Despite Speculation, Ford F150 Engines For 2021 Likely To Remain Mostly The Same

Last week, there was a flurry of sorts in the Ford world when reports seemed to surface that strongly suggested the Blue Oval was developing a new engine for the Ford F150 pickup line. The information indicated that the new motor was headed toward an engine bay near you in the 2021 model year when the next-generation Ford F150 was set to hit dealer showrooms.

Ford F150 Won’t Receive 4.8-Liter V-8

Things have changed. The 2021 Ford F150 will not receive a 4.8-liter V-8, the engine that was rumored to have been under development for the new-gen F150. Further, it seems that Ford had never begun the construction of any new smallish V-8 mills.

It seems that original reports of a possible new engine go back three years. At that time, Reuters filed a report that Ford was putting $447 million into the engine line at the automaker’s Windsor, Ontario assembly plant. The Reuters story strongly suggested plans were afoot for a significant two-fold investment in the engine space. The first slug of money was needed, Reuters said, to update the engine assembly line. The second investment was required to update and replace the V-8. Reuters also maintained the engine was for the automaker’s Super Duty series of three-quarter-ton pickups.

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Other than the engine line changes, no other part of those stories was right. However, the retooling was to build the new 7.8-liter Godzilla V-8 for Ford’s Super Duty pickups. The cash was also slated to update the 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 with new direct fuel injection. There were no other engines planned for the 2021 next-gen Ford F150.

Ford F150 Engine Lineup Likely To Remain Same

For the pundits who had prophesied the new engine, it was not an especially good week. The Ford Authority, for example, said that while retention of the V-8 is “good news for fans of the 5.0-liter Coyote V-8. It also leaves us wondering how the powertrain lineup will look for the next-gen 2021 Ford F150.” They then spelled out the current engine lineup which “remains highly competitive.” The lineup is:

• Naturally-aspirated 3.3-liter V-6 gas engine – 290 horsepower; 265 pounds-feet of torque
• EcoBoost, turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 gas engine – 325 horsepower; 400 pounds-feet of torque
• EcoBoost, turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 gas engine – 375 horsepower; 470 pounds-feet of torque
• Naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 gas engine – 395 horsepower and 400 pounds-feet of torque
• High-Output, EcoBoost, turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 gas engine – 450 horsepower; 510 pounds-feet of torque
• PowerStroke turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 diesel – 250 horsepower; 440 pounds-feet of torque

With the finish of the rumors regarding the 4.8-liter V-8 replacement engine, the folks at the Ford Authority began speculating about the 5.0-liter Coyote engine. They said the automaker could retune the Coyote powerplant ”to make more power and improved fuel economy compared to what’s offered in the current F150.” They believed there could be that an EcoBoost turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 might also be a possibility for the F150. Finally, the electric F150, already confirmed by Ford, may not be available when the 2021 model year kicks off, while the next-gen F150 will be launched sometime in 2020 as a 2021 model.

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer/columnist/editor/professional for more than 45 years. He began writing a weekly column “You Auto Know” in 1971 and continued writing it for 32 years. Now, semi-retired, Marc spends his time finding pieces for Torque News as the Volkswagen – and subsidiary – reporter, as well as pieces on pickups and SUVs. He has also been known to write a race report or two. Also, he covers more generalized auto news pieces as well. Marc has also written for the Examiner.com, Fixya.com, Gearheads.org and others, including some smallish publications -- Popular Mechanics, Mechanics Illustrated, AutoWeek, Automotive News, and Automotive Age. You can follow Marc on Facebook and Twitter.