Ford Surpasses 1 Million EcoBoost Trucks Sold – Tundra Lagging Behind?
Tim Esterdahl | Jun 29, 2016 | Comments 10
Ford announced today it has reached another milestone with its line of turbo-charged EcoBoost engines. Since 2011, Ford has now sold more than 1 million trucks with this engine and the 3.5L along with the 2.7L EcoBoost engines now represent more than 60 percent of their truck sales. While we have picked on the engine at times over maintenance on the turbochargers, shuddering problems as well as the 2.7L size being odd for a truck engine, it is pretty clear consumers are clamoring for this setup. It is simply past time for Toyota to introduce a fuel efficient powertrain to complement the 5.7L V8.
Ford has now sold more than 1 million EcoBoost powered F-150 trucks. It is past time for Toyota to offer a fuel efficient engine to complement the 5.7L V8.
The milestone announcement comes with some pretty startling numbers like Ford EcoBoost customers will save more than 110 million gallons of gasoline annually – equivalent to 13 oil supertankers. Plus, they could save as much as $255 million in fuel costs. These numbers are based on comparing the EcoBoost engine EPA ratings versus Ford’s V8 engine as well as assuming 15,000 miles driven per truck per year. Also, the fuel cost estimate is based on the $2.32 a gallon mark nationally.
Another interesting tidbit to consider is the speed of which Ford is selling these trucks. Ford says while it took a 1,000 days to sell 400,000 EcoBoost trucks, it has now sold 1 million in 2,000 days. With the 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost engines on the market, they are projecting to reach 2 million even quicker with already selling 300,000 units in 2016.
The EcoBoost line of engines is expected to get even more fuel efficient with the second-generation 3.5L coming out in the fall. This engine will come standard with Auto Start-Stop, the new 10-speed automatic transmission and better efficiency with a whooping 450 lb-ft. of torque in the V6.
While Ford also touts the towing and hauling capabilities of its EcoBoost engines, a point we aren’t exactly sold on, there is little doubt the fuel savings are there and for customers who don’t tow that often or tow near maximum capacity, the EcoBoost simply offers better fuel economy than the Tundra.
What about the Tundra’s Powertrain?
You are probably think that’s great and all, but this is a Tundra site, what about its powertrain? It is a beast for sure and tows like a champ. However, ask any Tundra fan themselves and you will hear the word “outdated.”
Is it really outdated? Not really, the engine’s makeup and technology was way ahead of its time back in 2007 and it still matches up closely with many of the newer generation V8 engines on the market. So, no based on technology it is not outdated.
What is outdated is the lack of options. A few years ago, Toyota killed the V6 option for the truck based on slow sales. The truth is there was little difference between the straight V6 and the V8 and honestly a straight V6 setup just seems outdated these days of turbocharged engines. While Ford, Ram and Chevy/GMC all still offer one, they are not highlighted as much as their other engines and customers don’t see/feel the benefits.
The feel part is significant here. Driving an EcoBoost, you can feel the difference between it and a V8. I would argue a big part of why has been successful in selling the engine is because it is simply more fun to drive than the V8.
For Toyota, this then is should be part of their discussion about adding a turbo-charged engine to their truck engine offerings. Not only does it have the potential to save fuel, it is also fun to drive and would easily make the truck more competitive from a fuel economy standpoint.
At the end of the day, there is little doubt not offering a more fuel efficient engine alongside the V8 in either a turbo-charged gas or diesel setup puts the Tundra at a competitive disadvantage. A disadvantage is bad no matter how you look at it.
Filed Under: Auto News
While build wise the 5.7 may not seem outdated it is. Everyone knows it debuted in 07′ and the Tundra drivetrain has not been touched since then, which is unnacceptable in today’s truck market if you want to remain competitive and sell trucks. While one can appreciate its reliability Toyota is just lazy and saving money by not putting a dime of money into the Tundra drivetrain.
While the ecoboost advertises much better mpg than actual real world, the Tundra is still behind and known as a gas hog. A few tweaks like direct injection and a new tranny would make the Tundra once again competitive in HP and MPG department, until then it remains the most ancient truck you can buy.
Gotta agree. Won’t matter how technological advance the i-Force is if it lags behind in power per displacement and per mpg’s. It is reliable but people’s wallet aren’t reliable. There is simply more “gotta have the new stuff” people then there are “qdr” people. Hence the domestics sell so much. I have a co-workers who’s on his 4th F150 since 2000, I’m still driving my 2000. That is another example of the gotta have it people. There are lots of them.
Interesting numbers on the econoboost. I also find it intersting that after all Fords ads etc on their wonderful motor…well if it is that wonderful why is it not in the F 250. Why are all the new F 150 so nose down….is it because it isnt that efficient???? I just completed a 1375 mile tow with my Grand Design 5th wheel at 11k in the heat from NC to Ocala Flordia up and back. 2008 Tundra SR5 over 100k on the odometer. I will post the tow later this week on the Grand Design forums. My 8.5 year Tundra is modern enough for me. From a personal standpoint I tow with a V8 and have no desire to tow with a v6. Light nose and light rear due to material. I dont see me spending 50 grand on a v6 half ton anytime soon…..not for towing heavy….let some else do that.
instead of a turbo 6 to compete with ford ecobust, that sucks fuel way more than the window sticker in just about every real world test.
how about toyota come out with a 6.2 liter I-Force to compete with the GM 6.2 beast that gets better MPG than the other stuff while making way more power.
until then I’ll stick with the Ram 5.7 I had, and the Tundra 5.7 I have now.
large V8 for me, no turbo 6.
My thought would be the 4.6 iForce with a twin low pressure turbo system along with the new low friction technology found in the Prius (Toyota was able to achieve a 40 percent-plus thermal efficiency gain due to reducing friction in the rotating assembly and internal parts along with improved combustion.).
Touché!
Need any further proof that Toyota is done trying to compete with the big three?
Ford is already testing the 2018 F-150 refresh, which is said to feature diesel and hybrid versions to go along with the V-8 and two V-6 offerings, one of which the 3.6 ecoboost has been tweaked for considerably more power and torque. Also debuting a 10-speed transmission.
And Toyota sputters along with 2006 designed drive trains, no update, nothing.
9% drop in Tundra sales this year, sad state of affairs at Toyota Truck division.
Agreed. Toyota clearly took on the big three back truck market in ’07/’08 but then gave up, tossed in the towel, waved the white flag. Here’s a link to the commercials from back then
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi79PK73yjk
Take notice to who took the time to put them together, PickupTrucks.com, when the site was managed by Mike Levine.
So, whatever happened to the Tundra?
Interesting find. I think it is two different sites though. Notice the lack of the “s” in pickuptrucks.com. I don’t think Levine managed this page.
-Tim
Tim,
That’s what mikes site was called prior to the sale to cars.com. They added the s,
I was a member there forever when they actually had a forum and the blogs weren’t a bunch of teenagers
Most of us left and a few of us are on a very small site.