2012 Ford F150 EcoBoost

Ford recently built its 100,000 EcoBoost-equipped F-Series pickup, 10 months after the engine was first introduced in February. By all measures, the turbo V-6 was also supported by the F-Series buyers who they feared may look distorted on a motor received no V-8. The impressive is that they are $ 895 extra (more than the 5.0-liter V-8) to pay to get to the EcoBoost V-6. You'll save some money on gasoline, but fuel consumption difference between the two engines is really not that big. With RWD, the F-150 EcoBoost 16/22 mpg receives, stores the V-8 version 1 MPG in both city and highway. The four-wheel-drive EcoBoost in 15/21 is rated mpg, the bettors are V-8 counterpart of 1 mpg city and 2 mpg highway. EcoBoost owners who drive 15,000 miles per year save less than $ 200 per year at the pump (with gas at $ 3.23 per gallon).

Besides fuel, the EcoBoost engine, the towing capacity slightly increased, with about 500 pounds, the assessment of TV ads is something that is always on the minds of pickup buyers. The turbo V-6 could also have a better resale value, trading in the period. After a week with an EcoBoost-equipped F-150 Super Crew Lariat, I can say that the buyer does not sacrifice drivability. The engine is powerful and responsive. It makes 40 more pound-feet of torque than the V-8 (420 pound-feet total) and does so at a slower speed. Although the gas is not nervous, it just takes a little pressure to be smart, this big boy, accompanied by a slight hiss of the turbo speed. Nice. In other thoughts, the stretch-out four-door cabin is spacious, luxurious Lariat, the fancy equipment is adequate, although the fake wood decorate the huge center console is particularly convincing. The electrically assisted power steering could be better aligned, it is elastic and exaggerated.

Finally, I could not help but wonder about the F-150, the sheer infinity. (Can be kept a 6.5-foot) is a super-team with a 5.5-meter field that includes the wheelbase 145 cm, and the truck is a challenge from the dock and maneuver. If you get to park in a field, consider the optional rear view camera is a necessity. Widespread gigantism of the full-size pick-ups of today also means that even adults to climb on board to six meters, and the transport of cargo in the bed is to have a big lift. Full-size pick-ups were not always so overgrown. There was a time when they do not much longer than normal cars, and they still managed to do the job. Now they are all gone and steroid ridiculous.

But perhaps the fact that the F-Series buyers have a smaller engine turbo-boost to be used when it was feared that they were married with a V-8 is a signal that they are smarter than the manufacturers give them credit for. Maybe, just maybe, truck manufacturers could take a step back from the race for ever more gigantic pickups to build and instead do it the best tool for truck buyers what they need. The EcoBoost V-6 is a start.