2015 Ford F-150 specs revealed, EcoBoost 2.7L to make 325 hp and 375 lb-ft [w/video]

Tue, 22 Jul 2014

Our new man Greg Migliore is in attendance at a Ford media event at the Blue Oval's Dearborn, MI headquarters today, and he's reported in with a handful of the 2015 F-150 stats that we've been dying to know. Ford is slow-playing the news release here, but we can still offer up some interesting output and performance figures after half-year of waiting.

We have all be quite aware that Ford's shift to aluminum construction would save a lot of weight for F-150 models, and the results we're hearing now are duly impressive. For instance: in Super Crew trim, a 2015 F-150 is a whopping 732-pounds lighter than was its closest 2014-model-year equivalent. That's like hauling three middle-aged dudes to your bowling alley's league night for free. Polish your balls, guys.

Ford isn't willing to offer up any actual curb weights just yet, but if we take that 732-pound loss and extrapolate with the 5,128-pound curb weight of the 2014 F-150 Super Crew with the 3.7-liter V6, we can guesstimate that 2015 models will measure out in the 4,400-pound range. That's impressive.

We also learned just a bit about the new additions to the engine range. The base engine in the F-150 comes in the form of a naturally aspirated, 3.5-liter V6. That mill may be the little brother of the crew, but it still makes 283 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, giving the 4x2 pickup the a maximum payload of 1,910 pounds and a tow rating of 7,600 pounds.

Stepping up one rung on the ladder is the hotly anticipated 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, turbocharged to the tune of 325 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque. In 4x2 guise, that blown mill allows for maximum payload and towing ratings of 2,250 and 8,500 pounds, respectively.

We're obviously still excited to learn actual miles-per-gallon ratings and curb weights for the Ford haulers, but in the meantime, you can scroll below to check out the official press release and an official video of the Blue Oval boys putting the EcoBoost F-150 through its towing paces at the Davis Dam in Arizona.

ALL-NEW FORD F-150 2.7-LITER ECOBOOST V6 ENGINE DELIVERS V8 CAPABILITY AND PERFORMANCE

Tougher, lighter 2015 Ford F-150 welcomes two new engines to its four-engine lineup, providing choices to meet almost any customer need – from hauling tools to towing trailers

High-output 2.7-liter EcoBoost® with standard Auto Start-Stop broadens engine lineup by providing mid-range V8-like towing capability of 8,500 pounds, payload of 2,250 pounds, 325 horsepower, 375 lb.-ft. of torque

Standard 3.5-liter V6 engine with twin independent variable camshaft timing delivers impressive power and efficiency with towing of 7,600 pounds that can't be beat, 1,910 pounds of payload, 283 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of torque

Use of high-strength steel and high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy plus smart engineering saves up to 700 pounds, improving power-to-weight ratio and allowing for gains in towing, performance and efficiency

With its new 2.7-liter EcoBoost® with standard Auto Start-Stop and new 3.5-liter V6 with twin independent variable camshaft timing, the 2015 Ford F-150 resets the bar in light-duty pickup truck performance, capability and efficiency.

"The 2015 F-150 is the most capable F-150 yet, while shedding up to 700 pounds," said Bob Fascetti, vice president, Powertrain Engineering. "These two new V6 engines – the 2.7-liter turbocharged EcoBoost and normally aspirated 3.5-liter Ti-VCT – set a new standard for Ford for capability and efficiency."

2.7-liter EcoBoost power
The high-output, twin-turbo 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 features an entirely new design that delivers power and performance in a strong, smart package. The engine produces 325 horsepower and 375 lb.-ft. of torque – improving the power-to-weight ratio of the 2015 truck by 15 percent over the 2014 5.0-liter V8-equipped F-150 with similar torque output, thanks to vehicle light-weighting.

The 2.7-liter EcoBoost 4x2 has a maximum payload rating of 2,250 pounds and maximum tow rating of 8,500 pounds, ideal for meeting mid-range capability needs.

Boosting 2.7-liter EcoBoost fuel efficiency is the debut of standard Auto Start-Stop technology for F-150. This technology, specially tuned for truck customers, shuts off the engine when the vehicle is at a stop. When the brake is released, the engine restarts quickly. Auto Start-Stop helps reduce fuel consumption and emissions when the truck is stopped and the engine is off. The technology is off when towing or in four-wheel-drive mode.

The 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine also features Ford's first use of a compacted graphite iron cylinder block in a gasoline engine, the same material used in Ford's 6.7-liter Power Stroke® turbo diesel V8 in Super Duty trucks. The composite CGI/aluminum cylinder block saves weight while providing strength where it's needed most for durability.

Advanced technology, power and efficiency combine to create an engine for F-150 that boasts more than twice the horsepower, torque and towing capability of the Toyota Tacoma midsize pickup truck with identical displacement 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine.

Ford testing shows the 2.7-liter EcoBoost also outperforming Ram 1500 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3-liter V8 while towing a 7,000-pound enclosed trailer up Davis Dam in Arizona. This is the same grade the Society of Automotive Engineers uses for its J2807 towing testing standards, which the 2015 Ford F-150 will follow.

3.5-liter V6 tuned for responsive power
Thanks to vehicle weight savings, the standard 3.5-liter V6 with Ti-VCT offers a 5 percent improvement in power-to-weight ratio over the larger 3.7-liter V6 in the 2014 F-150, with better fuel efficiency and performance.

The 3.5-liter V6 produces 283 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine has a maximum payload of 1,910 pounds and a maximum tow rating of 7,600 pounds – unsurpassed for standard V6 light-duty pickup trucks.

Designed for impressive power and durability, the 24-valve 3.5-liter V6 features a valvetrain with direct-acting polished mechanical buckets with twin independent variable camshaft timing for impressive torque across a wide rpm range. Six-bolt main bearing caps, a fully counterweighted forged steel crankshaft and cast exhaust manifolds are designed for heavy-duty operation.

Both the upper and lower intake manifolds of the 3.5-liter V6 are tuned for responsive power, and both the intake manifolds and cam covers are composite-formed to reduce weight. The die-cast aluminum cylinder block features bay-to-bay breathing to reduce internal pumping losses, while a deep-sump oil pan contributes to extended oil-change intervals.

Advanced materials save weight
Extensive research by Ford engineers led to the use of more advanced materials on the 2015 F-150 than found in previous trucks. Military-grade aluminum alloys make the new truck's body lighter, stronger and more resistant to dents.

Overall, F-150 is up to 700 pounds lighter – helping the truck tow and haul more, accelerate and stop faster, and operate more efficiently than the previous F-150. High-strength steel in the frame and high-strength aluminum alloy throughout the body produce an inherently stiffer truck with greater dent and ding resistance. The aluminum upper body sits on a fully boxed ladder frame with more high-strength steel than ever to make it stronger yet lighter.

In addition to the new V6 engines, the all-new 2015 F-150 offers the proven 3.5-liter EcoBoost and the 5.0-liter V8 with Ti-VCT, providing a comprehensive, capable and efficient engine lineup to meet the specific needs of Ford truck customers.

By Seyth Miersma