F-150 Hybrid Could Be More Powerful than the Raptor

Fuel-sipping F-150 could offer 450 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque with the new Aviator drivetrain.

Ford Motor Company shocked the world last week when they introduced the 2020 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring; a hybrid sport utility vehicle with a combined output of at least 450 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. That should make the hybrid Aviator very quick, but more importantly, it would make for a pretty incredible truck engine.

We know that Ford is working on a hybrid F-150 and the folks at The Fast Lane Truck have wondered whether or not the Aviator hybrid drive could be power plant for the new electric-assisted half-ton pickup. If it is, it could be one amazing truck, offering more power than the Raptor and possibly better fuel economy than any truck in the segment.

Aviator Power

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring will be powered by a 3.0-liter twin turbocharged V6 gasoline engine that is mated to an electric hybrid assist motor. The gasoline engine delivers 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque and Lincoln representatives have stated that the hybrid assist system will deliver somewhere in the area of 50 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque.

Ultimately, with the help of the new 10-speed automatic transmission, the Lincoln SUV is promised to pack at least 450 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. That will make it one of the stronger vehicles in the SUV world while likely being one of the most engaging hybrid SUVs to drive, but is the Motor Company really only going to use that engine in the slower-selling Lincoln models?

We think not, and the next vehicle that could benefit from this power plant is the Ford F-150.

Fuel Economy and Big Power

Right now, the strongest engine in the F-150 lineup is the Raptor-specific, high output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 which delivers 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. A 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine mated to an electric hybrid assist system with 450 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque would offer more torque, but it would likely also make for sharper acceleration.

Most hybrid drivetrain systems are designed to add instant torque while the gasoline engine is getting wound up to its peak power levels. While reaching 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, the Raptor takes a second for the engine and turbochargers to get up to speed, but with an electric hybrid assist system, the torque would kick in much sooner, even if only at lower levels.

As a result, the hybrid F-150 with the Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring drivetrain could actually be quicker than the Raptor while also offering better fuel economy numbers.

Join the F-150 Online forums now!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Facebook   Twitter