Fuel economy standards forcing Ford to take "high-stake" risks on its best selling F-150 pickups

This is one way for government to try to mess up Ford's success in the large pickup truck category.

This fall, Ford will introduce a 300 horsepower V-6 engine and a new six-speed transmission in its F-150 pickups—the No. 1 seller in a market where eight cylinders now rule. And for the first time, Ford will offer a V-6 in its popular crew cab model, which accounts for 60% of all F-150 sales, says F-150 marketing manager Mark Grueber. . . .

Why is Ford pushing this strategy? The company is hedging the risk that its highly profitable vehicle line could get battered by another run-up in gasoline prices. It also must meet federal fuel economy rules that will steadily ratchet up the minimum mileage required for all vehicles.

In the past, Ford has offered V-6 engines only in its most basic, two-door F-150 trucks, primarily purchased for farms or work crews.

Ford sold more than 500,000 F-series trucks in 2009, and sales are up nearly 35% through the end of July this year. The F-series has been the best-selling model line in the U.S. for 28 years—ahead of the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and rival pickups such as the Chevy Silverado.

That means that in the heart of Ford's pickup lineup, there will be two V-6 engines on offer and just one V-8 – setting aside a few limited production models that will come with a king-size, 6.2 liter V-8. . . .