Two American automotive journalists witnessed the leading clean diesel technology and performance of Ford Motor Company's 6.4-liter Power Stroke diesel engine found on the F-Series Super Duty pickup truck models. The two media personnel tested the Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks and made their comment on the engine.

Richard Truett, engineering reporter of Automotive News was impressed by the truck's performance and said: "We were going 60 to 65 miles an hour (while towing) and I floored it. The thing just took off like a rocket ship," he said. "I have never felt that performance out of a diesel before. No turbo lag whatsoever. It was fantastic. I can't find anything to dislike about it."

Meanwhile, John Stewart (not the TV show host!), editorial director of Diesel World Magazine, was also impressed and commented: "It's a tremendously quiet engine. It has torque everywhere you look. The technology that they have brought to bear is the latest in the field," he said. "When you drive it you think, 'This thing is a great cruiser. We need to go on a trip with this.'"

According to Ford Motor Company, the 6.4-liter Power Stroke diesel engine is their cleanest, quietest pickup diesel engine ever, delivering a monstrous 350 horsepower and produces an excellent torque output of 650 lb.-ft. at 2,000 rpm. Ford also said the 6.4-liter Power Stroke engine is the first pickup engine in North America to use a high precision common-rail fuel injection system with piezo-electric injectors. This advanced fuel system offers precise timing of fuel injection to provide better performance, less exhaust emissions (with the help of Ford catalytic converters), and reduced NHV (noise, vibration, harshness).

The Dodge Dakota will have something new under its hood.

Chrysler Group released the details about their newest powertrain component that will be installed in the all-new 2008 Dodge Dakota midsize pickup truck. The company released the 4.7-liter Magnum V8 engine, following the recently launched Cummins Turbo diesel engine for the Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500. So this is the second revamped engine launch by Chrysler Group.

The new 4.7-liter Magnum V8 engine delivers an increased horsepower and torque output, with an increased fuel economy. The engine also offers reduced NVH (noise, vibration, harshness).

Here are the complete specs of Chrysler Group’s 4.7-liter Magnum, SOHC, 16-Valve SMPI V-8 engine:

Type and Description: V-type, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 287 cu. in. (4701 cu. cm)
Bore x Stroke: 3.66 x 3.40 (93.0 x 86.5)
Valve System: Chain driven, SOHC, 16 valves, hydraulic end-pivot roller rockers
Fuel Injection: Sequential, multi-port, electronic, returnless
Construction: Compacted Graphite Iron bedplate, cast-iron block, aluminum alloy heads
Compression Ratio: 9.8:1
Max Engine Speed: 6,000 rpm
Fuel Requirement: E85 (Ethanol) or Unleaded regular, 87 octane (R+M)/2
Oil Capacity: 6 qt. (5.7L)
Emission Controls: Dual three-way catalytic converters, heated oxygen sensors, and internal engine features

Performance
Maximum power: 290 hp
Maximum torque: 320 lb.-ft.

Meanwhile, Bob Lee, Vice President - Powertrain Product Engineering Team of Chrysler Group commented:
"The Chrysler Group continues to push the boundaries of engine technology, substantially increasing fuel-efficiency, performance and refinement. Chrysler Group knows that while pickup customers always want more torque and power, fuel economy is becoming more important as fuel prices trend upward. Like our industry-leading HEMI(R), this new engine represents a win-win for our customers."