Ford puts light duty diesel truck engine on ice
It looks like small cars aren't the only segment where Ford has no confidence in diesel engines. When Ford announced its redesigned F150 pickup trucks early this year the company indicated that a new light duty diesel engine would join the lineup in 2010. The company even showed off the new 4.4L V8 at a dealer meeting in April of this year. It now appears that the engine won't be coming in 2010 and in fact it may never happen. Ford officials have confirmed to Mike Levine at PickupTrucks.com that the program has been put on hold and may be canceled entirely. Separately, another supplier source has confirmed the same information to ABG. Ford was already pretty close to completing development of the new engine, but has stopped short of actually tooling up the factory to build them. Instead, Ford has decided to refocus its efforts on the EcoBoost (gasoline turbocharged direct injection) engines that will debut in the trucks in 2010. A 3.5L EcoBoost V6 makes similar power and low end torque to a diesel at a much lower cost. The EcoBoost engines provide about a 15-20 percent boost in fuel efficiency, compared to the 5.4L V8, which is less than the 20-30 percent that might be possible with the diesel, but the cost makes up the difference for most buyers. According to Mike, GM remains committed to its new 4.5L diesel but all future programs are up in the air.
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
stas peterson 4:38PM (10/18/2008)
Ford didn't cancel the diesel for efficiency reasons. Ford cancelled the diesel because it didn't have the money to buy the tooling for a new factory, at this time.
Toyota has done the same, and cancelled both their diesel investment, and an expanded Tundra plant, filling out the Tundra line, and a second facility, as it retrenches from its NA truck investment. Nissan has quit truck completely, and wil have Chrysler build its Rams and re-badge them as Nissans.
Honda has been intimating that it may scrap the Ridgeline as well.
Do you feel sorry for the Titan buyers and Ridgeline buyers who have just found that they own an orphan? They just knew that the Japanese automakers are superior in every way.
Well, Chrysler has fully compliant truck diesels already for its big rigs the Ram 2500, 3500, C3,C4 and C5 cab chassis trucks, It's the Cummins 6.8L T2B5 since 2007. Cummins has completed a factory for small diesels too, so the Ram 1500 and Dakotas, Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Aspen/Durango, will get the new 4.2 T2B5 diesels too, in late 2009. Finally Chrysler catches a break, even if its a small one.
I am unaware of what GM will do. Rumors abound.
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Jesse 11:21PM (10/17/2008)
Ford, thank you for making the choice easier for me. I will purchase a Chevrolet with the 4.5L diesel.
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michael 12:39PM (11/08/2008)
ford is crazy i will be going to chevrolet for a light duty diesel i just dont think that a ecoboost engine is up to the task of competing against a diesel engine.
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Jon 11:26PM (10/17/2008)
One of the things that bothers me about Ford is they seem to be more concerned with marketing than engineering. "Ecoboost" is a great example. They are simply applying a "green" sounding name to technology (direct inject turbo) that the Germans have been selling for a few years already. What a disappointment. I currently drive a 2008 F150 FX4 and will be trading it in on the chevy diesel when they become available.
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jon 7:28AM (4/01/2009)
I've been waiting for that small deisel truck sice I heard about the Diesel Ranger they sell in Europe, Ford messed up this time!
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Jim 10:44PM (4/25/2009)
Well I have been waiting for the new F150 Diesel for a year now, I have been driving Ford cars all my life. But switched to driving TDI diesel Cars that get 44 mpg on the hwy. Was going to get new F150 Diesel but looks like whoever comes out first is what I will buy I love my 2005 and 2006 Jetta Diesel I do alot of driving and it payoff in the long run even if diesel fuel is a dollar higher I still save money.
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