As it continues its shift toward electrification and gradually away from internal combustion engines, Ford has canceled several powerplant projects in recent years. That list includes the 3.0L V6 Power Stroke from the Ford F-150 lineup a couple of years ago, as well as planned diesel options for the Lincoln Aviator and the U.S.-market Ford Transit, which was slated to get the 2.0L EcoBlue some time ago. However, perhaps the biggest news of late is that Ford was also developing an inline-six cylinder engine based on the EcoBoost family, though that project was ultimately canceled as well, as Ford Authority exclusively reported in early November. As it turns out, Ford wasn’t alone in that regard, as its cross-town rival – General Motors – also recently canceled its own straight-six turbo engine project, according to our sister site, GM Authority.
GM Authority originally reported that the General was working on a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder gasoline-powered engine for its truck and SUV lineup back in 2022, though at that time, such a project had yet to be officially green-lighted. That powerplant was expected to be similar to the existing turbocharged 2.7L I-4 L3B powerplant, which wasn’t a huge surprise at the time given the fact that Ford and other GM rivals like Ram have long working on expanding their existing six-cylinder engine lineup for those same types of vehicles.
Then, just last week, GM Authority reported that General Motors canceled plans to make what would have been a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that was expected to generate upwards of 500 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. It’s unclear why this decision was made, but interestingly, while both Ford and GM were developing their now-canceled inline-sixes, Stellantis launched its own – the new 3.0L I-6 Hurricane.
As for Ford’s planned I-6, that powerplant – which was to be based off of the existing 1.5L I-3 EcoBoost powerplant that’s currently standard equipment in the Ford Escape and Ford Bronco Sport – was previously slated to be used in a variety of models including the the Ford F-150, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Lincoln Aviator, as Ford Authority exclusively reported earlier this month.
We’ll have more on everything Ford’s competition is up to soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for 24/7 Ford news coverage.
Comments
Once again, whatever Ford does to its lineup, GM quickly follow suit.
Shame Ford can’t follow GM and put a Tremec in every Mustang like the Camaro did.
Like when Ford followed GM back into the midsize market shortly after claiming that people interested in midsize trucks would just cross-shop the new aluminum F-150 with the Tacoma and Colorado/Canyon?
They probably realized that I6 engines are worse from a packaging standpoint than V8s, and that they can combine development on a v6 and a v8…
That’s the reason v6 came about, the popularity of V8s. It stands to reason that since that just like the Germans, as bigger engine fall out of favor, developing straight 3, 4, & 6s that could be used in about every application is more favorable than making a v6, a v8 and straight 3 and 4s separately. The 4.3 v6 was the last truly related to a v8.
Bigger engines aren’t falling out of favor is the issue. Consumers still want them. It’s external forces that don’t, and guess what, consumers are the ones that have to make the payment, and if they don’t get what they want, they don’t buy.
Picking up my new Bronco Sport today but seems Ford is going further and further with it’s woke agenda of electric…..they will be sorry….