Ford's F-150 pickup, the nation's best-selling vehicle for three decades, currently doesn't offer an entry-level V-6 engine, which was left on the table when the pickup was redesigned for 2009. That's going to change, according to PickupTrucks.com. The site says a naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V-6 is on its way by 2012.

The 3.7-liter displacement should sound familiar because sources for Cars.com's Kicking Tires blog say it's the same V-6 that was recently announced for the 2011 Ford Mustang. In the Mustang, this powerplant makes 305 horsepower and 280 pounds-feet of torque.

PickupTrucks.com says the new base engine could fill a few slots, including a low-cost option for fleets as well as an alternative to the soon-to-be-defunct Ford Ranger.

The other V-6 on its way is one we've known about and promises V-8 performance with V-6 fuel economy: Ford's EcoBoost V-6 is scheduled to make its debut in the F-150 by year's end.

--Joe Bruzek/Cars.com's Kicking Tires

 

305hp is decent but its going to need some more torque if its going in an F150 or its going to be a real dog.

 

Agreed,but having the V6 there is a good idea for those that want a fuel economy full size pick up for the house yard duties,ects.If someone want's more power/torque for the more aggressive day to day work,then the V8 will fill that gap.

 

I can see people wanting the fuel economy. Just speaking from my experience with a full size V6 pick-up I just have trouble seeing the point. I had a 00' F150 Reg Cab Flareside (pretty much the lightest configuration) with a 4.2 V6, it was severely underpowered and the fuel economy wasn't really all that great either because it had to work so hard to move the truck around. It got about 15mpg, I get that or more in my 05' F150 FX4 with a 5.4 V8 and it weighs tons more than the 00'.

 

So right. The Ranger 4.0 gets the same mileage as the Triton 5.4