Ford’s brand spankin’ new 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine with Auto Start-Stop technology debuted this morning at the North American International Auto Show in the next-generation F-150.
“The F-150’s proven 3.5-liter EcoBoost has become the industry benchmark for advanced and efficient truck engines,” commented Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, global product development, in the Blue Oval press release. “We’ve applied lessons learned from the 3.5-liter EcoBoost to the new 2.7-liter EcoBoost, but with new technologies that make this more efficient engine perform like a larger mid-range V8.”
So what can we expect from the 2.7-liter EcoBoost? Quite a lot. For starters, the Auto Start-Stop technology will boost fuel efficiency for the F-150 to incredible new heights. It’ll shut off the engine when the F-150 comes to a stop (unless towing or in four-wheel drive), conserving fuel for the times that the pickup really needs it.
But that’s not all that the new F-150’s 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine option has to offer. The engine will also make use of a compacted graphite iron cylinder block in a gas engine to reduce weight while remaining durable. This is the same material implemented in Ford’s noted 6.7-liter PowerStroke® turbo-diesel V8, which means this EcoBoost variant is in good company.
“Previous engine block design choices were high strength or compact or lightweight,” said Ed Waszczenko, who is the engine systems supervisor. “We wanted to go further with the 2.7-liter EcoBoost and design an engine with compact structure and high strength and light weight.”
Still want more out of the 2.7-liter EcoBoost? You got it. Other features include the following:
- A variable displacement oil pump (to reduce engine friction and improve fuel economy)
- Fracture split main-bearing caps (to reduce crankshaft friction and—surprise—improve fuel economy)
- Cartridge-style oil filter located at the top of the engine
- A lighter and more durable composite intake manifold
- Intake and exhaust variable cam timing (which serves to lower emissions and improve torque simultaneously)
- Aluminum cylinder heads (with really innovative water-cooled integrated exhaust manifolds)
- An offset I-beam for the piston connecting rods (to manage the engine at peak power levels and at the same time decrease weight)
- Cooling jets (to lower operating temps)
And rest assured, this baby’s been tested thoroughly. The all-new F-150 and the 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine both took to Ford labs and the 2013 Baja 1000 (a “grueling 883-mile event”) to ensure their performance was top-notch. The V6 also passed temperature loops, structural fatigue tests, towing and unloaded driving scenarios, and stop/start tests with flying colors.
The 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine joins an all-star cast of powertrains for the next-gen F-150. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost (its predecessor) will return, along with a new naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 and the big, tough 5.0-liter V8.
Still need convincing? We’ll leave you with Raj Nair’s final thoughts on the all-new engine option:
“No one’s ever built a six-cylinder engine like this. It combines a host of advanced technologies found throughout the industry to create one of the most technically advanced and efficient engines ever designed.”
We hope you’re right, Raj. We most definitely can’t wait to try this baby out ourselves.
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