2017 Ford F150 3.5L Twin Turbo V6 Gets a Big Torque Boost

Although the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 is already the most popular engine option in the F150 lineup, Ford Motor Company is working to make the most powerful engine even more capable for the 2017 model year. This first step was by making the new 10-speed automatic transmission standard on all 2017 F150 pickups with the 3.5L EcoBoost – including the upcoming Raptor – which will improve performance and fuel economy.

The second step is by increasing the horsepower and the torque of the 3.5L EcoBoost V6, making this premium engine option the most powerful of the half ton segment in terms of torque output.

2017 Ford F150 3.5L EcoBoost Power
The 2017 Ford F150 pickup with the 3.5L EcoBoost twin turbo V6 will offer 375 horsepower and a whopping 470lb-ft of torque, up 10 horsepower and 50lb-ft of torque over the 3.5L EcoBoost engine in the 2016 F150. Keep in mind, we are not talking about the high performance Raptor engine, which is expected to have at least 450 horsepower – this is the “regular” version which will be fitted in a great many examples of the 2017 F150.

“The 2017 Ford F-150 now delivers the best torque in the segment,” says Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, Product Development, and chief technical officer. “This class-leading torque arrives with a transformative 10-speed automatic that improves nearly every aspect of F-150 performance.”

The fact that the 2017 F150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost will have so much more torque will almost certainly increase the towing and hauling capabilities, while also making the new twin turbo F150 even more fun to drive. With 470lb-ft of torque, the 2017 F150 will easily beat the best engines from Ram and GM, with the Ram EcoDiesel offering 420lb-ft and the 6.2L V8 from the Silverado and Sienna packing 460lb-ft.

Once the official specifications and capabilities are announced for the 2017 Ford F150 with the 3.5L EcoBoostV6, there is a good chance that this engine will lead the half ton truck segment in multiple categories, while also offering strong fuel economy numbers with the new 10-speed automatic transmission.

Expect Bigger Numbers from the Raptor
While it is expected that the 2017 Ford Raptor F150 will have at least 450 horsepower, the announcement that the “regular” F150 3.5L EcoBoost engine has 470lb-ft of torque sets the stage for what could be a monster torque number for the high performance pickup. With 450 horsepower, the Raptor EcoBoost engine will likely pack at least 500lb-ft of torque, but I wouldn’t be shocked if that number was considerably higher.

Consider the fact that the Nissan Titan XD, which is slightly larger than the rest of the half ton trucks yet not quite as big as the Super Duty, offers 555lb-ft of torque from the diesel V8 engine option. If Ford could top that figure, it would allow them to brag about having more torque than any non-heavy duty pickup sold in America.

Even without that claim, the 2017 F150 Raptor will be a beast of a performance truck, but even the non-Raptor F150 for the 2017 model year should be considerably more fun to drive and more capable in every situation.