Greater Grunt
The 2017 F-150 packs more power, more torque and a 10-speed auto trans
By Steve Turner
Photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Wondering how Ford would improve the performance of its eternally popular pickup truck? Well, the company has just announced that the 2017 model’s new 3.5-liter engine will offer better performance and towing thanks to an output of 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque.
The second-gen 3.5-liter engine is a production cousin of the EcoBoost engine that powers the race-winning Ford GT. This new version cranks out 50 more lb-ft of torque and 10 more horsepower than the outgoing 3.5. This boost in torque helps it deliver more torque than even its diesel-powered competitors.
“The 2017 Ford F-150 now delivers the best torque in the segment,” Ford executive vice president, Product Development, and chief technical officer, Raj Nair said. “This class-leading torque arrives with a transformative 10-speed automatic that improves nearly every aspect of F-150 performance.”
Yes, to maximize the performance of the 3.5-liter engine, Ford is backing it with a 10-speed automatic transmission that is said to offer improved acceleration and performance.
The new F-150 will hit dealer lots this fall.
The 2.7- and 3.5-liter EcoBoost engines accounted for 60-percent of F-150 sales in 2016 and the second-generation 3.5-liter engine looks to give customers 470 reasons to choose an EcoBoost engine in their 2017 pickups.
The only transmission paired with the new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine is a new 10-speed automatic, which Ford says is the “first volume-production 10-speed automatic transmission available to consumers…”
