Ford's 2011 F-150 will be welcoming some new members into its engine family. The lineup will include a 3.7-liter V6, 5.0-liter V8, 6.2-liter V8, and the long-anticipated, twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. Each engine will come with a 6-speed automatic transmission. All told, Ford says the new lineup will be good for a 20% boost in fuel economy over the 2010 model year. Here are the key bits:
-3.7 liter Duratec V6 (built in Cleveland, Ohio): should have around 300 horsepower (waiting on GM, are we?), 275 lb-ft of torque, 6,100 lbs of towing, E85 compatibility
-5.0 liter DOHC V8 (built in Windsor, Ontario): 360 horsepower, 380 lb-ft, 9,800 lbs of towing, E85 compatibility, oil cooler
-Both the 3.7 and the 5.0 have forged steel crankshafts and piston-cooling jets. Oil changes for these two will be every 10,000 miles.
-6.2 liter SOHC V8 (built in Romeo, Michigan): 411 horsepower, 434 lb-ft, 11,300 lbs of towing
-3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 (built in Cleveland, Ohio): Information pending
The range-wide 6-speed automatic will have both "progressive range select", which limits available gears, and SelectShift for choosing gears manually without all that clutch nonsense (shout out to Dan Neil!).
With two V6s and two V8s, improved efficiency, and something called a Raptor, the 2011 F-150 lineup should have something for everybody. Well, maybe not everybody, but certainly a lot of people.
By Phil Alex
