Ford Plans $145 Million Upgrade for Cleveland Engine Plant

Ford Motor Co. is spending $145 million to upgrade its engine plant in Cleveland, Ohio, to build a pair of all-new V-6 EcoBoost engines for 2017 model F-150 pickup trucks.

The factory builds the current version of the 3.0-liter engine, which powers 2016 model F-150s, Explorer and Expedition SUVs, Transit vans, Flex crossovers and Taurus fullsize sedans. The facility also makes 2.0- and 2-3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engines and the Mustang sport coupe’s 3.7-liter V-6.

Ford says the Cleveland complex will build a standard version of the new engine to replace the current V-6, and a high-output variant that offers more power and better fuel economy than Ford’s previous 6.2-liter V-8.

The latter powerplant, married to an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission, will debut in the F-150 Raptor model due this autumn. The pickup will be assembled at Ford’s Dearborn (Mich.) truck plant.