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Ford Motor Company and General Motors announced a while back that they were working together to develop a set of 9-speed and 10-speed automatic transmissions. The result of that joint effort should be a 9-speed automatic transmission for a handful of front wheel drive vehicles from both automakers along with a 10-speed automatic transmission that will be fitted into the next generation F150 and likely future GM half ton trucks as well.
10 Speeds Should Make the F150 the Most Efficient Full Size Truck
When the 2015 Ford F150 arrives later this year, the 2.7L EcoBoost V6 should make the new half ton Ford the most efficient ever. However, it will still be hard for this new, smaller EcoBoost to beat the fuel economy of the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel in terms of fuel economy. Part of the Ram’s strong fuel economy game is their new 8-speed automatic transmission that is being used in almost every rear wheel drive vehicle in the Chrysler Group lineup.
The Ford F150 with the 2.7L EcoBoost should be the most efficient gas powered half ton truck on the market with the current 6-speed automatic transmission, but rolling out a 10-speed gearbox could help put more than one F150 engine towards the top of the half ton truck fuel economy war. Right now, the 2.7L EcoBoost will compete with the EcoDiesel in fuel economy but those who opt for the 2.7L EcoDiesel will be compromising some capability. On the other hand, adding the 10-speed automatic transmission to the 3.5L EcoBoost should afford F150 drivers incredible fuel economy and abilities that it will put it towards the top of the segment.
2015 Ford F150 Galleries:
A closer look at the trimlines of the 2015 Ford F150
The 2015 Ford F150 at the 2014 NAIAS
Word on the street suggests that the 10-speed equipped Ford F150 will arrive in late 2015 as a 2016 model, so it should be 14-16 months before the F150 makes a real run at being the most fuel friendly half ton truck on the market.
How About a 10-Speed for the Super Duty
While it seems all but a sure thing that the new Ford F150 will have a 10-speed automatic transmission, we are left to wonder what the Motor Company has planned for the hard working Super Duty trucks. While it is unlikely that the same 10-speed automatic transmission in the F150 will be used in the F250 and F350, I would expect that the company will work up something to help improve the fuel economy of their biggest non-commercial grade pickups. Even if Ford “only” goes with something like an 8-speed automatic for the future Super Duty, it should go a long way in helping to make those larger, harder working trucks to get better fuel economy without making any compromises in capability. At the same time, there has to be a significant amount of money tied up in developing the new 10-speed automatic transmission – even with the partnership with GM – so I would be shocked if there wasn’t some version of this new rear wheel drive/four wheel drive transmission slated to power at least the gasoline powered Super Duty pickups.
Source: Automotive News
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Comments
Once again, Ford (and at
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Once again, Ford (and at other times, GM) is years behind their competitors and talking about future product improvements.
Dodge or "RAM" has a product for sale with diesel and 8spd and air suspension while Ford has a plan for a new transmission.
I like the Ford more than the RAM, but hell, the RAM has the win on every checkbox except outside appearance and maybe resale value. Still, I think the diesel is going to be a new thing in terms of resale.
Ram - Made in Mexico.
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In reply to Once again, Ford (and at by YMMV (not verified)
Ram - Made in Mexico.
Ford - Made in U.S.A.
You forgot one more exception
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In reply to Once again, Ford (and at by YMMV (not verified)
You forgot one more exception to the check boxes... Quality. RAM lacks significantly in quality to Ford, and even GM trucks. Review the recalls over the last 3 years alone,ask people who own, look at the resale values. How many fleet sales do you see? Fleet are either Ford or GM.
Who cares about fleet sales!
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In reply to You forgot one more exception by Bert (not verified)
Who cares about fleet sales! And besides if I ran a company I'd buy the cheapest vehicles too. But you notice that they dont keep them for very long? They are not built to last... "quality" has nothing to do with fleet sales price does.
The RAM won't win on fuel
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The RAM won't win on fuel cost per mile considering the extra cost of diesel over gas. It won't win on the cost to buy the engine. The RAM diesel is on the order of $5000 over the base engine whereas the 2.7Ford is only $495 over the base engine. The RAM also won't win on those really cold winter days here in the midwest when so many diesels are stopped by fuel freezing. The Eco Ram only has 240 hp so driveability suffers considerably, at least the way I like to drive. So far it does win the ckeckbox for most fuel efficient but that doesn't mean lowest purchase cost or lowest operating cost.
Ford isn't just talking about a 10 speed, they are doing it. Manufacturing process are already underway and barring any project gremlins I would expect the 2016 introduction to be fairly comfortable for them.
The problem with your
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The problem with your argument is the none of the advancements you are touting for the Ram were actually developed by dodge except for the air suspension. The 8sp is from ZF and the Diesel V6 is from VM Motori, a subsidiary of Fiat that dodge got access to after they were acquired. So is the Cummins heavy duty diesel for that matter. Instead of plugging and playing other people's products, Ford and GM are building their own.
Personally I loved the new
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Personally I loved the new 2015 Ford F-150 in the L.A. Auto Show. There was a lot of people looking at and admiring it. They also provide more led room in the back seat on the SuperCrew versions. I cannot wait for them to come out with the 10-speed or 9-speed automatic transmissions. It is a great looking truck, and it is always nice to support American jobs when buying one. Go to a Ford dealership and give one a spin; you will not be disappointed if you do.