Ford F-150 to deliver 20 percent fuel-economy gain with V6 engines

Ford Motor Co. today promised a 20 percent improvement in mileage in its 2011 F-150 pickups with a lineup of four new engines.

A 3.7-liter V-6 will be standard; a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 with turbocharging and direct injection will be optional. Two V-8s, a 5.0-liter and a 6.2-liter, will also be offered, the automaker said in a statement.

Ford faces a challenge in pitching a standard V-6 to many customers who prefer V-8s in full-sized pickups. But the company says the 3.7-liter V-6 will be powerful and capable, with:

• An estimated 300 hp at 6,500 rpm.

• 275 lbs.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm.

• Capability to tow a 6,100-pound trailer.

All four engines in the F-150 will be coupled with a revised six-speed automatic transmission for enhanced fuel economy. With the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, fuel economy will improve up to 20 percent compared with the 2010 truck with a 5.4-liter V-8, Ford said.

Ford last offered a V-6 engine in the F-150 during the 2008 model year.

The 2010 F-150's standard engine is a 4.6-liter V-8. Also available in the 2010 model is another 4.6-liter V-8 and the 5.4-liter V-8.

The 3.7-liter V-6 and the two V-8 engines will be available begining in the fourth quarter. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost will be available during the first quarter of 2011.

By Charles Child- Automotive News