The Auto Writer

The Ford Motor Company is bullish on offering one of the most fuel efficient fleets available to North American consumers thanks to its commitment to hybrid technology, six speed automatic transmissions, small car platforms and its EcoBoost engine technology.

But, the company also understands that the bulk of its profits are in larger cars, sport/utility vehicles and pickup trucks. Indeed, for 32 straight years the best selling pick up truck in America is the Ford F-150, a feat Ford managed to maintain last year under terrible industry conditions.

All new for 2009, the Ford F-150 doesn’t offer a single six cylinder engine option, a decision Ford went with before fuel prices spiked last year. Reasoning that an overwhelming number of its buyers wanted V8 power, Ford squeezed out better fuel economy from its engines and appears to be getting the sales that its needs despite these limitations.

Ford, however, isn’t going to stay with an all V8 fleet, as it has plans to swap out at least one engine while adding the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 as another offering.

According to Pickuptrucks.com, which is running the story, Ford will share a smaller V8 with Mustang while also offering the EcoBoost V6:

By late 2010, the new standard engine for the F-150 will be a 5.0-liter, Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing (TiVCT), four-valve, naturally aspirated V-8, developed under the code name “coyote.” This eight-cylinder engine (described as having “huge heads”) will be shared with the new Ford Mustang. Power figures are said to be approximately 400 horsepower and 400 pounds-feet of torque. Fuel economy is expected to be comparable to the current 5.4-liter engine.

The EcoBoost V6 would become the truck’s standard engine, likely to help appease federal regulators who are raising Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements while demanding manufacturers reduce emissions. That engine should deliver 23 mpg on the highway while offering comparable horsepower and torque to a V8.

Even in an off year Ford still managed to sell 515,000 of its pickup trucks, a lucrative segment that serves contractors, sportsmen and familes everywhere. GM, Dodge, Nissan and Toyota are invested in this segment too, one that is beginning to rebound as gas prices stabilize at a lower rate.