DEARBORN, MI - The 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost won in a powertrain performance exercise while towing a trailer against key competitors during a demonstration near Davis Dam in Arizona.

It's the latest phase of the new 3.5-liter EcoBoost truck engine's "Torture Test," a multipart series of web-based documentaries that began when this randomly selected EcoBoost engine endured the equivalent of 150,000 miles or 10 years' use on the dynamometer, replicating the duty cycle of the harshest-use customer.

The Davis Dam area has been used by Ford engineers for years to prove out maximum powertrain performance capability in a harsh environment. The combination of high temperatures and a steep grade of an average of 5 percent (meaning the road rises 5 feet for every 100 feet traveled) pushes the engine, transmission, driveline, cooling system, brake system and the truck itself to the extreme.

Visit http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/experiencef150 to see firsthand how the EcoBoost truck engine performs.

Each truck towed a 9,000-pound trailer using independent, professional drivers who alternated after each run; three runs were made, and trucks also switched lanes to eliminate any driver or lane variance. The 2011 F-150 EcoBoost has a best-in-class maximum trailer towing rating of 11,300 pounds. The 9,000-pound mark was selected to allow a baseline that all competitors could meet.

A data acquisition tool was used to time the event when the vehicle started to move, not when the start signal was given. This eliminates a bias of driver reaction time in the data reported.

"We took care to ensure the constancy, accuracy and integrity of the tests, and to have the results verified independently," said Eric Kuehn, 2011 F-150 chief engineer.

Each truck represents high-volume configurations - 2011 4x4 crew cabs - with the 9,000-pound load. Here are the specifications:

Each driver accelerated to full throttle. Trucks were tested in two ways: a 0-60 mph challenge and a 3 ½-mile full-course challenge.

Here are the results for the 0-60 mph test with 9,000-pound trailer. A total of three runs were made:

Here are the results for the full-course test with 9,000-pound trailer. A total of three runs were made:

"In each case, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost truck clearly demonstrated better, quicker acceleration, both on relatively flat surfaces and when going up a grade, which is important when passing a semi or in other situations," Kuehn said.

Key to EcoBoost's performance is the wealth of low-end torque produced by the combination of twin turbochargers and direct fuel injection. Up to 90 percent of the EcoBoost truck engine's peak, best-in-class torque of 420 lb.-ft. is available from 1,700 rpm to 5,000 rpm - all on regular fuel.

EcoBoost is fundamental to Ford's strategy to provide technologically advanced, high-output, smaller-displacement powertrains that deliver uncompromised performance and fuel economy. EcoBoost engines deliver fuel economy gains of up to 20 percent and reduction of CO2 emissions of up to 15 percent, compared with larger, less-efficient engines.

In addition to turbocharging with direct injection, Ford engineers have enhanced EcoBoost's technology capabilities by adding variable valve timing and precisely controlling all aspects of the engine. Ford has at least 125 patents on its EcoBoost technology.

Ford F-Series is the best-selling and most-awarded pickup truck (for 33 years straight) and best-selling vehicle (for 28 years straight) in America. Here are some of the recent awards for Ford F-Series trucks:

2011 Super Duty

• Popular Mechanics Auto Excellence Award: Best Workhorse

• Ward's Best Engine: 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel

• Pickuptrucks.com Best Engine: 6.2-liter gas

• ALG Residual Value

• Kelley Blue Book Residual Value

• Truck Line of Texas

2011 F-150

• PickupTrucks.com and USA Today: 2010 V-6 Shootout: Best Overall V-6 Work Truck

• Consumer Digest Best Buy

• Inaugural The SEMA Award^TM for Hottest Truck