What ever happened to the proposed V6 Powerstroke?

Am I the only one who remember an article ran by Truck Trend (or 4 Wheel and Off Road) back around 2000 or 2001, about Ford considering using a possible V6 Powerstroke diesel in their Expeditions and F-150s? I really got excited about the possiblity of owning a half-ton with a diesel (as I don't need a 3/4 ton or larger), but then nothing happened. I guess Ford was scared it would siphon sales away from the Super Duty- (and it would).

Now, 4 Wheel and Off Road has reported that Ford is considering using a Land Rover Diesel in the new F-150. With gas prices now over $3.00 a gal, I certainly hope that Ford does more than just "consider". Something's got to give. I long for a small diesel truck, and would love to get my hands on a good Isuzu Diesel, or perhaps the more rare Ford Ranger or Chevy S-10 (Isuzu) diesels.  

You're not the only one with a good memory. In fact, we've recevied quite few emails (and even a few letters and phone calls) reminding us that we announced it almost three years and even did a review of one of the early "mini-PowerStrokes" that Ford was putting into their commercial cab-forward chassis cabs.

Unfortunately, International wasn't going to be able to meet the necessary federal emissions standards, that have now come and gone, so Ford wouldn't be able to put the smaller diesel into the F-150, Expedition, or Ranger. Needless to say, Ford engineers and accountants were not too happy with International and some of that residual bitterness is still rolling around the legal system as Ford and International are in a legal battle over payments for the current all-new 6.4-liter Power Stoke in the new Super Dutys.

If all this seems confusing, it should be, but all you really need to know is that the new 4.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel in the current model Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover in Europe, will most likely be the engine set to go into the all-new 2009 F-150. And we're also hoping that engine will make its way into the new Ford Flex, Explorer, and both the fullsize SUVs. No matter what the price of gasoline, there are a lot of people waiting for this engine in their next Ford. Stay tuned.  

I certainly hope it does and at an affordable price. No more of this $8k+ option total that it is on the heavy duties. Would make a great replacement to my dad's Titan. Yes this is coming from a Chevy guy as it appears that GM doesn't have any plans for one.  

The V-6 Powerstroke was/is actually offered in Ford's LCF medium-duty cabover truck. It was a 4.5L V-6 based on the troublesome 6.0 V-8 Powerstroke. It's been rumored the LCF will be discontinued soon, and along with it, the 4.5L V-6. For that matter, Navistar and Ford have just announced they've parted ways.

If we're ever going to get a diesel in the F-150 (which is not as much of a sure thing as it seemed a year ago) it will likely be a punched-out version of the 3.6L Land Rover diesel V-8 offered in Europe. Supposedly, the version for the F-150 is 4.4L, and produces around 330 horsepower and 450+ lb./ft.

It seems like for the shorter-term, Ford is going to pitch the 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 in the F-150 as the power/economy alternative in lieu of a half-ton diesel, at least for now. The "baby" Powerstroke may eventually show up, but from what I've heard, it's been moved down the priority list a few notches.