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New 2.7L EcoBoost V6 Will Make 2015 Ford F150 the Most Efficient Truck in USA

While Ford Motor Company hasn’t divulged many details on the new 2.7L EcoBoost V6 that will power the 2015 Ford F150 but based on some of the minor details offered, we can make a few guesses as to what to expect – including the fact that the next generation F150 with the 2.7L EcoBoost will almost certainly be the most efficient half ton pickup sold in America.

We don’t know much about the new 2.7L EcoBoost that will power the 2015 Ford F150 when it goes on sale later this year such as power figures or fuel economy numbers but Ford has stated that this tiny new turbocharged V6 will offer similar power to some mid-range V8 truck engines. The Ram brand and Nissan no longer offer a mid-range V8 in their half ton pickups but Chevrolet and Toyota do. The new Silverado features a 5.3L V8 with 355hp and 383lb-ft of torque while the Toyota Tundra’s 4.6L V8 offers 310hp and 327lb-ft of torque.

Considering that the current 3.5L EcoBoost V6 365hp and 420lb-ft of torque it is unlikely that the 2.7L EcoBoost will challenge Chevy’s 5.3L V8 since this new EcoBoost would be infringing on the 3.5L EcoBoost that serves as the premium engine option. On the other hand, with Toyota’s mid-range V8 offering only 310 horsepower and 327lb-ft of torque – the new EcoBoost could very well challenge that 8-cylinder mill. It should be noted that the 5.6L V8 at work in the current Nissan Titan produces 317hp and 385lb-ft of torque so should the new 2.7L EcoBoost actually make somewhere in the area of 310hp – it will be tough competition for the Titan’s only V8 as well.

In addition to likely being more powerful as Toyota’s 4.6L V8 and Nissan’s 5.6L V8, the new 2.7L EcoBoost V6 in the 2015 Ford F150 will almost surely offer far better fuel economy than these V8s…and maybe every other engine in the half ton truck segment. In addition to the EcoBoost technology that will make this new mill very efficient and very powerful, the smallest engine in the 2015 F150 lineup will be the first Ford truck to feature Start/Stop technology.

This shuts the engine off when the truck has come to a stop but this new Start/Stop system in the 2015 F150 pickups that are powered by the new EcoBoost engine will automatically disable itself when the truck is in four wheel drive or when it is towing. These EcoBoost trucks will also feature a new Active Grille Shutter feature that will help to improve fuel economy further so between the lightweight nature of the 2015 F150, the new Start/Stop system and the technology that is used on every new EcoBoost engine – the 2015 Ford F150 will almost surely stake its claim as being the most efficient pickup in the US market.

To do so, the 2.7L EcoBoost V6 will have to allow the new F150 to hit better than the 25 miles per gallon offered by the V6 Pentastar powered 2014 Ram 1500. With the powerful 3.5L EcoBoost helping the much heavier 2014 F150 hit 22mpg on the highway, a new engine that focuses more closely on fuel economy shouldn’t have a tough time hitting 26mpg.

If I were a betting man, I would guess that the 2.7L EcoBoost V6 that will power the 2015 Ford F150 will offer 310 horsepower, 330lb-ft of torque and rear wheel drive highway fuel economy ratings of 26 miles per gallon. The 2015 F150 is promised to hit dealerships later this year so it shouldn’t be long before we know more about the new EcoBoost V6 but the odds are better than not that this engine will be the most fuel efficient engine in the half ton truck segment.

Comments

John Goreham    January 16, 2014 - 12:37PM

Pretty exciting. I understand that this is blasphemy to "real" truck owners, but imagine a 5/6th scale Ford pickup - let's call it Ranger, with the new aluminum skin, and this engine. Now imagine it does not have either 2 or 4 wheel drive, but rather on-demand AWD lockable below 15 MPH, like every crossover on the planet does. Keep the ride height reasonable. What do you think, 30 MPG highway, 25 MPG overall and a 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds? Price loaded maybe $30K. Let's not pretend that anyone really tows boats or plows with the few 2WD trucks we keep using as the MPG examples.

Michael Ward (not verified)    January 18, 2014 - 5:04PM

In reply to by John Goreham

Regular unleaded. I have a 2012 F150 with EcoBoost. I've seen great mileage in warmer weather - 23 to 24 pure highway mileage even. However, cold weather will drop it significantly. Expect only up to 19 to 20 highway in cold weather. In fact, I drove 140 miles today with one stop and it got 18.5 for the most part - cold today 32 to 36 - very windy. The engine noticeably runs at a higher RPM in cold weather for a few miles even after a short warm up after start (letting the idle kick down). It runs about 2000 rpm at 65 to 70 until a few miles and then drops to 1700 or so. This has to burn more gas and explain the mpg drop - at least in part. Bottom line - over 1.5 years of having the truck since new - it's second trip computer (Trip B) was used to track mileage from new - 19mpg - dead on the advertised combined mpg. I commute highway to work - 14 miles each way - but also use it for trips to the dump, grocery getter, etc.

Michael Ward (not verified)    January 21, 2014 - 4:21PM

In reply to by Bob Nelson (not verified)

Can you elaborate, or is there a recommendation for warm-up? I also thought of a grill shutter solution to warm up that engine area. It's funny you mention this, because last winter I noticed the drop in rpm seemed to correlate to the transmission temperature (looking at the guage) getting more to normal range. I blew it off.

For what it's worth for anyone considering this truck, I can't say enough about its performance and its ride. I am 5'6" so I do have an issue with the beltline. I hear the 2015 is a bit shorter. A midsize ranger would be very intriguing.

Bob Nelson (not verified)    February 28, 2014 - 10:45AM

In reply to by Michael Ward (not verified)

Micheal. Nothing you can do about it. The transmission takes awhile to warm up; especially when it is cold. The torque converter will not lock until the transmission hits 107 degrees fluid temperature. That's why you see a sudden drop in rpm after awhile.

Tom m (not verified)    February 27, 2014 - 2:51PM

In reply to by Michael Ward (not verified)

Could your lower winter mileage also be from ethanol blending? Ethanol has lower btu than gasoline and even at a 15% blend you'd see a reduction from non-blended.

Dave (not verified)    March 19, 2014 - 9:49AM

In reply to by Tom m (not verified)

The winter gas definitely has something to do with it, but the ecoboost just doesn't like the cold for sure. I've had mine for one year this month so this is the first winter I've driven it in. I live up in Canada and we've had some really cold weather this year. My average this winter is around 14.5L/100km or 16 US MPG, 90% highway. In the summer time I easily average 11L/100km or 21 US MPG. I've always expected a drop in fuel economy in the winter but this engine is nuts. I've tried using the engine block heater and it doesn't effect the economy at all.

Dave (not verified)    January 20, 2014 - 12:17PM

Seems like your estimates for hp, torque and fuel econ are woefully low. Just from the estimates for the Ram ED being around 28 mpg, your 26 estimate you gave for the EB will not cut it.

craig (not verified)    January 21, 2014 - 12:45PM

In reply to by Dave (not verified)

I am really getting tired of all the negative comments about this new truck lets face it Dodge or Fiat whatever they are calling themselves these days. The new eco diesel is a Fiat engine unproven in a pickup and lets not forget that a two certain companies went bankrupt a few short years ago. Ford has raised the bar again and if you think that they don't have plans for a diesel or brining back the raptor alL YOU nay Sayers have another thing coming.

shankshow (not verified)    December 11, 2014 - 12:16PM

In reply to by Craig (not verified)

Hey Why don't you catch up to the 6.2L V8. 460 ft pounds of torque. Oh you cant! And as for the bailout goes why don't you do some research. GM has paid back in their loan in full + interest. The remaining shares are owned by the Canadian government who think owning an asset is a good idea.

Ford on the other hand still owes the government billions of dollars around 12 billion! No it wasn't a bailout but it was basically the same thing. Ford doesn't issue recalls they issue service bulletins so their customers can pay the bill.

And now for your next argument something about recalls.

General Motors: 99.3 million recalled/153.2 million sold; 0.65 recall rate.

Ford Motor Co: 97.0 million recalled/104.7 million sold; 0.93 recall rate.

Chrysler Group: 63.2 million recalled/63.2 million sold; 1.00 recall rate.

Dave Workman (not verified)    March 19, 2014 - 9:54AM

In reply to by Dave (not verified)

I agree, I would put my estimates closer to 30 MPG. You have to remember that the trucks also losing 700 pounds and adding start/stop. The 3.5 ecoboost will probably go up to 25-26 MPG with those improvements alone.

Dwain S (not verified)    January 21, 2014 - 10:51PM

I agree with Craig. I own a 2013 Escape with the 2.0 Ecoboost power plant and read a lot of negative comments from current V6 escape owners stating that there was no way the 2.0 Ecoboost could perform or pull as well as the prior generations V6. This engine is super smooth has gobs of torque at low rpms and pulls my loaded 16 foot trailer with ease. Time will tell on durability but after 40K with no issues I'm sold it is a long haul affordable driver with capacity when you need it.
Lets wait to jump to conclusion on the 2.7 until it hits the market...

Doug (not verified)    June 26, 2014 - 6:34PM

Ecoboost engines will not last and will be filling up junk yards in the near future. Chrysler did it in the 80's and now ford. Turbo engines require extensive maintenance and Americans will not do it. In 10 years ford will have the highest engine failure rate in history. Mark my words.

Acadianbob (not verified)    June 28, 2014 - 6:51AM

I think that the 2.7 WILL be competitive with Chevy's 5.3 V8; especially when towing. It will produce equal or more torque at low RPM operation; perfect for towing. Chevy's engines are woefully short of torque at any useable RPM.

David Dessureault (not verified)    July 10, 2014 - 7:57AM

Hummm I was gonna buy a ram wit ecodiesel but I guess I'll wait to sse what are specs for this engine... I sure hope they make it avaiable on lower trim models.... Can't wait to compare these... any word on when they will release specs?

davey (not verified)    July 13, 2014 - 8:18PM

only thing is that Nissan will have a Cummins in both titan and frontier
that v6 will not be reliable in a 1/2 ton perhaps in a ranger it might.
they need to put a diesel in the f150 to compete
but hey Ford has poor reliability and is putting out recalls faster than I can keep up with them
I would not buy a ford truck with that engine the 5.0 v8 is decent v6 eggo will be a flop