Ford F-150s equipped with V6 engines are outselling their V8 counterparts for the third month in a row and the first time since 1985 that V8s weren't the dominant powerplant option in Ford's full-size pickup.

So far in 2011, Ford has sold 313,183 units – an eight-percent increase over last year and enough to keep the F-series the best-selling vehicle in America for the umpteenth year running. Of the two six-cylinder engine options, it's the EcoBoost V6 that's truly stealing the show, and with good reason. With 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque compare very favorably with its competitor's top V8s, and it handily outperforms them in EPA-rated fuel mileage (16 city, 22 highway).

Also worthy of consideration from buyers is the base 3.7-liter V6, which accounted for 16-percent of F-150 sales in July. With 302 horsepower, it offers more ponies that its most direct competitors' base V8s, and it scores 17 mpg city and 23 highway. These two Ford V6 options represent a rather astounding 80 percent of the full-size V6-powered pickup market in America, besting the likes of the Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500, GMC Sierra and Toyota Tundra by massive margins.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/10/f...by-v6-engines/