The 2015 Ford F150 3.5L EcoBoost Should Pack at Least 380hp, 460tq

A few weeks back, Ford Motor Company offered up the first concrete information on the engine options of the 2015 Ford F150, but they only gave us specifications on the new naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 and the new 2.7L EcoBoost V6. They did not offer any information on the returning engines for the new F150, leaving those who want the bigger power of the 5.0L V8 or the 3.5L EcoBoostV6 in the dark. Fortunately, the 2015 Lincoln Navigator is powered by a similar 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and the specs from that new super luxury SUV offer us a baseline number for the next gen F150.

MUST SEE: Full Figures on the New 2.7L EcoBoost V6

No Less Than 380 Horsepower, 460lb-ft of Torque
The 2015 Lincoln Navigator is powered by a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 that delivers 380 horsepower and 460lb-ft of torque. There is no guarantee that the 2015 F150 will feature the same EcoBoost V6 as the Navigator, but is there really a chance that the Ford F150 – one of the bestselling vehicles in the world – will not have the most powerful version of the EcoBoost V6? Probably not. Because of that, I fully expect that the 2015 F150 fitted with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 will pack at least 380 horsepower and 460lb-ft of torque. When compared to the 365 horsepower and 420lb-ft of torque offered by the current F150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6, those increases of 15 horsepower and 40lb-ft of torque would be significant to say the least.

Let’s not forget that the 2015 Ford F150 will be lighter than the outgoing models, so not only would the Navigator EcoBoost engine make the F150 more powerful, but it will likely be even more capable. The 2014 F150 with the current 3.5L EcoBoost V6 is one of the most powerful, the most efficient and the most capable engines in the half ton truck segment and if you remove the Ram Brand’s new EcoDiesel – the EcoBoost V6 is unrivaled in terms of power and efficiency combined.

What if Ford Goes Bigger for the 2015 F150?
The most important aspect of the added power in the 2015 Lincoln Navigator is that it comes from just a new engine calibration. In other words, Ford took the 2014 EcoBoost V6 with 365hp and 420lb-ft of torque and retuned things like the spark timing, fuel delivery, ignition timing and other specifications to increase the power while using all of the same components of the previous engine. If Ford was to take the Navigator engine, add some minor new components and give the 2015 F150 an engine calibration of its own – the power numbers could creep up even higher. 380 horsepower and 460lb-ft of torque would be impressive, but 400+ horsepower and (dare I say?) 500lb-ft of torque…that might be an engine to which GM and Ram truly have no answer right now.

SEE ALSO: The New Base Model 2015 F150 V6

While a 2015 Ford F150 with a twin turbo EcoBoost V6 packing 400 horsepower and 500lb-ft of torque seems extreme, there are really only slight increases over what is already at use in the 2015 Navigator.

Unlikely? Maybe. Possible? Totally.

In any event, the 2015 Ford F150 should have the same 380 horsepower and 460lb-ft of torque as the new Lincoln Navigator and figures like that will most certainly help to continue the sales momentum of the EcoBoost V6. Fortunately, with the 2015 F150 nearing production, it shouldn’t be long before the Motor Company rolls out all of the specs on the next generation half ton F Series pickup.

2015 Ford F150 Galleries:
A closer look at the trimlines of the 2015 Ford F150
The 2015 Ford F150 at the 2014 NAIAS