“Needs a V8.” It’s almost funny how many times that statement’s appeared on automotive enthusiast sites, particularly in regards to the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor. We don’t yet know how the next-gen Raptor performs, but we do know that people in the United States have been and still are buying F-150s with EcoBoost engines under their hoods.
In fact, since 2011, the Blue Oval has sold more than one million EcoBoost F-150s in the US. Although the 2.7-liter and 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6s only make up 50 percent of the F-150’s engine offerings, more than 60 percent of F-150s sold are powered by one of them.
According to Ford, “With more than 1 million EcoBoost trucks on the road, F-150 owners will save more than 110 million gallons of gas over the course of the next year” – enough to fill roughly 13 supertankers. AAA says the average nationwide gas price is around $2.30 a gallon. Using that figure, Ford has determined EcoBoost F-150 owners, as a whole, will save approximately $255 million in fuel costs – enough to fill a lot of wallets.
After Ford launched the EcoBoost F-150, it needed more than 1,000 days to sell 400,000 of them. In 2,000 days, it’s sold a total of more than 1 million EcoBoost F-150s. This year alone, Ford has sold more than 300,000 F-150s powered by either the 2.7- or the 3.5-liter EB V6.
Those sales figures should get even better once the next-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost comes to market this fall. Not only will it have gas-saving Auto Start-Stop technology and be paired with a new 10-speed automatic, it’ll have more torque, too. Expect at least 450 lb-ft.
*Per Ford: “Estimated fuel savings are based on EPA-estimated combined ratings for 2011-16 F-150 EcoBoost models relative to the V8 models they replaced, and an assumed 15,000 miles driven per truck per year.”
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
