To usher in the new 10-speed transmission that Ford will be showcasing in its 2017 F-150, as well as the 2017 Raptor, Ford is putting “all 10 gears” on display by showing off the truck’s new instrumentation panel.
Ford says that its all-new transmission is the first volume-production 10-speed automatic available to consumers, and the company also wants to make sure you’re aware it is Ford built! The blue oval says the new 10-speed will be an upgrade in both acceleration and performance compared to its previous six-speed automatic transmissions. Ford says the wide-span gear spacing and “drag-reduction actions” are to thank, while three overdrive gears and a wider span overall enables lower-numerical rear-axle ratios to help improve fuel efficiency.
“Smarter shift logic” in credited in aiding the new 2017 F-150 with improved confidence when using tow/haul mode. According to Ford, “All-new adaptive shift-scheduling algorithms monitor more than a dozen powertrain and driver control signals in real time – ensuring the right gear at the right time for an engaging driving experience, including in sport mode.” The company also notes it will employ an integrated electric pump to work with the standard Auto Start-Stop system to improve over the previous system.
Ford’s new 10-speed gearbox is the first from the company to use cast-iron components, and overall it follows the company’s trend to shed weight from the F-150 to improve performance, as weight is trimmed down in the gearbox thanks to different materials and alloys. Ford also notes it shaved another two pounds with its integrated torque converter/turbine clutch.
Of course, the new 10-speed in the 2017 F-150 will be mated to Ford’s second-gen 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine. Ford says it is investing $1.4 billion at its Livonia Transmission Plant to create or retain 500 hourly jobs to build the all-new 10-speed transmission.