Ford EcoBoost Proves Truck Buyers Will Choose Smaller Engines

QUINCY, Mass., June 15, 2011 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — A V6 engine used to be considered a serious offense in a full-size truck, but Ford’s six-cylinder power plants are swaying new buyers’ opinions. U.S. Ford F-150 sales in May saw the automaker’s potent six-pots take the reins away from their V8 counterparts at Ford dealerships like Quirk Ford, which has seen a dramatic rise in six-cylinder sales since the introduction of Ford’s EcoBoost power plant.

After its debut in late 2010, the 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine quickly made inroads with the truck-buying public, proving that power and efficiency can come in one technologically advanced package. Ford recently revealed that V6 sales made up 55 percent of 2011 Ford F-150 sales in May, with 41 percent of new F-150 customers choosing the V6 EcoBoost power plant and 14 percent going with the 3.7-liter V6.

“Massachusetts truck buyers are a hard group to please when it comes to engines,” said Michael Quirk, general manager of Greater Boston Ford dealership Quirk Ford. “Big V8 engines have had the run of things for a long time, so the V6 models have had to win consumers over by proving they could do the same work while getting better fuel mileage.”

Producing 365 horsepower and twisting out 420 pound-feet of torque at just 2,500 rpm, the V6 EcoBoost-equipped 2011 Ford F-150 has the same towing capacity as an F-150 with a 6.2-liter V8, the biggest engine found under the hood of Ford’s light-duty trucks. The V8 returns 18 mpg on the highway in 4×2 operation, while the EcoBoost will go 22 miles per gallon under the same conditions. With gas prices more than one dollar higher than they were a year ago according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report, the EcoBoost’s improved fuel economy is proving a powerful draw for new truck buyers.

While the V6 EcoBoost grabs more headlines, the naturally aspirated V6 available in the F-150 is no slouch. The 3.7-liter engine produces 302 horsepower, a number that would have made V8 owners happy just a few years ago. Though it’s the least powerful engine in the F-150 lineup, the 3.7-liter V6 is still capable of towing 6,100 pounds when properly equipped, enough capacity for a small camper or boat. The naturally aspirated V6′s edge is its 23 mpg on the highway, a truly impressive figure for a full-size truck.

“Ford is providing exactly what truck owners need: more power and better fuel efficiency,” Quirk said. “Laughing at the guy with a V6 pickup truck is a thing of the past; today’s six-cylinder engines can leave some recent V8s in the dust.”

Ford’s F-Series trucks continue to be the best-selling vehicles in the United States, with May sales of 42,399 units and year-to-date sales of 214,461, an increase of 11 percent compared with the same period in 2010.

About Quirk Ford:
Quirk Ford, located in Quincy, Massachusetts, is the largest Ford dealer by sales volume in New England and a winner of The President’s Award for customer satisfaction six years in a row. Quirk offers a full line of new Ford vehicles, including the Ford Fusion, Ford Focus and Escape Hybrid models, as well as an extensive selection of pre-owned cars, SUVs, trucks and hybrids. For more information, call 877-236-7314, visit them online at www.quirkford.com, Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/QuirkFord or stop by their dealership at 540 Southern Artery, Quincy, Mass.

Media Contact:
Jim Smith, of Quirk Automotive Group, 781-843-8400

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