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]

Ford Taurus SHO to make a comeback?

The Ford Taurus SHO still has quite a following, experiencing a long lasting popularity. The original SHO featured a 220hp Yamaha built 3.0L V6, and was heralded during it's heyday for being an M3 contender for half the price. The original Taurus' design received much praise for being way ahead of it's time.



And now Jalopnik has published many images of the new Taurus, showing the SHO moniker on the passenger side dash of a 2010 Taurus. One would think that maybe Ford is producing a Taurus SHO concept car that could debut after the base car's reveal at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show next month.



It's also a possibility that the SHO could be powered by Ford's new EcoBoost V6, producing 350hp and 350lbft of torque. But this is all just mere speculation, and we'll have to wait and see just what Ford has up it's sleeve for this one. A new SHO would at the very least generate some interest for the rebirth of the Taurus, a car in desperate need of an image makeover.

Next generation Chrysler 300/Charger to get 8 speed auto

Image by khalid almasoud via FlickrIt's pretty obvious at this point that Cerberus doesn't want to keep Chrysler, and economic realities have scuttled any potential suitors that might have been interested in buying the company. All of this has led to speculation that there may not even be any plans for any future vehicles in Chrysler's future. Product development VP Frank Klegon insists that new Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models are on their way, and he points to the next 300/Charger as proof.



Klegon told Automotive News at the LA Auto Show that the 2011 redesign of these two large, rear-wheel-drive sedans will beat projected 2011 CAFE standards. That feat will be accomplished with improvements to aerodynamics, axle ratios and upgraded engines. Klegon mentioned that the upcoming Phoenix engines, the development of which has not been cancelled, would motivate the Charger and 300.



The new Phoenix family of V6 engines will have variable valve timing, cylinder deactivation and direct injection among its many efficiency increasing technologies. Automotive News also mentioned that Chrysler may employ an eight-speed automatic transmission to further improve performance and fuel economy. We don't know of any Chrysler transmission projects that are this ambitious, and Daimler currently utilizes only seven cogs in its Mercedes lineup, but suppliers like Aisin and ZF already have 8 speeds on the market.