2017 Ford F-150 will debut with all-new 3.5 litre EcoBoost engine, 10-speed auto to replace six-speed

After the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, the Blue Oval has now revealed that the standard F-150 will also benefit from the company’s second-generation 3.5 litre EcoBoost V6 petrol engine, along with an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission.

In terms of numbers, the new mill is a step up from the first-generation motor, providing 40 Nm more torque for a total of 610 Nm. According to Ford, the engine provides best-in-class torque for a V6, besting petrol- and diesel-powered competitors.

Among the features of the all-new engine include the use of a dual-direct and port fuel-injection system. For each cylinder, there are two injectors – one mounted in the intake port where air enters the cylinder and one positioned inside the cylinder.

The EcoBoost engine also gets improved twin turbos and a lighter turbine wheel (made out of the super alloy Mar-M-247) that delivers more boost, working in conjunction with electrically activated wastegates. This, along with the new fuel injection system mentioned earlier, helps improve not just the efficiency but responsiveness of the engine.

Ford also utilised hollow camshafts to save 1.8 kg of weight. To increase the life of the engine, the powerplant gets more durable intake and exhaust valves, and hydraulic valve-lash adjusters. Auto Start-Stop is also a standard feature here for fuel saving measures.

The second-gen 3.5 litre EcoBoost V6 will be paired to an all-new, Ford-built 10-speed automatic transmission, which replaces the previous six-speed unit. Offering improved acceleration and performance, the transmission has three overdrive gears and a much wider ratio span (with drag-reduction actions). This helps to improve fuel economy on the highway, and also retain a best-in-class towing figure.

The gearbox itself also employs advanced materials and alloys to save weight. In fact, Ford says that this is its first gearbox to not employ cast-iron components. Other weight-saving measures include adopting an integrated torque converter/turbine clutch that saves nearly a kilogram of weight, and makes for a more compact package.

The 10-speed auto is mapped with a smarter shift logic, so F-150 customers can use the tow/haul mode with more confidence. Real-time-adaptive shift-scheduling algorithms monitor more than a dozen powertrain- and driver-control signals to ensure the right gear is used at the right time. An integrated electric pump works with the Auto Start-Stop system for seamless restarts and improved driving efficiency.

For now, Ford has only revealed images of the 2017 F-150 Raptor and not the standard model. Expect it to come in a variety of cab body types, but mellowed down in terms of visual aggression.

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