The Turbocharged V6 Truck Revolution Is Coming
Jason Lancaster | Jul 25, 2011 | Comments 12
This week’s Automotive News includes a somewhat startling fact: for the 2nd quarter of 2011, about 40% of F-150’s were sold with a turbocharged V6. When combined with Ford’s naturally aspirated 3.7 V6 (hello, fleet!), that means that Ford sold more V6 than V8 between April and June, 2011.
The surprising popularity of the EcoBoost V6 is bad news for all truck manufacturers who don't have a comparable option.
In my opinion, this represents a sea change in the truck market. For years, many so-called experts (myself included) assumed that truck buyers were likely to reject new technology simply because it was new. Just a few months ago I wrote that Ford truck buyers might be concerned about EcoBoost reliability, wondering if perhaps Ford truck buyers would stay with the tried-and-true V8 rather than go with the more fuel efficient V6.
However, the consumer has spoken. Ford’s strong sales of the EcoBoost V6 show that tens of thousands of new truck consumers are interested in buying a more fuel efficient V6 over a more traditional V8. This is great news for Ford, but obviously bad news for GM and Chrysler-Fiat, neither of whom have a working turbocharged V6 they can slap in the Sierra/Silverado or Ram. Only GM, with their new 2013 hybrid half ton, has an engine/transmission combo on the horizon that could possibly surpass the overall value of the EcoBoost.
For Toyota, the EcoBoost V6 is a threat to not only Tundra sales, but it’s also a threat to Toyota Tacoma sales.
What EcoBoost Sales Mean for the 2014 Tundra
It’s been a slow process, but we’ve managed to put together a list of likely changes and enhancements for the 2014 Tundra (due out in 2013). On that list you’ll see that Toyota is tinkering with a handful of fuel saving features – such as variable valve lift, aerodynamic improvements, weight reduction, electric power steering – to improve the fuel economy of the Tundra while keeping the same 4.6L and 5.7L V8s. While it’s likely the new 2014 Tundra will see a significant increase in fuel economy (15%?), that probably won’t be enough to overtake the fuel economy rating of the EcoBoost V6 while still offering similar power.
At best, Toyota will be able to improve the 5.7L enough to match the highway fuel economy rating of the 3.5L EcoBoost. However, it’s unlikely Toyota will be able to match the torque rating of the EcoBoost as well…right now, an EcoBoost 3.5L V6 is rated at 420 lb-ft of torque. The 5.7? 401 lb-ft. Generally speaking, it’s hard to improve fuel economy AND engine power at the same time.
At some point, Toyota will likely offer a turbocharged engine in the Tundra. However, to the best of my knowledge, that won’t happen in time for the 2014 Tundra’s debut in late 2013. As consumers embrace Ford’s EcoBoost V6, it will be a challenge for Toyota to sell a truck that offers less power. Perhaps Toyota can bring direct injection to the 5.7L in time for launch…only then will the 2nd generation Tundra compete head to head.
Why EcoBoost V6 Popularity Threatens the Tacoma
The sticker price of a crew cab Tacoma 4×4 is about $30,500, assuming you go with the automatic and a basic SR5 package. The sticker price of a new extended cab EcoBoost F150 XLT 4×4? About $35,000. That’s only about 15% more, but that doesn’t account for the fact that Ford is almost always offering a $3,000 F-150 rebate.
The fact of the matter is, it’s possible to buy a new F150 extended cab for the same amount of money as a Tacoma Crew. Here’s why that’s a problem for Toyota:
- While the two trucks are different, I’d argue that a Tacoma crew and an F150 extended cab are very close in terms of cab space
- The EcoBoost F150 is significantly more capable than the Tacoma – much more towing, much more power, etc.
- The EcoBoost F150 gets better gas mileage! Ecoboost: 15mpg city/22mpg hwy — Tacoma: 16mpg city/20mpg hwy
The only place that Tacoma soundly defeats the F150 in my quick comparison is resale value. Tacomas are holding upwards of 90% of their value in some markets (which is almost unheard of), whereas the F150 is lucky to hold 50%…but that’s it. In all other respects – cost, fuel economy, performance, safety, etc. – The F150 matches or exceeds the Tacoma. Obviously, that means the Tacoma either needs more power, or it needs to become less expensive.
It’s great to see consumers embracing new engine technology, but it would be even better if Toyota had thought of this little enhancement first. Kudos to Ford – the EcoBoost gamble seems like it will pay off rather nicely.
Filed Under: Auto News
I like the ecoboost in a truck but not antwhere else because somethings not right about the ecoboost a direct injected twin turbo V6 should make way more than 365hp in some application http://www.caranddriver.com/re....._road_test http://www.caranddriver.com/re....._road_test http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.....tar_engine
Jason even though people spoke and bought the eco v6, doesn’t mean it won’t have issue like you mention down the road. Just because people jump and bought the eco doesn’t mean I should jump also. I’m sure most of those truck buyers weren’t your average Joe who uses their truck for their jobs.
Jason, great article, however I think Ford was very much aware of people’s reluctance to purcahse a new engine, so by offering all new engines at the same time, ecoboost and 5.0 V8 made it easier for people to buy into the ecoboost. It’s a good motor but I cross shopped my 5.7 DC Tundra with a similarly eqiupped F-150 ecoboost and they where asking $38.5K and no rebates or much negotiating because it was so hot. I bought my Tundra for $28.4 out the door. It will be a while before the $10K is covered in fuel costs.
same here Cephus, the Ford dealers are hard to come down right now on the ecoboost engine f-150 thinking it is the latest and greatest and thus not buying near dealer invoice like a regular f-150 V8. I think tundra needs to come out with a direct injection 5.7L V8 with an 8 speed tranny and offer more gear ratios instead of a 4.30 and 4.10 in the 5.7L engine. Personally, I would take a 4.10 rear axle ratio over my 4.30 if it meant 1-2 more mpg which it might and I would even probably settle for a 3.90 gear ratio if it meant a solid 2 more hwy. mpg. Cruising much over 70 mph sure sucks the gas and most of that is due to the higher rpms running in 6th gear with the 4.30 stump pulling gear ratio.
Mickey – Fair enough. My thinking here is, if they sell this well now, they’re going to kill it when gas climbs above $5 a gallon…assuming the engine is reliable (which it should be).
Cephus – That is one reason to go with a ‘standard’ V8 – the cost is much lower. BTW, having said all these nice things about the F150, I’d still buy a Tundra because it holds it’s value much, much better.
mk – You might get your wish about direct injection. I’ve heard a couple of tips now that it’s coming on Tundra and Tacoma very soon.
While I applaud Ford for taking the risk and engineering and implementing the EcoBoost, from what I hear it gets about the same gas mileage as the Tundra in real life, maybe 1 or 2 mpg better. I am noticing car manufacturers starting to offer 8 speed transmissions in their cars, I wonder if the same can be done reliably with a 1/2 ton truck. Offer a more serious overdrive as a 7th or 8th speed for highway driving and lower 4th and 5th gear for more torque and you get the best of both worlds. A couple better mpg for high speed driver and better gearing for towing at lower speeds.
Mike – An 8 speed is absolutely possible, but I haven’t yet seen one that can handle the typical towing and hauling loads required by a pickup. I’m not saying that it’s not possible to build an 8 speed that could do it – it’s just not something I’ve seen from anyone yet.
The rumor is that Ford will have an 8speed for the F150 in the next few years…https://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2011/06/03/ford-f150-innovation-toyota/
Might be worth a read.
I’m resolved to keeping my Tundra for at least the next 10 years then we’ll see what is offered. It will still need to do the towing and farm work my current 5.7 can do. I’m averaging 18.5 on the HWY with a light load and about 16 with a 3500lb trailer. The worst I have got is about 15 with a heavy paload and trailer. The extra gear or just a taller 6th gear would help drop the rpms to about 1500 @ 65mph improving gas mileage up by 1-2 mpg.For towing you don’t need the 6th gear anyways. Hopefully Toyota can make some of those changes to help in the next generation Tundra.
@Jason: The Tundra’s resale value is one o the reasons I chose it over the F150 plus I don’t see trucks identical to mine at every street corner.
[…] to kill Sequoia, Tundra redesigned in 2014 | Cars – All Makes. All Models SEQUOIA will be gone The Turbocharged V6 Truck Revolution Is Coming | Tundra Headquarters Turbo Tundras… And on a side note. 2014 GMC Trucks will have the 6.2L as the standard motor. […]
Cephus – That fuel economy is great. I’m with you on resale and the fact that the Tundra is unique.
On the economy not, I just did a trip from Kansas City, MO to Dallas, TX and back. I had a 400 lb load in the bed and averaged 17.5 mpg on the way there doing 70-75 depending on the speed limit. On the way back with an empty bed doing same speeds it went up to 19.5 mpg. Truck has a line-x bedliner which adds about 60lbs, chrome stepbars about 45lbs, roll-up bed cover, about 35lbs. everything else is stock. Not bad if you ask me considering its rated 17 HWY. Plan on adding air intake system sometime soon. I only have about 3600 miles on the truck right now so I expect the mileage is still to get better. Love my Tundra
Cephus – Awesome – glad to hear it. Thanks for all your comments on the site too – very much appreciated.