Ford F-150 Pickup to Offer Diesel, Other Powertrain Updates

Ford Motor Co. took the wraps off the 2018 F-150 full-size pickup truck on Sunday ahead of this week’s Detroit auto show.

The mid-cycle makeover features several new and upgraded engines, including the first diesel offered in the top-selling truck’s 42-year history. The 2018 model will go on sale this autumn, but the diesel won’t be available until mid-2018.

Ford will produce the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 oil burner diesel in England. The carmaker already supplies the same engine to Jaguar Land Rover and PSA Group. In Range Rovers, the diesel makes 254 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque.

Three gasoline engines will be offered for the 2018 model. The F-150's standard unit will be a new direct-injection 3.3-liter V-6, which Ford says will enable the powerplant to match the 282 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque generated by the larger 3.5-liter mill it will replace.

Ford also is updating its 2.7-liter 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine with advanced dual port and direct injection systems. The F-150's optional 5.0-liter V-8 will get unspecified upgrades to increase horsepower and torque. But contrary to reports in December, the V-8 won't be equipped with dual fuel injection.

The 3.3-liter V-6 will be mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. All other engines will be paired with the new 10-speed gearbox Ford co-developed with General Motors Co. Stop-start technology will be standard on all F-150 models. 

The updated F-150 also will get adaptive cruise control and a pre-collision assist system with pedestrian detection. Both features already are available on other Ford vehicles. Other goodies include Apple and smartphone compatibility and a wi-fi hotspot that can accommodate as many as 10 devices.

Cosmetic changes are highlighted by a new two-bar “double I-beam” grille borrowed from the 2017 Super Duty pickup. The design replaces the three-bar grille Ford had used for about 15 years. As with the Super Duty truck, all seven trim levels of the F-150 will get a slightly different double I-beam design.