC., the system utilizes an additional ethanol tank that automatically injects a small amount of the alternative fuel into the car's gas tank. According to the manufacturer, the ethanol only has to be refilled every 5,000 miles and will add $300 to $400 to each EcoBoost engine -- two compromises Ford is excitedly willing to deal with if the system does what it claims to achieve.