Keeping the V8 Running
Downsized turbos have been the way for the last couple of years. Sixes have been replaced by boosted fours, turbo-sixes have substituted V8s and V12s, and, well, you get the picture. Yes, the V8 is still around, but the options are slimming down by the minute. Thankfully, there are still automakers who want to keep it alive by any means necessary.
One of those manufacturers is Ford, and it's hoping its planned solution will keep them around for much longer. According to CEO Jim Farley, the company is open to hybridizing its V8 engines if that should help extend the relevance of the eight-cylinder motor for more generations to come.
Hybrid V8s Coming Soon
Apart from turbocharging, electrification has become another avenue for automakers to extract more performance and efficiency out of their powertrains. Of course, one of the reasons why they're doing that is to comply with ever-tightening emissions standards worldwide. With that, Ford acknowledges that it has to hybridize its large and performance-oriented engines to stay relevant.
"It’s pretty clear that hybrid is the performance drivetrain of the future," said Will Ford, the General Manager of Ford Racing, during the Dakar Rally. CEO Jim Farley also mentioned that hybrid V8 power was 'absolutely' on the cards for the Raptor range. Car Expert also noted that the Mustang could receive some battery assistance in the future.
A Good Move?
During the event, Farley pointed out to the press that the best-selling version of the F-150 has been the EcoBoost hybrid. He also mentioned that Ford has accelerated investment in the hybridization of its vehicles, including the performance side.
While Ford has seen success in hybrid pickups, the final decision will depend on customer reaction towards the idea. "We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves and do something that customers don’t want, but we absolutely need to make sure that we continue to push Raptor in every way to make it maintain its position as the most off-road capable vehicle," said Ford. He adds, "That's the nice thing about hybrid is it might allow us to keep the V8 alive a little longer – hopefully a lot longer."
John Beltz Snyder
Potential Products
With that in mind, it seems that Ford is already in the middle of developing its battery-assisted V8. But what products could make this possible hybrid engine? The most logical answer seems to be the F-150 Raptor.
Currently, the Raptor R uses a supercharged 5.2-liter Carnivore V8 with 720 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque. No doubt those are strong numbers, but electrification could bump that up even higher if given the chance. Of course, another candidate would be the aforementioned Mustang.
That said, a hybrid V8 could also make sense in less performance-oriented applications. The Ford Expedition is one, and another could be the Super Duty. The latter could greatly benefit from a hybrid system should it be given the capability to power tools and devices in remote job sites. Either way, Ford is looking deep into the matter, and there's a chance we might see the first electrified V8s roll out before the end of the decade.
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