HappyCPE said:
Ford's engine was supposed to be a 4.4 liter made in the UK by Rover, and used there in the Discovery. Supposed to be a good mill. Problem is, Ford's broke and the first guy with a few billion can buy Land Rover. That means they can't make a commitment for the engines to be available for the F150, as the new owner might want them. Meanwhile, the competition is lining up their oil burners for battle... Ford needs to get its head out of its behind and step up to the other truck makers or there ain't gonna be an F150.
Nothing like speculation with no facts ---
The engine is not made by Rover. It is made FOR Rover by Ford. Rover's new 3.6 liter, TDV8 diesel is built at Ford Motor Company's brand new, high-tech diesel engine facility in Dagenham, England. The Dagenham facility WILL NOT be part of a sale of Jaguar / Rover as Ford uses diesel engines manufactured at that facility in a variety of EU Ford products.
The current information for the F150 indicates the engine will be a 4.4 liter supercharged diesel, based on the 3.6 liter made by Ford for Rover. The 4.4 liter configuration is supposed to have 330 hp and 520 ft/lbs of torque.
However, Ford has yet to decide where the US engines will be manufactured. Because of their deal with Navistar, they cannot produce the engine in the US until the contract with Navistar runs out (end of 2010). So, the new diesel with either be imported from England or manufactured at one of the Ford engine facilities in Mexico.
To quote from a published source - "For several years, Ford has considered proposals for a diesel F-150 pick-up. The company had considered buying the engine from an outside supplier. Now Ford wants to produce its own engine."
The engine orginally considered was a 6 cylinder version of the Navistar Powerstroke. The problem with that engine was they could not make it meet emissions requirements. The engine produced for Rover - BY FORD - already exceeds EU requirements that are more stringent that EPA requirements.
This has been "news" for over a year - really...you need to read the Detroit News Autos Insider, Blue Oval News, Autoweek, or FordF150.net regulary - before rendering opinions on what Ford might be doing.
Lastly, you MAY see a show version of the truck at the North American International Auto Show in January, 2008. The new F150 is slated to go on sale in August of 2008 as a 2009 model - they may have a show version at NAIAS as an model introduction. This is speculation on my part, but based on well circulated rumor mill information.