Ford Prepares to Build New V-6 Pickup Truck Engine

Ford Motor Co. is launching a $500 million upgrade of its engine plant in Lima, Ohio, to produce its all-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 for the 2015 F-150 pickup truck.

Ford hasn't announced an output rating for the twin-turbo V-6. Media reports estimate the engine will produce about 320 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque results similar to a mid-range V-8 engine.

The new powerplant will join the F-150's current 3.7-liter V-6 and 3.5-liter V-6 options. It will be the first engine offered in an F-Series truck with standard automatic stop-start technology to enhance fuel economy.

Ford also will continue to offer its 5.0-liter V-8 but is dropping the slow-selling 6.2-liter V-8. The company notes that 57% of F-150 buyers in the 2014 model year to date have opted for a V-6 instead of a traditional V-8 engine.

The 2.7-liter V-6 features the first use of a compacted graphite iron cylinder block in a gasoline engine. Other innovations include fracture split main-bearing caps, an aluminum cylinder head with water-cooled integrated exhaust manifolds, variable displacement oil pump, variable intake and exhaust valve timing, composite intake manifold and top-loading cartridge-type oil filter.