Ford has released details of its 2017-specification F-150 pickup, which will feature an all-new 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine and 10-speed transmission.
The new, second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine will provide 30lb-ft. more peak torque compared with the first-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, now 450lb-ft. This is paired with an all-new, Ford-built, transmission – the first volume-production 10-speed automatic transmission available to consumers from any auto maker.
“The Ford truck team lives to serve our hardworking truck customers,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, product development, and chief technical officer. “The powertrain is the heart of every F-150, and together our all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 10-speed transmission will give our customers better power, efficiency and confidence.”
The engine features a new, Ford-first dual-direct and port fuel-injection system. Two injectors per cylinder – one mounted in the intake port where air enters the cylinder and one positioned inside the cylinder – work together to improve power output, efficiency, and emissions.
New specification turbochargers feature compressor wheels made from high-temperature Mar-M-247 super alloy, as well as electrically activated wastegates for improved responsiveness and efficiency. Ford’s focus on light-weighting to improve performance has resulted in the use of hollow camshafts in the all-new roller-finger follower valvetrain that help save 4-lbs from the unit’s overall weight.
The all-new 10-speed transmission delivers improved acceleration and performance when compared with the previous six-speed automatic transmission offered in the F-150, thanks to a wide-span gear spacing, coupled with drag-reduction actions. Three overdrive gears and a wider ratio span enable lower-numerical rear-axle ratios to help improve fuel efficiency at highway speeds, while maintaining a ‘best-in-class’ towing capacity.
The aforementioned focus on weight savings is continued in to the transmission. The 10-speed unit uses advanced materials and alloys to save weight, and it is the first Ford gearbox that does not use cast-iron components. An integrated torque converter/turbine clutch also helps shave more than 2-lbs of weight, while also reducing the packaging footprint.
