Ford Expands F-150 Diesel Option to High-Volume Model

Ford Motor Co. has begun offering its 3.0-liter Power Stroke V-6 diesel engine in the midrange XLT version of the F-150 fullsize pickup truck.

The company introduced the engine in the higher-end (Lariat, Platinum and King Ranch) trim lines of the pickup last summer. Those applications marked the first time a diesel mill was available in any F-150.

With the addition of the XLT, the Power Stroke diesel now is available in models that account for 75% of the F-150’s sales volume. The base XL and top-end Limited aren’t getting the engine.

In the models in which it is offered, the 3.0-liter oil burner is part of a $4,300 package that includes heated and power-operated front seats, remote start, 18-inch wheels and chrome trim. Availability is limited to SuperCab and SuperCrew body styles.

Based on the 3.0-liter diesel Ford supplies to Jaguar Land Rover Ltd., the F-150 variant generates 250 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. Teamed with a 10-speed automatic gearbox, diesel-powered F-150s have a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fuel efficiency rating of 25 mph.

F-150 buyers also can opt for one of four gasoline engines. These include three V-6 mills and a 5.0-liter V-8.

For now, the F-150 is the only fullsize truck with a diesel option. Last week, General Motors Co. said it was delaying the U.S. debut of a 3.0-liter inline-six diesel in the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups until the 2020 models are launched later this year. The company, which had planned to introduce the engine earlier this year, says U.S. emissions certification is taking longer than expected.