2018 Ford F-150

Ford adds diesel, new V-6 to enhance F-150 mpg for '18
Engine is part of pickup's major midcycle freshening

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DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is adding its first-ever diesel variant and a new V-6 engine to the freshened F-150 pickup for 2018 to further boost the fuel efficiency of its top-selling and most profitable product line.

The midcycle freshening includes a new 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel option available in 2018, along with other engine improvements, seven new front grilles, six new wheel styles, updated lights and interior tweaks.

They are the biggest changes to the truck since it was radically retooled for the 2015 model year with an all-aluminum body. U.S. sales of the F series rose 5.2 percent to 820,799 last year, making it the nation’s top-selling truck for 40 consecutive years and most-popular light vehicle for 35 straight years. The growth in F-series sales last year easily outpaced the full-size pickup segment’s 2.7 percent increase.

Ford's "A" game

“This is their A game in terms of what they believe will keep the sales streak going,” said Dave Sullivan, manager of product analysis at AutoPacific.

The updated engines should help improve the truck’s fuel-economy ratings, which haven’t beat Fiat Chrysler’s segment-leading Ram, even after Ford’s lightweighting efforts. The most recent F-150 with a 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine gets 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined, trailing the Ram 1500 diesel engine’s 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined rating.

“Aluminum was only half the fuel-efficiency equation,” Sullivan said. “They’re now bringing the second half -- the powertrain -- to the equation.”

The 2018 pickup is scheduled to be unveiled later Sunday. The optional diesel motor will be the first offered on the truck since it went on sale in 1975.

“We’re continually innovating for our customers,” said Todd Eckert, group marketing manager for the F-150. “It’s a leader continuing to lead.”

Wider appeal

The biggest change, the diesel engine option, aims to appeal to truck customers who tow and haul more than usual. The 3.0-liter will be a variant of the Lion diesel engine that Ford builds for use in Land Rover and Jaguar vehicles. It will be produced in England.

Ford did not disclose the vehicle's anticipated mpg. It also isn't saying what F-150 trim levels the diesel engine will be available on, and declined to offer volume projections. Ford offers diesels on its heavy-duty trucks and Transit vans. Different from the Lion engine, they include a 6.7-liter Power Stroke built in Mexico.

The addition of the diesel motor is a nod to Ford’s competitors, including the Ram, Chevrolet Colorado and Nissan Titan, among others, which have added diesel variants.

Analysts say it will also address the one weak spot in Ford’s EcoBoost engine: the loss of fuel economy when the truck hauls a heavy load.

“I have no doubt when you combine a lightweight body, 10-speed automatic transmission, and a 3-liter diesel V-6, there’s definitely the possibility of tying or being the most fuel-efficient half-ton, and I wouldn’t rule out it becoming the most fuel-efficient pickup,” Sullivan said.

Gasoline engine changes

Ford is also making additions and improvements to the F-150’s gasoline engine lineup.

The 2018 F-150 will feature a new entry-level 3.3-liter V-6 with a six-speed transmission. Ford is also updating its 2.7-liter EcoBoost, 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 5.0-liter V-8 engines, and is pairing the truck’s 10-speed automatic transmission with all three. Since its release late in 2016, the 10-speed has been available only on the 3.5-liter.

Stop-start technology will come standard on all Ford engines.

“We have a more expanded and capable powertrain,” said Peter Dowding, chief engineer for powertrain gasoline systems. “There are some pretty significant changes. … We’re chasing after every piece of fuel economy we can get.”

The biggest cosmetic changes come in the F-150’s front end. In an effort to differentiate each of its seven trim levels, Ford is introducing seven new grilles, dropping the traditional tribar design.

Super Duty style

Many trims of the freshened F-150 will feature a design similar to the Super Duty pickup. Other examples include mesh grilles for trucks with sport appearance packages and body-color grilles for the Lariat Sport trim.

The truck also features updated headlights, which maintain the C-clamp style that debuted on the 2015 F-150. The rear taillights and tailgates are also new.

For the first time in an F-150, Ford will include precollision assist with pedestrian detection and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology. Both features have been available on other Ford vehicles.

The 2018 F-150 will be the first Ford to include a B&O Play sound system, and will have a Wi-Fi hot spot, a new feature for a number of 2018 Ford vehicles, the automaker announced last week at the CES technology expo in Las Vegas.

The truck will hit showrooms this fall, but the diesel engines won’t go on sale until summer 2018. Ford declined to discuss pricing, although the base 2017 F-150 starts around $26,000, and the highest trim level starts at around $59,000.

Automotive News

Sounds like they did their homework. Lighter weight, 3L diesel, and a 10sp transmission could be a great setup. Finally someone will add a capable half ton diesel. As if they didn't already know, Nissan's wimpy XD niche will likely become even more irrelevant.

I hope the Lion design rumors were true about improved emission plumbing. Engine arteriosclerosis from modern diesel emission equipment is a downer for me or anyone wanting to keep their vehicles long term.

I hope it proofs to be worth the huge investment to R&D and then build the new diesel. I think it will be.

Looking at those pictures, I'd like a comparison to the space shuttle to see which one has more buttons and knobs. Good grief!

https://www.torquenews.com/106/3-engine-options-2018-ford-f150-detailed-power-output

Small bumps in power.

That 3.0L diesel sounds interesting.

Finally enough 1/2 ton diesels for a decent shootout.
Ford, Ram and Nissan.

Maybe not Ram. We are going to have to wait for the emissions cheating investigation to finish. If Ram is found guilty of cheating it will be a major blow to FCA. They don't have the bankroll to handle the fines that will be imposed on them like VW did.