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Ford Likes Turbocharging In Trucks, GM Dodges It: Which Is Better?

By Bengt Halvorson
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Ford Atlas Concept revealed at 2013 Detroit Auto Show

HI-RES GALLERY: Ford Atlas Concept revealed at 2013 Detroit Auto Show

The Ford Atlas concept from the Detroit Auto Show, which gives a first glimpse of the all-new, next-generation versions of the F-150 pickup, has a lot of tech and design ideas packed into it. But truck shoppers often need to think about horsepower, torque, payloads, and pulling power first and foremost. So perhaps just as noteworthy is what Ford pointed to under the hood: a next-generation turbocharged 'EcoBoost' engine.

Ford Motor Co. [NYSE: F] has sold about 43 percent of its current light-duty pickups with the EcoBoost V-6, which made its debut for 2011, and it says that its 3.5-liter EcoBoost F-150 sales alone were greater than some rival full-size truck models' entire lineup. And the majority of F-150 models are now ordered with a V-6.

EcoBoost a success in trucks


2013 Ford F-150 Limited

2013 Ford F-150 Limited

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According to Ford, the gamble has paid off; the EcoBoost engine has been very successful, with take rates much higher than even the automaker had anticipated. And it all but confirms that Ford will continue to use the ‘EcoBoost’ moniker into its next-generation trucks.

On the other hand, General Motors [NYSE: GM] has no immediate plans to downsize its pickup engines or introduce a turbo. Instead, it's completely re-engineered the V-6 and V-8 engines that go into its latest, heavily revised 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and 2014 GMC Sierra pickups. While all three of those engines are expected to post higher horsepower, torque, and fuel economy numbers, they're the same size as their predecessors (4.3 liters for the V-6; 5.0 and 6.2 liters for the V-8). And in each of these, GM is turning to cylinder deactivation technology (along with direct injection and variable valve timing) to make its traditional-sized engines more efficient.



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Comments (5)

  1. fb_1036215057 avatar Paul Lindo Posted: 1/22/2013 11:46am PST

    Ford's strategy of giving customers choices is clearly better. Like GM, Ford offers a naturally aspirated V6 and 2 V8s. (5.0 and a 6.2) The difference is that Ford also offers customers another alternative, the well liked EcoBoost V6, which put Ford miles ahead of GM. It's also worth noting that Ford's 3 normally aspirated engines still supercedes GM's interms of hp, torque and fuel economy.
     
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  2. fb_1224815454 avatar Jim Glass Posted: 1/22/2013 12:43pm PST

    Ford covers all the bases, including home plate. GM only covers 2, big engine, smaller engine.
     
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  3. fr8bil avatar fr8bil Posted: 1/22/2013 2:27pm PST

    Turbos are great provided the owner knows how to take care of them at shut-down so they don't coke up and die prematurely. That involves installing a device to insure the turbo is cooled off and has slowed down pre-shut off. Currently, Ford does not install that device as OEM on its' turbo-diesel or gas engines. Several aftermarket devices are available to protect turbo bearings from the premature shut down blues but most turbo-gas engine owners will not become aware of this problem until failure occurs. The Ford Turbo-diesel guys install them in a high percentage of their trucks. The thought of a "start-stop" cycle in Ford's future "Eco-Boost" engines makes me want to run out and buy stock in Garrett Turbo Company owned by Honeywell..
     
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  4. fb_1575318940 avatar Wade Lear Posted: 1/22/2013 5:06pm PST

    Hopefully like the older Nissan 350Z turbos they will start using the turbo timers, but what you bring up is a crucial overlooked point.
     
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  5. fb_82100996 avatar Richard Shanks Posted: 1/22/2013 3:38pm PST

    Great to see the Big-3 are finally starting to get real about fuel savings. The cost to fill up a full-size pickup or SUV is brutal today, even with gas below $4/gallon.

    Now… if we could reduce the BULK and SIZE of those ridiculously big trucks or at least convince Ford to build the new world Ranger here...
     
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