Ford Ups Sales Forecast for F-150 EcoBoost Trucks

Ford’s strategy of putting gas turbo engines in pickup trucks looks to be coming right along: the automaker announced that it will up the sales forecasts for its F-150 EcoBoost pickup after customer demand exceeded original goals.

Ford originally said it was predicting a 40 percent take rate on the 2011 F-150 EcoBoost, which slots a twin-turbo V-6 under the hood of the iconic pickup, but that sales had outstripped the original forecasts and that the true take rate is about 42 percent.

That might not sound like much, but the EcoBoost F-150 has already sold about 75,000 units through the end of September. Ford now expects the take rate to be about 45 percent, and that the total number of turbo trucks sold by years end will be about 100,000. It’s also estimated that production and demand should be equal some time by early next year.

It’s no surprise that sales of the EcoBoost F-150 are so high: it returns five more horsepower and 40 more lb-ft of torque than the equivalent 5.0-liter V-8 engine. It may command a $750 premium over that V-8, but also delivers an additional mile per gallon, by EPA estimates, and 1300 more pounds of maximum tow rating.

 

Source: Motor Trend