Ford Crowns Itself V6 Torque King, Debuts Next-Generation EcoBoost Engine

by Steph Willems

Published: May 3rd, 2016

ford crowns itself v6 torque king debuts next generation ecoboost engine

Ford Motor Company didn’t want an opportunity to claim bragging rights to pass by, so it sent its 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine in for a massage.

The result was a torque (eco)boost of 30 pounds-feet, raising the engine’s output to 365 horsepower and 450 lb-ft. That places Ford’s F-150 ahead of its closest full-size six-cylinder competitor, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, which claims 420 lb-ft.

The next-generation engine and the company’s new 10-speed automatic transmission (jointly developed by Ford and General Motors, but built by Ford) debut in the 2017 F-150 due out this fall.

Ford foisted a number of improvements onto the engine to create the increase in twist, but also to make the motor leaner in preparation for its 10-speed partner.

A dual-direct and port fuel-injection system delivers fuel to both the intake port and cylinder, while the turbochargers now have a lighter turbine wheel and electrically activated wastegates. Hollow camshafts in the new roller-finger follower valvetrain have weight savings in mind, and beefier intake and exhaust valves are a nod to long-term durability.

A start-stop system will come standard on the model, to the chagrin of owners who dislike the gas-saving feature. Ford tosses them a bone by shutting off the system if the vehicle is towing or in four-wheel-drive mode.

Fuel economy ratings aren’t available for the new F-150 drivetrain, but Ford is being careful not to make any promises about its start-stop technology, warning owners that “actual fuel savings vary depending on driving patterns.”

Production of the cog-heavy gearbox is backed by a continues to rake in the dough from its lucrative truck lines.

[Image: Ford Motor Company]

#10-speedAutomatic #1500EcoDiesel #2017FordF-150 #3.5LEcoboost #F-150 #Ford #FordF-150 #FuelEfficiency #Full-sizePickups #Ram1500 #Trucks #Turbochargers #TurbochargedEngines

Steph Willems

More by Steph Willems

Comments

Join the conversation

7 of 138 comments

86er on May 03, 2016

I applaud the return of hood lettering.

Like Reply
- See 2 previous
- Bball40dtw on May 03, 2016
  
  The Flex and Explorer have it too. I really like it.
  
  Like
- Drzhivago138 on May 04, 2016
  
  @bball40dtw And the Super Duty since 2008.
  
  Like
- 86er on May 04, 2016
  
  @Drzhivago138 Technically grille fascia* *Pedantic on the internet since 20**.
  
  Like
AK on May 04, 2016

The lead here is the addition of Port injection. That's huge. Taking Toyota's lead and eliminating the issue of buildup on the valves. Makes a lot more sense than Ford's current fix (head replacement).

Like Reply
- See 1 previous
- Redmondjp on May 04, 2016
  
  Yes, this cannot be emphasized enough. My mechanic friend took an entire weekend's worth of tech classes recently and the horror stories he heard about gasoline direct injection were enough to scare me away for a long time. Buyer beware . . .
  
  Like
- Detroit33 on May 04, 2016
  
  Does anybody know if this dual-injection system is in response to the future tightening of the particulate limits with the adoption of LEV-III?
  
  Like

Recent Comments

Oberkanone How long do I have to stay in this job before I get a golden parachute?I'd lower the price of the V-Series models. Improve the quality of interiors across the entire line. I'd add a sedan larger then CT5. I'd require a financial review of Celestiq. If it's not a profit center it's gone. Styling updates in the vision of the XLR to existing models. 2+2 sports coupe woutd be added. Performance in the class of AMG GT and Porsche 911 at a price just under $100k. EV models would NOT be subsidized by ICE revenue.
NJRide Let Cadillac be Cadillac, but in the context of 2024. As a new XT5 owner (the Emerald Green got me to buy an old design) I would have happy preferred a Lyriq hybrid. Some who really like the Lyriq's package but don't want an EV will buy another model. Most will go elsewhere. I love the V6 and good but easy to use infotainment. But I know my next car will probably be more electrified w more tech.I don't think anyone is confusing my car for a Blazer but i agree the XT6 is too derivative. Frankly the Enclave looks more prestigious. The Escalade still has got it, though I would love to see the ESV make a comeback. I still think GM missed the boat by not making a Colorado based mini-Blazer and Escalade. I don't get the 2 sedans. I feel a slightly larger and more distinctly Cadillac sedan would sell better. They also need to advertise beyond the Lyriq. I don't feel other luxury players are exactly hitting it out of the park right now so a strengthened Cadillac could regain share.
CM Korecko Cadillacs traditionally have been opulent, brash and leaders in the field; the "Standard of the World".That said, here's how to fix the brand:[list=1][*]Forget German luxury cars ever existed.[/*][*]Get rid of the astromech droid names and bring back Seville, Deville, Eldorado, Fleetwood and Brougham.[/*][*]End the electric crap altogether and make huge, gas guzzling land yachts for the significant portion of the population that would fight for a chance to buy one.[/*][*]Stop making sports cars and make true luxury cars for those of us who don't give a damn about the environment and are willing to swim upstream to get what we really want.[/*][*]Stop messing around with technology and make well-made and luxurious interiors.[/*][*]Watch sales skyrocket as a truly different product distinguishes itself to the delight of the target market and the damnation of the Sierra Club. Hell, there is no such thing as bad publicity and the "bad guy" image would actually have a lot of appeal.[/*][/list=1]
FreedMike Not surprisingly, I have some ideas. What Cadillac needs, I think, is a statement. They don’t really have an identity. They’re trying a statement car with the Celestiq, and while that’s the right idea, it has the wrong styling and a really wrong price tag. So, here’s a first step: instead of a sedan, do a huge, fast, capable and ridiculously smooth and quiet electric touring coupe. If you want an example of what I’m thinking of, check out the magnificent Rolls-Royce Spectre. But this Cadillac coupe would be uniquely American, it’d be named “Eldorado,” and it’d be a lot cheaper than the $450,000 Spectre – call it a buck twenty-five, with a range of bespoke options for prospective buyers that would make each one somewhat unique. Make it 220 inches long, on the same platform as the Celestiq, give it retro ‘60s styling (or you could do a ‘50s or ‘70s throwback, I suppose), and at least 700 horsepower, standard. Why electric? It’s the ultimate throwback to ‘60s powertrains: effortlessly fast, smooth, and quiet, but with a ton more horsepower. It’s the perfect drivetrain for a dignified touring coupe. In fact, I’d skip any mention of environmental responsibility in this car’s marketing – sell it on how it drives, period.  How many would they sell? Not many. But the point of the exercise is to do something that will turn heads and show people what this brand can do.  Second step: give the lineup a mix of electric and gas models, and make Cadillac gas engines bespoke to the brand. If they need to use generic GM engine designs, fine – take those engines and massage them thoroughly into something special to Cadillac, with specific tuning and output. No Cadillac should leave the factory with an engine straight out of a Malibu or a four-banger Silverado. Third step: a complete line-wide interior redo. Stop the cheapness that’s all over the current sedans and crossovers. Just stop it. Use the Lyriq as a blueprint – it’s a big improvement over the current crop and a good first step. I’d also say Cadillac has a good blend of screen-controlled and switch-controlled user interfaces; don’t give into the haptic-touch and wall-to-wall screen thing. (On the subject of Caddy interiors – as much as I bag on the Celestiq, check out the interior on that thing. Wow.)Fourth step: Blackwing All The Things – some gas, others electric. And keep the electric/gas mix so buyers have a choice.Fifth step: be patient. That’s not easy, but if they’re doing a brand reset, it’ll take time. 
NJRide So if GM was serious about selling this why no updates for so long? Or make something truly unique instead of something that looked like a downmarket Altima?