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BlueOvalNews.com |
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Ford's V6 Truck diesel is first of two |
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In what's likely to be described as another victory for Ford truck and a kick in the teeth for both GM and Dodge, BlueOvalNews has confirmed that Ford Motor Company is planning to release two all new PowerStroke diesel engines for the North American market (U.S., Canada and Mexico) starting in 2002. Ford is already past the prototype and development stages and into the advanced testing procedures for state and federal certification. The first new PowerStroke diesel engine to be introduced was co-designed by Ford's partner Navistar and is on target for a JOB1 launch in 2002. The engine slated for 2002 is dubbed the "baby diesel" by Ford engineers because it's only a 4.5 liter V6, when compared to the 7.3 liter diesel currently being offered in the Super Duty F-Series line. Co-designed by Ford and Navistar, the "baby diesel" was built to fill a gap in the 6000-8500lb truck line up (F150) where no light-medium duty diesel engine currently exists. The V6 diesel will only be offered in the Expedition and F-Series/Econoline vans with a 6000-8500lb. g.v.w. Ford expects to sell a total of 50,000 vehicles equipped with the V6 diesel annually beginning in 2003. Ford believes that the V6 diesel will be ordered by customers primarily for personal use. The V6 diesel will initially appear in the 2002 Expedition/U222 (except Navigator) and then will be phased in as an optional engine in the 2003 Econoline and F-Series truck (P221). It is not scheduled or anticipated that it will be made optional for the Ranger series; although, a Ranger diesel engine may also be in development. The "baby diesel" was conceived with key customer elements such as fuel economy, a performance feel, durability and more than enough torque in mind. Ford Motor Company documents state that they did not invest too much money in the development of the V6 diesel since it will share a common architecture with a new and upcoming PowerStroke V8 diesel. The torque rating of the V6 PowerStroke is expected to be about 340ft.lbs. The 4.5 liter V6 diesel will be classified as a LEV (low emissions vehicle) under both federal and California state emission guidelines. Ford's possibly advertising campaign will note the new engine as a modern diesel with new second generation technology. One of the engine's highlights is a hydraulically actuated, electronically controlled fuel injection system. The new fuel delivery system will aid Ford in their emissions and fuel economy target. As of late July 99, development work still continues with various fuel system suppliers. For the 2003 F150, the diesel package will be made optional on all regular, SuperCab and SuperCrew models in either 4X2 or 4X4 drive lines. When equipped with a four wheel drive package, it will be available with either a manual on the fly shift system or with an optional electronic shift on the fly system. It will be available with either an ALL NEW automatic transmission or an ALL NEW manual transmission. The 2003 Expedition will also be available in either a 4x2 or 4x4 version; however, it will only be made available with an ALL NEW automatic transmission using a torque on demand drive system. Our new web site will detail the all new V8 PowerStroke diesel and both automatic and manual transmissions in separate upcoming articles. BlueOvalNews.com |
RELATED ARTICLE: New Ford V6 diesel to be banned in three states. Now that doesn't sound too FORD GREEN. Clip of an Internal Ford document gives some of the 4.5L diesel's applications.
BlueOvalNews.com |
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