I was hoping it would offset the 5% price difference in midgrade fuel vs. regular.
Anxious to see how it improves 0-60 times towing. It might now be close to the ecoboost.
It does offset the price, no turbos to replace (your kidding yourself if you think the turbos will outlast the engine), no expensive direct injectors to replace, and no engine shudder/limp mode problems (google it, it's widespread enough that Ford's working on a TSB).
Also cheaper premium up front (around $3000 simarly equipped). That buys a lot of mid-grade octane which is about 3% or $0.10 more around here).
But it takes mid grade fuel, and several years newer tech, and an 8 speed, and grill shutters, etc, etc, to still come in below the V6 in Tq. Also, the EPA is retesting the Ram 2wd because it isn't getting the MPGs Ram suggested. I would still count it as a tie with the Ecoboost, for now. But the Ecoboost is in it's third year in F150's, and there are all sorts of rumors about an improved Ecoboost and an imrpoved 5.0L engine from Ford, waitng in the shadows for Ram and GM to catch up.
Several years newer tech?
Like the Ford isn't full of "newer tech" like electronic power steering, direct injection, active torque converter (probably the reason they still only offer a 60k mile powertrain warranty vs RAM's 100k mile), Twin-independent variable cam timing (Ti-VCT), etc...?
Where's your source that the 2wd came in lower than RAM's claim?
The article hints that the EPA is most likely playing caution since they've been burned lately with new tech vehicles and rating them higher than customers saw. I still have doubts it will reach RAM's goal of 25 mpg but bet it will match the Ecoboost at 23 mpg.
Also it may come in a whopping 10 lb.ft below the Ecoboost in TQ, but it makes 30 more HP which is more significant than 10lb.ft.
Just wait until the V6 3.0l diesel comes out with 300hp/420lb.ft and 25+ mpg.
My take on all this, is it is dad-gummed 2013 already! "cars" have been around for 120 years. 15 city / 21 hwy / 17 combined just sucks! Come on manufacturers...!
I agree we should be furthur ahead by now but keep in mind we also have base V6's pushing 300hp and towing over 5k. Trucks today are still a great advancement over trucks over yesterday.