New F150 and EcoBoost preview promo...

[68fastback]

Coming to a city near you ...nice to be able to try it out under conditions a dealer would not let you and also see it measure up against the competition before you buy.

FORD TO PUT THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS BEHIND WHEEL OF 2011 F-150 ECOBOOST MONTHS BEFORE ON-SALE DATE


http://media.ford.com/images/10031/091710_11F150BFTRoundup_screengrab.jpg
Ford will put thousands of people behind the wheel of the new 2011 Ford F-150 months before the vehicle arrives in dealer showrooms

Thousands of people will have the opportunity to test drive the new 2011 Ford F-150 months before it arrives in dealer showrooms so they can see for themselves how the all-new powertrain lineup performs and how the truck stacks up against the competition
Built Ford Tough Roundup drive program will travel to seven cities – Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Atlanta, Orlando, Los Angeles and Aberdeen, Maryland – between now and November
2011 Ford F-150 features the most extensive powertrain overhaul in the 62-year history of F-Series, with four new engines including a new 3.5-liter EcoBoost™
Consumers may sign up for the drive program by visiting www.driveF150.com (http://www.driveF150.com)
More... (http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=33259)

[VaporDude]

Ford knows how to really get to the competition. It seems like they are pulling every string to promote their products.

[GP500SU]

The new F-150s are sharp trucks! I'd love to have one

[68fastback]

When I look at the engine line-up for the F150 a couple of things jump out...
A look at the new engine lineup
The three new truck engines available at launch are the 3.7-liter V6 and 5.0-liter V8, each with fuel-saving and performance-enhancing twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) technology, and a version of the 6.2-liter V8 that is the base engine in the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty. Here are the highlights of each new engine:


3.7-liter four-valve Ti-VCT V6

Best-in-class 302 horsepower at 6,500 rpm vs. V6 competitors
Unsurpassed 278 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm vs. V6 competitors
Projected best-in-class fuel economy
Best-in-class 6,100 pounds maximum trailer tow vs. V6 competitors
5.0-liter four-valve dual-overhead-camshaft Ti-VCT V8

Best-in-class 360 horsepower at 5,500 rpm vs. standard V8 competitors
Best-in-class 380 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250 rpm vs. standard V8 competitors
Best-in-class 10,000 pounds maximum trailer tow vs. standard V8 competitors
6.2-liter two-valve single-overhead-camshaft V8

Best-in-class 411 horsepower at 5,500 rpm vs. all competitors
Best-in-class 434 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm vs. all competitors
Best-in-class 11,300 pounds maximum trailer tow vs. all competitors
3.5-liter Ti-VCT EcoBoost

365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm on regular fuel
Best-in-class 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,500 rpm vs. premium V8 competitors
Up to 90 percent of peak torque available from 1,700 rpm to 5,000 rpm
Best-in-class 11,300 pounds maximum trailer tow vs. all competitors
Best-in-class 3,060 pounds payload vs. all competitors
Notice that the 3.5EBTT has identical towing to the 6.2 but, likely because of it's lighter weight, has the highest payload spec (3060#).

Yesteday Ford announced they'll run a stock 2011 3.5EBTT F150 in the next Baja 1000.

So I have to wonder:

-will the 3.5EBTT eventually replace the 6.2 in the F150 (vs the SuperDuty)? Remember, at one point denied the 6.2 would be available in the F150, then changed their mind.

-will Ford offer an SVT RAPTOR with the 3.5EBTT at some point?

-if the 3.5EBTT and 6.2 are about the same cost (both are a bump over the base 3.7 NA V6), is the 6.2 offered just for those who will not accept a V6 ...even at comparable to the 6.2 in cost (if it is), power (effectively it is), and mileage (has to be a solid 20% better?).

-given the above, and given the NA 5.0 is less capable than both the 6.2 and 3.5EBTT but more capable than the NA 3.7 V6, I'm thinking the only reasons the 6.2 is in the F150 are:

1) the 3.5EBTT wasn't ready yet
2) some buyers in this segment simply will not accept a V6-TT regardless of it's capabilies

-if/when Ford does a 5.0EBTT, and given Ford's loosely-stated prior objective to drop as much as 700-800# off F-series over time, what purpose does the iron 6.2 serve?

I think the 6.2 is a solid big-bore SOHC 2V engine ...with lots of potential ...but it will never be a really efficient engine ...and unless it's an exceptionally low-cost engine to make (unlikely) or goes to an alloy block (very possible) and TiVCT (unlikely in the short term, if ever), I just don't see this engine having a long run in the F150. And if it does get up-fit with those goodies in the future, it would seem better targeted at SuperDuty ...and a BOSS 429 :banana: ...tho Ford said the 6.2 isn't going in a Mustang -- but Mark Fields said that in the same conversation when he said it won't go in the F150 either :shades:

Is the 6.2 in the F150 (vs Superduty) merely a delightful but temporary misfit? Any thoughts?