cars news 10: Ford Makes Start-Stop Standard on Entire 2017 F-150 EcoBoost Lineup

Ford will make its auto start-stop system standard on 2017 F-150 pickups equipped with an EcoBoost engine. The system is specially tuned for trucks, and while it shuts off at a stop like a standard start-stop system, it keeps the engine on when towing or in four-wheel drive mode.

“EcoBoost already powers F-150’s best-in-class towing,” said Doug Scott, Ford truck group marketing manager. “Now, with every EcoBoost-equipped F-150 mildly electrified with standard Auto Start-Stop technology, customers’ fuel efficiency is expected to improve as well.”

The Ford F-150 EcoBoost lineup currently includes the 3.5-liter V-6 and recently introduced 2.7-liter V-6, and will soon add the high-output twin-turbo 3.5-liter in the Raptor. With the new standard auto start-stop system, the automaker believes that these models could account for nearly 60 percent of its truck lineup. Ford’s auto start-stop system benefits from the knowledge from the automaker’s hybrid electric vehicles, and provides a smooth restart when the brake pedal is released, in addition to improving efficiency. Fuel economy will depend on driver habits, but the technology also helps to cut down on CO2 emissions, as idle times are decreased.

The 2017 Ford F-150 EcoBoost vehicles join other models in the Ford lineup to offer the auto start-stop system, including the Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost, Fusion 1.5-liter EcoBoost, Edge 2.0-liter twin-scroll EcoBoost, and 2017 Escape 1.5-liter EcoBoost and 2.0-liter twin-scroll EcoBoost.

Source: Ford