These V6 Engines Have More Horsepower Than An LS1 V8

The Ford EcoBoost is the perfect example of a V6 platform truly challenging the V8 offerings by the same manufacturer. The EcoBoost formula was a step towards revolutionizing Ford’s engine lineup with the goal of making the smallest displacement, most efficient, and most powerful engines possible. To aid in that, the EcoBoost pulled tested engine technologies from previous engines and tied them all together in one coherent package, using twin turbochargers, direct injection, and variable camshaft timing to get the most out of the package.

The 3.5L EcoBoost was the first engine in the EcoBoost lineup and was introduced for the 2010 model year under the hoods of the Lincoln MKS & MKT, Ford Flex, Taurus, and Explorer Sport. In all of those applications, the EcoBoost was mounted transversely, which would change when the 3.5L V6 featured in the F150 was mounted longitudinally, speaking to the versatility of the engine. In its initial form, the 3.5L EcoBoost was capable of 355 horsepower in the Lincoln MKS, producing five more horsepower than the venerable LS1 even before the EcoBoost’s significant updates in 2015 which dramatically increased its output, efficiency, and durability.

The 2015 and beyond 3.5L EcoBoost is known as the “Gen 2,” which is a very different engine from the initial 3.5L, featuring dual direct and port fuel injection, upgraded turbochargers, timing upgrades, and valvetrain improvements. The Gen 2 3.5L EcoBoost launched in the 2016 Ford GT, producing nearly twice the initial engine’s output with 647 horsepower. Tuned-down versions of the Gen 2 High-Output 3.5L EcoBoost have been used in the 2017+ Ford F150 and Ford Raptor, producing 450 horsepower at its peak in those models.