New 2.7-Liter EcoBoost V6 in 2015 Ford F-150 Spurs 300 New Jobs

BEVERLY, 04/09/2014 / SubmitMyPR /

In January and February of this year, 57 percent of all Ford F-150 sales came from V6-equipped models, a fact that would have seemed preposterous just a few years ago in the once-V8-dominated half-ton pickup segment. Ford is now putting its foot on the accelerator in its push for six-cylinder proliferation with an all-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, and the automaker recently announced it is investing $500 million into its Lima Engine Plant in Lima, Ohio, to prep for the unit's production.

In addition to creating 300 new jobs at the Lima Engine Plant, Ford will use its investment to implement a new flexible engine assembly system and revamp 700,000 square feet of the facility for machining and assembly processes. Set to debut in the 2015 Ford F-150 when the fully redesigned pickup truck goes on sale late this year, the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine is expected to match the performance of mid-range V8s while returning impressive fuel efficiency thanks to its specially tuned Auto Start-Stop technology and the use of lightweight-yet-strong materials like compacted graphite iron and aluminum. Overall, the 2015 Ford F-150 has dropped as much as 700 pounds compared to its predecessor by incorporating more high-strength steel in its frame and high-strength aluminum alloy in its body.

"Ford changed the dynamic of the half-ton pickup segment when it first offered its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 in the F-150 three years ago, but the new 2.7-liter EcoBoost marks the first time the automaker has designed an EcoBoost engine to work in tandem with a completely new truck frame and body," said Jeff Klein, general manager of Thomas Ford, a Beverly, MA Ford dealership. "The result will be an unprecedented mix of fuel efficiency and capability that will leave the competition playing catch-up with the F-150 once again."

According to Ford's analysis of IHS Automotive/Polk data, retail registrations of V6-equipped light-duty pickup trucks have increased more than 600 percent since 2010, and 91 percent of that surge has come from the F-150. Ford continues to drive growth in the broader pickup-truck market as well, with sales of its F-Series increasing 5 percent in March compared to the same month last year. Nearly 71,000 units of the F-Series were sold in the United States last month, helping Ford record its best March retail sales in eight years.

About Thomas Ford:
Thomas Ford, located in Beverly, has been a fixture in the North Shore of Massachusetts for more than 40 years. They base their success on their dedicated sales and Ford service departments' commitment to customer satisfaction. It's never been a better time to be a Ford owner, and Thomas Ford encourages you to stop by their dealership to discover why. For more information, call them at 978-922-0059, visit their website at www.thomasford.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ThomasFordAuto or stop by their dealership at 211 Rantoul Street in Beverly, Massachusetts.