Ford keen on diesel for popular pick-up

The F-150 is a favourite on the track as well as leading pick-up popularity stakes.

Ford is developing a 4.4-litre V8 diesel engine for its F-150 pick-up. It is a scaled-up version of a 3.6-litre V8 diesel Ford began producing for Range Rovers in April at a plant in England.

If the 4.4-litre engine is approved, Ford would almost certainly need at least two or three years before it begins production.

Company spokesman Nick Twork declined to confirm Ford's plans. "The best thing to say is we intend to maintain truck leadership," Twork said. "We have some great diesel engines in our line-up."

Diesel engines are available in a variety of larger pick-ups from Ford and other car-makers. Now several companies are believed to be considering diesels for use in half-tonne pick-ups.

For several years, Ford has considered proposals for a diesel F-150 pick-up. The company had considered buying the engine from an outside supplier. Now Ford wants to produce its own engine.

Ford may produce the 4.4-litre engine in Britain and ship it to the United States. Although Ford has not settled on the engine's production volume, suppliers and analysts say it could produce 100,000 diesel-powered F-150s. Ford sold 901,463 F-series trucks in the US last year.