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2015 Ford F-150 XL
The available 3.5-liter TiVCT V6 in the all-new Ford F-150 produces 283 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of torque. When properly equipped it has a payload capacity of 1,910 pounds and can tow up to 7,600 pounds.
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2015 Ford F-150 2.7L EcoBoost
Fords new 2.7L EcoBoost packs a big punch for such a small displacement engine.
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2015 Ford F-150 3.5L V6
Despite being normally aspirated, the 3.5L also produces some impressive figures as the base engine.
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2015 Ford F-150 Tows Loaded Trailer in Extreme Heat
Fords new towing and load capacity ratings are now SAE J2807 compliant.
Story by Budd Stanley, photos courtesy of Ford
Ford unveil line of V-6 engines for upcoming 2015 F-150
Ford have been teasing us since they revealed the 2015 F-15 at the North American International Auto Show back in January. At that time we knew that the new truck would be a complete ground up redesign, incorporating military-grade aluminum for the body, high strength steel for the frame and would introduce a rash of new power plants.
Now that we are much closer to the actual launch of the F-150, we are starting to learn a little more about the game changing redesign. Recently, Ford introduced us to two new engines that will be powering the new truck, both small in stature but powerful in nature. A new 2.7L EcoBoost V-6 will join a normally aspirated 3.5L V-6 in the base trim levels.
“The 2015 F-150 is the most capable F-150 yet, while shedding up to 318 kg (700 lb),” said Bob Fascetti, vice president, Powertrain Engineering. “These two new V-6 engines – the 2.7L turbocharged EcoBoost and normally aspirated 3.5L Ti-VCT – set a new standard for Ford for capability and efficiency.”
2.7L EcoBoost V-6
The high-output, twin-turbo 2.7L EcoBoost V-6 features an entirely new design that makes use of a compacted graphite iron cylinder block in a gasoline engine, the same material used in Ford’s 6.7L Power Stroke turbo diesel V-8 in Super Duty trucks. The composite CGI/aluminum cylinder block saves weight while providing strength where it’s needed most for durability. This has allowed the engineers to boost performance as the engine produces 325 hp and 375 lb-ft. Ford are quick to point out that this has improved the power-to-weight ratio of the 2015 truck by 15 percent over the 2014 5.0L V8-equipped F-150. We think those are two different customers, however they both now have similar torque output, thanks to the smaller engine and lighter body.
This means that the 2.7L EcoBoost 4x2 has a maximum payload rating of 1,021 kg (2,250 lb) and a maximum tow rating of 3,856 kg (8,500 lb), ideal for meeting mid-range capability needs.
The new 2.7L EcoBoost will debut standard Auto Start-Stop technology for F-150. This technology, specially tuned for truck customers, shuts off the engine when the vehicle is at a stop. When the brake is released, the engine restarts quickly. Auto Start-Stop helps reduce fuel consumption and emissions when the truck is stopped and the engine is off. When the truck is towing or in 4WD mode, the technology automatically turns itself off.
3.5L V-6
Moving from new-age turbo’s to old school normally aspirated power, the new 3.5L V-6 is anything but old school in its design. This new 24-valve 3.5L V-6 features a valvetrain with direct-acting polished mechanical buckets with twin independent variable camshaft timing for impressive torque across a wide rpm range. Six-bolt main bearing caps, a fully counterweighted forged steel crankshaft and cast exhaust manifolds are designed for heavy-duty operation.
Thanks to these improvements, the 3.5L produces 283 hp and 255 lb-ft. This engine has a maximum payload of 866 kg (1,910 lb) and a maximum tow rating of 3,447 kg (7,600 lb), which is currently a segment-leading figure for standard V-6 light-duty pickup trucks. Thanks to vehicle weight savings, the standard 3.5L V-6 with Ti-VCT offers a 5 percent improvement in power-to-weight ratio over the larger 3.7L V-6 in the 2014 F-150, with better fuel efficiency and performance.
To increase durability and reliability, Ford have engineered both the upper and lower intake manifolds of the 3.5L V-6 to be tuned for responsive power, and both the intake manifolds and cam covers are composite-formed to reduce weight. The die-cast aluminum cylinder block features bay-to-bay breathing to reduce internal pumping losses, while a deep-sump oil pan contributes to extended oil-change intervals.
So, now we know a little more about the powertrain and capabilities of the upcoming 2015 Ford F-150. With the launch of the new truck slated for later this fall, stay tuned, as we will give a full rundown from behind the wheel of what is sure to be a game changing and possibly controversial truck.