Ford 2017 F-150 will be offered to customers with all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine and 10-speed transmission.
The new second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine will provide 30 lb.-ft. more peak torque compared with the first-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, up to a best-in-class 450 lb.-ft. for a V6. F-150 remains the only truck in its segment to offer a twin-turbo V6 gasoline engine.
The all-new Ford-built transmission - the first volume-production 10-speed automatic transmission available to consumers from any automaker - will deliver improved acceleration and performance compared with previous six-speed automatic transmissions.
Ford chief technical officer and Product Development executive vice president Raj Nair said: "The Ford truck team lives to serve our hardworking truck customers.
"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."
More than 20 patents are approved or pending for the innovative powertrain combination.
Second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine
The new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine builds on the success of the 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine and first-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine available for the 2016 F-150.
Nearly 1 million F-150 EcoBoost engines have been sold to date, with the 2.7-liter and first-generation 3.5-liter accounting for approximately 60 percent of F-150 sales.
Ford engineers designed the new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine to provide best-in-class torque for a V6 engine, beating gasoline- and diesel-powered competitors. The new engine provides better low-end and peak engine performance, ideal for hauling heavy payloads and towing heavy trailers.
The engine features an all-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.
All-new turbochargers deliver more boost thanks to improved twin turbos and a lighter turbine wheel. The new turbos work seamlessly with Ford-first electrically activated wastegates, enhancing operating efficiency.
Light-weighting the turbine wheel - by making it out of high-temperature super alloy Mar-M-247 developed by the aerospace industry - improves responsiveness.
Ford's commitment to continuous light-weighting to improve performance also is evident in the hollow camshafts in the all-new roller-finger follower valvetrain that help save up to 4 pounds of weight.
The valvetrain also features more durable intake and exhaust valves, and hydraulic valve-lash adjusters that optimize engine durability over the life of the truck.
The new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine provides Auto Start-Stop as a standard feature, helping customers save fuel, though actual fuel savings vary depending on driving patterns.
The technology also contributes to a reduction in CO2 emissions due to decreased idle times. Auto Start-Stop is specially tuned for truck customers, shutting off the engine when the vehicle is at a stop - except when towing or in four-wheel-drive mode.
All-new 10-speed transmission
The new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine will be paired with an all-new 10-speed transmission for the 2017 F-150.
The transmission delivers improved acceleration and performance compared with previous six-speed automatic transmissions, thanks to optimized 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 best-in-class towing.
Weight savings play a key role in improved shifting performance. The 10-speed transmission 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 pounds of weight, while also reducing the packaging footprint.
Smarter shift logic helps 2017 F-150 customers tow with improved confidence using tow/haul mode.
All-new real-time-adaptive shift-scheduling algorithms monitor more than a dozen powertrain- and driver-control signals to ensure the right gear at the right time for an engaging driving experience, including in sport mode.
An integrated electric pump works with the standard Auto Start-Stop system for seamless restarts and improved driving efficiency.
Manufacturing investment
Ford announced earlier this year that it will invest $145 million to upgrade its Cleveland Engine Plant - creating or retaining 150 jobs to support production of the all-new second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine for the 2017 Ford F-150 lineup.
An additional $1.4 billion is being invested at Ford's Livonia Transmission Plant to create or retain 500 hourly jobs to build the 10-speed transmission.
Both investments are part of the company's commitment to invest $9 billion and create or retain 8,500 hourly jobs in its U.S. facilities during the next four years. In the past five years, Ford has invested $12 billion in its U.S. plants and created nearly 28,000 total U.S. jobs. The 2017 Ford F-150 goes on sale this fall.
