The country’s best-selling vehicle is set to step up its game with Ford confirming the 2017 F-150 pickup will offer a new, more-potent version of its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 which will be paired with an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission. In addition to enhanced efficiency, the drivetrain is lighter than the current technology.
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The next-gen EcoBoost 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 boasts a host of functional improvements that also will be found in the higher-output version being readied for the upcoming 2017 Ford Raptor. Although it still produces 365 horsepower, peak torque has been raised by 30 output units to 450 lb-ft – better than any other V6 rival. Featuring a redesigned block and heads, the revised EcoBoost 3.5-liter features new port-plus-direct injection, which is the first use of this technology on any Ford. The setup also boasts new and more responsive turbos that have electrically activated wastegates. In addition to more durable valvetrain components, the engine also has an Auto Start-Stop system that won’t activate when the vehicle is towing or in 4-wheel drive mode.
A 10-speed automatic with three overdrive ratios
Mated to the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 will be the automaker’s all-new 10-speed automatic transmission that replaces the existing 6-speed unit. Developed in concert with GM which introduced its version on the 2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1, the industry’s first 10-speed automatic also is the first Ford transmission to eschew cast iron in favor of lighter aluminum and alloy components. Ford says it will give the 2017 F-150 quicker acceleration and better overall performance. The unit benefits from lower internal friction and combines a wider ratio span plus a lower final drive ratio to improve the F-150’s highway fuel economy while maintaining its class-leading towing ability. Ford says this new 10-speed, which includes three overdrive ratios and a Sport mode, incorporates smarter shift logic and employs a real-time adaptive control to ensure the transmission chooses and maintains the optimum gear choice under all driving conditions.
The 2017 Ford F-150 arrives in showrooms this fall. Additional details and pricing information will be announced closer to the on-sale date.
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