Then get back on the bandwagon. Ford said it would have significantly more than 340.

 

For towing I'll take 340 tq from 1,500 rpm up all day long over a relatively peaky 340 or even 400 at 3,500 or 4,000 rpm. While I hope it is more than 340 lb ft too, comparing a NA 5.3 (especially) or really any mid size NA V8 to a turbo of similar power is apples to oranges for towing. The turbos will spool under load whether getting up to speed or maintaining speed at low rpm (which is where almost all NA gassers except some big cubics fail miserably imo). For instance, my dyno sheet shows my torque peaking at around 3,750 rpm which I may touch while accelerating a load up to speed. However while pulling at 65 mph it would be well under the fat of the torque even in 3rd and forget about it in OD. The NA engine has to be at optimum rpm to get all of its power and that is usually well above the rpm you want to tow (or drive except when racing). A well designed turbo system should provide a near flat torque curve (at or very near max tq) from around 1,500 to ~4,000 or so on gas. This gives you more torque and therefore more available hp at much lower rpms and you could likely tow the same load at 65 even in OD at say 2,000 rpm. I'm not saying this 6 cyliner ecoboost will be a tow monster like a 5.9 cummins turbo diesel but it doesn't need to do much to out tow any of the current gassers imo. Personnaly though I don't know why they don't make it an inline 6 or small V8. Better engine design and at such a small displacement should easily fit into a truck engine bay even with the turbos. Probably the bean counters thinking they will squeez it in several different vehicles.

 

I would want to know more about long term durabillity, but otherwise agreed.

 

Remember, it's not all about peak numbers. I can't remember the last time my 5.4 saw the peak torque at 3750 RPM's (I think that's where it is). Even while towing, I don't normally rev that high. The peak torque of the 5.4 is less than the hemi, but the 5.4 will tow right with the hemi. The flat torque curve of the 5.4 (and even flatter of the ecoboost) can make up for a huge difference in peak numbers.

Like you though, if we're touting torque in a GM engine, I think we're in for serious trouble!

 

Well said, and I agree.

Plus the fact that the 3.5 already exists.