Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
TDRAdmin4
Staff Member
On January 8, 2017, Ford Motor Company revealed the 2018 F-150. In addition to the usual mid-model refresh, Ford also announced the 2018 F-150 will be available with a new 3.0L Powerstroke diesel engine. This engine, a 3.0L V6, has long been rumored to be Land Rover's 3.0L as it is a proven engine. We'll find out later in the year as Ford reveals details about the engine.
What does this mean for RAM? Well, there is no denying Ford is the sales leader in the pickup market when it comes to sheer numbers. This means there will be a great deal of competition introduced to the half ton diesel pickup market, much more than Nissan brought to the table with their limited production Titan XD with its 5.0L Cummins diesel. Short term we can expect to see it win some sales from RAM, but RAM has one thing going for it the Powerstroke does not: a reputation as a rock solid platform. RAM will no doubt react to the competitive pressure by upping its game and offering even more to their customers in future models. So in the end RAM customers will benefit by Ford entering the market. This is also a step in the right direction for the half ton diesel aftermarket in general.
Another issue is diesel fuel prices. Ford sells hundreds of thousands of F-150 pickup trucks every year, and if the success of their Ecoboost gasoline engines is any indication then we can expect a large number of buyers opting for the 3.0L Powerstroke. On the surface. it might seem to be a concern. After all, a few years down the road Ford may be adding an extra hundred thousand or more diesel vehicles on the road annually. Actually, it's probably not something to worry about as overall because diesel car sales have plunged in recent years with cheaper gas prices, plus the fallout of VW "dieselgate" affecting the overall passenger car diesel market. VW accounts for nearly half of all diesel car sales. And diesels account for only 3% of total vehicle sales in the USA.
In closing... Ford, welcome to the half ton diesel market --- what took you so long?
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By TDRAdmin4
- Sources:
Ford Raises The Bar Again, https://www.fordtruckzone.com/threa...-is-even-tougher-smarter-more-capable.661435/
Diesel-powered Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
https://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/...ons/bts_fact_sheets/oct_2015/html/entire.html
Diesel Car Sales Tumble in U.S.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/diesel-car-sales-slow-significantly-1455825746
