Ford F-150 Spotted With a 3.0-liter Turbodiesel; Ram EcoDiesel's Mileage Crown Threatened
The extended-cab Ford F-150 was somewhat louder than a conventional model, but it was the emissions certificate in the rear window that proved the pickup packed something unusual under the hood.
A partially disguised F-150 recently photographed testing in Michigan wore a code showing the presence of a 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine, and sported a tell-tale diesel exhaust tip. It looks like Ford is serious about besting its pickup competition in every way.
The photos, which can be viewed at Off-Road, TTAC’s sister publication, confirm what we were told by sources in 2014 — that Ford will add the 3.0-liter “Lion” V6 to the F-150’s engine roster.
Ford developed the engine when it owned Jaguar Land Rover, so it’s essentially asking for its own hardware back. The mill features a compacted graphite iron block, twin turbochargers and air-to-air intercooler. Output varies, but the hottest offering on the east side of the Atlantic makes 271 horsepower and 440 pounds-feet of torque.
In early May, Ford bumped up the torque of the F-150’s 3.5-liter Ecoboost to take away twist bragging rights from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Now, it seems like the Ram 1500 HFE EcoDiesel’s class-leading highway mileage (29 miles per gallon) is in danger.
The Ram’s oil-burner is mated to an eight-speed automatic, but Ford, which recently embraced lightweight aluminum architecture in a huge way, has a 10-speed automatic in its inventory. Besting Ram in the fuel-sipping category would add another notch to the belt of America’s best-selling full-size pickup.
The automaker hasn’t said anything about when it plans to market the diesel, but it could happen by next year.
More by Steph Willems
Comments
Join the conversation
If the Lion engine can be more reliable than the RAM 3.0, Ford will have something.
@Steph Williams The Lion is called that for a reason. Designed by Peugeot and developed by Ford/Peugeot. Ultimate version was in the Peugoet Dakar Rally car http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/industry-news/peugeot/peugeot-signs-sebastien-loeb-for-2016-dakar-attack/
The real question is, can this diesel F-150 withstand an old, flimsy toolbox falling into it and not turning into swiss cheese?
This "Best in Class" nonsense is ridiculous. "I have two more foot pound of torque than you!" So, I must be a better person. This is what needs to be curtailed. "Best in Class" to me is an overall package, not just "My towball is rated to 10 000lbs and yours is 7 500lbs". What a schoolyard bullsh!t form of marketing. The odd thing is people buy this! It's you auto journalist who promote this crap along with the marketeers of motor vehicles. So, what other attributes doe the Lion offer over the VM diesel that makes it better? Two turbo's? But, then how good does the single turbo system operate in relation to Ford's twin turbo setup? There isn't much in it between the two diesels. The reality is it is great to see a diesel in the F-150.