Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford F-150

A four cylinder engine in the F-150? What is the world coming to? Um, the realization that the price of gas isn't likely to go back down, that's what. Still, it was one thing when muscle car enthusiasts were told they may get a four cylinder Camaro, but it's a different story to expect hard-core truckers to welcome anything less than six cylinders. In truth, the 2.5 liter Eco-Boost engine Ford is considering for its entry-level F-Series truck should prove plenty powerful with 260 hp and 300 lb.-ft. of torque, especially in the short-bed single-cab versions of the pickup it will be offered in.

Next year, the 4.6 liter V8 will be the base-engine, which seems contrary to expectations in this day of fuel saving fever. In time, a 3.5 liter Eco-Boost six cylinder will take over for the aging modular 4.6 in base-truck duties, and its 350 hp and 390 lb.-ft. of torque will be more than powerful enough in the quarter-ton. The 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway is also a welcome improvement over its V8 forebear. We should also mention that a new smaller diesel V8 engine is on the horizon. Truckers, welcome to the new world order. Come on in, the water's fine.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com via Autoblog]

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford F-150

Another large, powerful V8 engine program has bitten the dust. After GM made the decision to axe its high-tech DOHC V8, it became obvious that automakers are beginning to see the luster disappear from the classic V8 engine architecture. Ford, for its part, has announced plans to replace many of its large eight cylinder engines with new members of its EcoBoost engine family. The latest nail in the V8's coffin may also be coming from the Blue Oval, as it's now asked suppliers to stop working on a new 6.2 liter eight cylinder which was slated for its line of F-Series trucks.

Considering that Ford has already invested a large sum of money into the engine, we would be surprised to see it go away entirely. For this reason, Ford could reduce the displacement of the engine and could even regain lost power by equipping it with the EcoBoost technology. Whatever the case, it's clear that the future will bring smaller engines with fewer cylinders, even in pickup trucks.

[Sources: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

One of Ford's most important debuts at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show is the new 2009 F-150. While Ford doesn't have a gas-electric hybrid system suitable for big trucks like GM's Two-Mode system, they will have offer some technology to improve fuel economy and emissions. Back in 2002 at the Detroit Show, Ford showed a concept called the F-350 Tonka. The Tonka truck featured a technology called hydraulic-launch-assist (HLA) which will debut on the new F-150.

The HLA system functions in much the same way as the hydraulic hybrid system we saw on an experimental UPS delivery truck earlier this year. A hydraulic pump/motor is connected to the drive shaft along with a high pressure accumulator. During braking the pump/motor is driven to pressurize the accumulator and recapture kinetic energy. During acceleration the pressure is used to drive the motor and provide a boost so the engine doesn't have to work as hard. Essentially it acts as a mild hybrid system without the automatic start-stop functionality. At this point it's not known if start/stop will also be included. The press release on the original concept is after the jump.

[Source: All Cars, All the Time]

Life is very short, and there's no time
For fussing and fighting, my friend
I have always thought that it's a crime
So I will ask you once again.
Try to see it my way
Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong
While you see it your way
There's a chance that we may fall apart before too long
We can work it out. We can work it out!

Or so an Illinois Judge thinks. The two feuding companies, Navistar and Ford, have been ordered to work out their differences outside of court. You may remember that Navistar filed a suit claiming that Ford was bound by law to use their engines in Ford trucks. Ford saw things differently, and has plans to use a new smaller diesel engine of their own design in the F150 trucks. Here's hoping that they are able to see things eye-to-eye soon, before, as the Beatles say: they both fall apart before too long!

Related:

• Ford and Navistar just can't seem to play nice... another lawsuit looms
• Ford, Navistar court battle update: Navistar asks for $2 billion from Ford
• International's diesel engines headed back to Ford plant
• Navistar cuts off Ford Super Duty truck diesel supply

[Source: Detroit News]