Racing trucks never really caught on, just as the NASCAR Truck Series, but that hasn’t stopped our friends over at PickupTrucks.com from racing two new Ford F-150 trucks. The two trucks that faced off were both V6 models for 2011.
The website took these two new trucks to the Milan Dragway in Michigan and put them head to head in their Work Truck Shootout. While trucks usually don’t line up and drag race each other, it was interesting to see the power of these two new models.
The first truck, which ran a 15.87 second quarter mile, was the naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 with 302 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. The quicker EcoBoost model with 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque ran a 14.67 second time at 94.6 miles per hour. Interestingly, both of these two times were quicker than the half-ton V8 models tested by the site in 2008.
Ford has announced today that the F-150 pick-up will receive a new 3.7-liter V6 engine that delivers a fuel economy of 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway in 4x2 configuration. Ford also announced that trucks with the 3.7-liter V6, 5.0-liter V8, and 6.2-liter V8 will arrive in dealer showrooms later this year. Each engine will be mated to a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission.
The new 3.7-liter four-valve Ti-VCT V6 delivers a total of 302 HP at 6,500 rpm and a peak torque of 278 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm. The engine also comes with E85 flex fuel capability.
"Seventy percent of F-150 customers said better fuel economy is what they’d like improved most in their truck," said Doug Scott, Truck Group marketing manager. "The 2011 Ford F-150 does exactly that with best-in-class fuel economy, best-in-class capability and power, and more powertrain choices to suit their different needs."
Ford will enter the world-famous Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 with an F-150 EcoBoost. The Baja 1000 race is part of an extensive torture test program by Ford for customers to see for themselves the extreme durability testing and development of the class-leading EcoBoost truck engine.
The Ford F-150 EcoBoost is powered by 3.5-liter engine with twin turbochargers and direct fuel injection and an output of 365 HP at 5,000 rpm and 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,500 rpm, all this on regular fuel.
"The desert racing environment has been a tremendous laboratory for Ford over the years," said Eric Kuehn, chief engineer of the 2011 F-150. "We’re eager to watch the 3.5-liter EcoBoost truck engine prove its durability, reliability, performance and fuel economy in this tough setting. In addition to durability, reliability and top performance, we expect the EcoBoost to get outstanding fuel mileage to the point of saving one or two fuel stops during the race."
Either the universe is expediting the demise of Mercury or somebody just got a case of massive panic, although this dealership accident may prove that both scenarios were working hand-in-hand.
Whatever the case may be, a couple looking to make a Ford F-150 pick-up truck purchase were about to test drive a unit when things took a (reverse) turn for the worse. Thinking that he was all set to go, the driver mistakenly put the pick-up in reverse only to realize what he had done a second too late. In his panic, the driver accidentally pushed the gas pedal, causing the truck to drive straight into not just one, but two Mercury Milan sedans that were parked in front of the F-150.
Emergency crews were quick on the scene to help the shell-shocked couple out of the truck where, fortunately, both came out unscathed. According to KABC, all three vehicles were heavily damaged as a result of the accident, although there’s no word on whether the couple who made the trip to the dealership to test out the F-150 would have to pay for the two Milan sedans they accidentally wrecked as a result of the mishap. We’re not ones for letting incidences like this go without so much as a fine, but considering that these are Mercurys - who really buys them these days? - we’d let this one pass. Besides, the driver didn’t mean to do it so we’ll chalk this one up to the universe accelerating the inevitability of Mercury’s demise.
If the Hennessey tuned-Ford F-150VelociRaptor 500 isn’t powerful enough for you, then you’re in luck. Somehow, Hennessey shares the same sentiments and have thus decided to give their mountain of a truck its own big brother.
In this video, we are given the first look at the new tuned-up 6.2-liter V8 Raptor that is reported to produce over 605 horsepower and 622 lb/ft of torque. Those figures, if you didn’t know, are a jump over the VelociRaptor 500’s output of 501 horsepower and 520 lb/ft of torque and should lead to a significant decrease in time for the 0-60mph sprint. If you don’t remember, the VelociRaptor 500 completed the 0-60mph sprint in 5.6 seconds leading us to believe the new Raptor will complete the sprint in just over 5 seconds.
In addition to the more powerful engine, Hennessey Performance also gave this beast of a truck a twin-turbo system with matching intercoolers and a stainless-steel exhaust that clearly doesn’t need any explanation as to why it was put there. Hennessey also added an upgraded fuel system and boost controller because, well, with that much added power, the truck needs a little help in the respiratory department.
You want steel-breaking, mountain-crumbling power? This 6.2-liter Ford V8 VelociRaptor is just what the doctor of destruction ordered, even though we cannot possibly think of a reason why anyone would need such a speedy mountain of a truck.
Updated 05/03/2011: In their latest episode, Top Gear USA tested the VelociRaptor 600 by Hennessey at their personal test track. Watch what The Stig has to say about the car after the jump.
