Ford: Nine New Engines, Six New Transmissions for 2010

[The Luigiian]

(From Autoblog)

Scheduled for 2010 are:
Engines

Transmissions

1.6-liter Fiesta I-4


6-speed automatic FWD

2.0-liter Focus DI I-4


6-speed PowerShift Fiesta

2.0-liter Ecoboost I-4


6-speed PowerShift Focus

3.5-liter F-150 EcoBoost V-6


6-speed manual Mustang

3.7-liter Mustang V-6


6-speed automatic Mustang

5.0-liter Mustang V-8


6-speed automatic TorqShift Super Duty

5.4-liter Shelby GT 500 V-8


6.2-liter Super Duty (gas)


6.7-liter Super Duty Power Stroke

Autoblog asked Ford whether the Explorer would get the 2.0 liter Ecoboost, Ford says basically "we're not ready to announce that yet" with a little at the end.

Here's some important info you may not have thought about:

-1. The Ranger's 4.0 liter engine is currently shared by two vehicles in the Ford lineup, the Mustang and Explorer.

-2.. The Explorer and Mustang are being moved to different engines, with Explorer going to 2.0 Ecoboost and Mustang going to 3.7 V6.

Therefore,

-3.. Unless I'm mistaken, the 4.0 liter will either be retired this year or used in the Ranger only.

I don't think they'd keep on making the 4.0 liter for only one model, especially under a guy like Mulally who stresses manufacturing efficiency so much. So I'm thinking one of three scenarios is in store for the Ranger:

The first scenario is that Ranger gets the Mustang's 3.7 V6. This is unlikely, since Ford is stressing Ranger's great gas mileage and the 3.7 wouldn't get as good of mileage as the 2.0 Ecoboost.

The second scenario is that Ranger gets the 2.0 liter Ecoboost. This makes some sense. It would have plenty of low-rev torque if the 3.5 EB is any indication, and would get mileage in the low twenties even with four-wheel drive.

Of course, there is another option. Ford could also drop the 4.0 liter and let the Ranger hang with only the four-cylinder/extended cab or regular cab variants. It would drop both the V-6 and four-wheel drive entirely, and probably consign Ranger to fleet-only like the Crown Victoria. (That is, until the Ranger is finally discontinued, as strvger pointed out.)

Of course, any sort of predictions at this point are only speculation, but a Ranger 4x4 that could get up to 30 mpg is a great idea in my opinion.

 

[strvger]

or another option... Ford could drop the Ranger. the rangers are built a couple hours south of me in St. Paul, Mn. they've been threatening to close that plant off and on for over 3 years now. with the low sales of Rangers, it wouldn't surprise me if Ford took that action. i believe the current labor contracts run out sometime this year.

 

[02RangerXLT]

I suspect that the ranger will just be dropped, and a fuel-efficient V6 will be offered for the F150... and then instead of ranger's we'll have under-powered 1/2 tons... yippie freakin yay...

Edit: well, i actually thing that the small efficient engine will be offered in a new truck called a F100, which is the same as the F150, but with options such as manual transmission, the small fuel efficient engine, and no crew cab...

 

[Nhaz]

Low sales on rangers ? Around here I see new rangers All the Time. Those new ranger/explorer combo whatever they are are fairly common now.

I am really not sure why they are building that new explorer. I mean. My 6 foot bed is about as small as I would want one. 4 foot? Not much utility there.