Ford is willing to give its V8 engines a dose of electrification as emissions rules continue to tighten across global markets.
Ford intends to hybridize its V8 engines to prolong their viability under increasingly strict emissions regulations. Hybrid V8 powertrains are expected to appear in the F-150 Raptor, Mustang, and potentially the Expedition and Super Duty lineup.
CEO Jim Farley says electrified V8s could play a role in Ford’s high-performance off-road vehicles.
For years, downsizing has been the industry’s go-to strategy. Turbocharged four-cylinders replaced sixes, turbo sixes took over for V8s and even V12s, and the pattern is well established.
While the V8 hasn’t disappeared entirely, the number of available options continues to shrink rapidly. Still, some automakers remain committed to keeping the eight-cylinder alive, whatever it takes.
Ford is one of them. The company believes its approach could significantly extend the life of the V8. According to CEO Jim Farley, Ford is open to adding hybrid systems to its V8 engines if that’s what it takes to keep them relevant for future generations.
Beyond turbocharging, electrification has become another way for automakers to squeeze more performance and efficiency out of existing powertrains.
Emissions compliance is a major driver behind this shift, particularly as regulations tighten worldwide. Ford acknowledges that hybridization is becoming unavoidable for larger, performance-focused engines.
“It’s pretty clear that hybrid is the performance drivetrain of the future,” said Will Ford, General Manager of Ford Racing, speaking during the Dakar Rally. Farley reinforced that position, saying hybrid V8 power was “absolutely” a possibility for the Raptor lineup.
Farley noted that Ford’s best-selling F-150 variant is currently the EcoBoost hybrid, a data point he highlighted while addressing the media at the event. He also emphasized that Ford has ramped up investment in hybrid technology across its lineup, including on the performance side of the business.
That said, Ford isn’t charging ahead blindly. Customer acceptance will ultimately determine how far the company goes. All signs suggest Ford is already deep into development of a battery-assisted V8. The most obvious home for such a powertrain would be the F-150 Raptor.
At present, the Raptor R is powered by a supercharged 5.2-liter Carnivore V8 producing 720 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque. Those are already formidable figures, but electrification could push output even higher. The Mustang is another natural candidate for a hybrid V8 setup.
Beyond performance models, a hybrid V8 could also make sense in more utilitarian applications. The Ford Expedition is one possibility, as is the Super Duty lineup.
In the latter case, a hybrid system could offer meaningful advantages, such as powering tools and equipment at remote job sites. However it plays out, Ford is clearly giving the concept serious consideration, and there’s a strong chance the first electrified V8s could arrive before the decade is over.
