More reason to have a smaller fuel efficient diesel rather than a beast:
Ford's New EcoBoost 3.5-Liter V-6 Offers Monster Torque - PickupTrucks.com News
"This new upgraded EcoBoost engine will produce 375 horsepower and a whopping 470 pounds-feet of torque, more torque than any other half-ton including GM's 6.2-liter V-8 in the segment."
I wonder how far they can stretch it. Downsizing and turbocharging is a great way to increase efficiency, for a Diesel because compression ignition doesnt like high RPM and therefor needs displacement, and for the gas engine because of the throttle vacuum loss at low engine load. But VW has come to the point that they are stretching their luck too far. the VW Crafter (Mercedes Sprinter with a different face and engine) is loosing against its stable brother the Sprinter, because the 2 liter TDI 163hp with twin turbos just doesnt have the breath to haul the long run, all these engines burn up. The Merc is doing better, with the 160hp 2.2 liter four, or the 3 liter V6, but at VW it goes wrong, these 2 liter engines burn up in a 5 ton van...
How long before people start treating the Ecoboost as a Cummins and then find out in just a few years why the Cummins has more meat packed in the block ?
More torque in an Ecoboost is for bragging rights only. It invites people to use this engine for what it is not designed to do.
Undoubtedly, the turbo is here to stay in pickup truck gas engines. Though after the first real world figures in heavy towing conditions emerge, demand for Diesel will come back. EPA fuel economy regulations make the gas engine as complicated as todays diesels, while the Diesel emission technology is already simplifying again... Better, less sensitive DPFs, DEF instead of killing the engine with EGR... while direct gas injection is an extra complication for the gas engine.
My guess is that the Ecodiesel and diesel F150 (which are power dense engines designed for a luxury saloon, or a Euro SUV) arent going to last the long run either, hauling commercially in an American pickup truck. And within 5 years when the Ecoboost has a more defined position in the market, Ford will offer the British 4.4 Puma V8 diesel in a reduced output to about 300hp, (to make it last in heavy load collectives) in a 3/4 ton truck...
The EPA is breathing in their neck, demanding lower fuel consumption, while the American consumer isnt ready for the necessary steps yet. So its Ecoboost for those that tow infrequent, ecoDiesel for the frugal buyer that makes a lot of km and hardly ever tows, and a few years from now, a 300hp diesel for people that tow frequent, to fill the void left by the ever increasing numbers in the HD diesels...
