F-150 gets fuel economy bump
FOCUS ON FORD: Company building new Bronco and Ranger models in North America
The Ford F-150 just got a bit more efficient for 2017.
Thanks to the revised 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine and a new 10-speed automatic transmission, the 2017 F-150 4x2 is rated at 18 MPG city, 25 MPG highway and 18 MPG combined — improvements by 1 MPG respectively over the 2016 model.
Four-wheel-drive F-150s, on the other hand, see a 2-MPG bump in combined fuel economy to 20, while city and highway ratings rise by 1 MPG to 17 and 23, respectively.
Incremental improvements for sure, but it’s enough to give the F-150 better highway fuel economy than the 4.3L V6-powered Chevy Silverado, as well as tying the Pentastar V6-powered Ram 1500 on highway fuel economy.
For 2017, Ford’s tweaked 3.5-litre, twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 pumps out 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque.
The 10-speed automatic transmission, meanwhile, is jointly developed with General Motors. Don’t be surprised if it eventually appears under the skin of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra.
Made in U.S.A.
For the last little while, Ford has been toying with the idea of re-introducing the Bronco and Ranger to North America — and now, we might have a solid confirmation.
In case you missed the recent U.S. presidential debate, Donald Trump knocked Ford for moving Focus and C-Max production to Mexico and cutting U.S. jobs in the process.
Naturally, that didn’t sit well with United Auto Workers rep Bill Johnson, who cleared the air and pushed back against Trump’s claims.
“I think Trump needs to get his facts straight. He is absolutely beating up on Ford for doing what everybody else has done,” Johnson told the Detroit Free Press.
“We hate to see the products go to Mexico, but with the Ranger and Bronco coming to Michigan assembly, that absolutely secures the future for our people a lot more than the Focus does.”
Bringing the Bronco and Ranger back to North America, and building them in Michigan, is certainly a smart decision.
Small cars just aren’t as profitable as trucks and SUVs, and keeping North American-spec Bronco and Ranger production in North America does save jobs.
As for timing, expect to see both the revived Bronco and Ranger on roads by 2020.