One of the most iconic American trucks on the road today, the Ford F-150 pickup conjures up the sounds of a roaring engine and the sights of long, dusty roads. To some it's a symbol of power and performance, while others wonder just what this huge truck is doing in a suburb.

Whether you love or hate it, the F-150 is here to stay. Ford began to produce the first generation of the F-series trucks in 1948, marking the beginning of Ford's strategy of producing a wide variety of truck configurations with distinct uses and looks. The F-150 debuted in 1975, and soon outsold its predecessor, the F-100 into obscurity. (The F-100 line stopped being produced in 1983.)

RELATED: The Real Story Behind The First Ever Ford F-150

In the early 2000s, the Ford Motor Company began to truly embrace an audience who wanted a truck as their daily driver or only vehicle, instead of marketing directly to workers, farmers, or other drivers who needed a heavy hauler for particular jobs. So, what exactly is under the hood that brings this truck its legendary hauling power? In particular, we'll examine the 2020 F-150 XL with a 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 engine, unless otherwise specified.

What Does Ti-VCT mean?

The acronym that sets this engine apart stands for "twin independent variable cam timing." This means the engine's valves can be opened and closed in precise durations, changing as needed, depending on what kind of performance is most suitable for the truck's up-to-the-minute driving conditions. Ford says this means power output is evenly optimized and kept optimal all across the spectrum of the performance band for better performance over all.

via Motor Authority

Autoblog's overview of this year's model says the 3.3L can be "slow and boring," and recommends the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 if you want smoother performance and practical towing capability. So maybe consider upgrading on this one.

What about the upgrades?

At the top of the F-150's performance spec list is the 5.0L Ti-VCT V8, which the auto company says pushes 395 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. A port-fuel and direct-injection system means there are two injectors per cylinder, to boost power and efficiency. One resides in the air intake port and another inside the cylinder itself.

via Ford

A Crossover with Mustang

A report from Autoblog suggests that future iterations of the F-150 may have a new legacy under the hood. The Raptor might be getting a Mustang Shelby GT500 engine option in 2022 or so, to end the current generation and start a new one. Autoblog says the engine is rumored to produce somewhere above 700 horsepower, and holds a supercharged 5.2 liter V8.

via Motor1

They point out that this last number might be particularly exciting to Ford F-150 fans, as the current Raptor uses an impressive 3.5 EcoBoost V6 but just can't capture that V8 spirit. This is just a rumor at this point, but you'll be able to impress your friends in more ways than one if it comes true.

Turbocharged to the Core

The turbo option adds a boost of power to some of the F-150's optional engine builds. Check out the 3.0L Power Stroke Turbo Diesel, or the 2.7 Turbocharged Ecoboost. Popular Mechanics says this is the best choice out of all of the current F-150 engine configurations. In particular, they cite how much better than the standard it is for your money, the towing power, quick bursts of speed from the word 'go', and impressive torque.

Their only complaint is the canned engine noise, which makes the truck sound like a V8 from inside instead of opting for the real turbo sound. That Ford badge on the front is as classic as it comes, but the company is also working on making sure the F-150 keeps pushing boundaries, adding options, and providing versatile uses just like it's been known for since the 50s.

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