RobertHutson.com

Is Ford about to power-up its all-new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 diesel engine in response to GM's recent announcement of best-in-class power ratings for its 6.6-liter Duramax V-8 diesel? Sources say we could see Ford do exactly that within the next year.

In February, Ford announced the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 for its 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty will pound out 390 horsepower and 735 pounds-feet of torque; earlier this month, GM announced that its 6.6-liter Duramax V-8 diesel for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra HD pickups will make 397 hp and 765 pounds-feet of torque.

According to our sources, Ford isn't about to settle for second place.

The 6.7-liter PSD is a clean-sheet design with lots of headroom for higher power settings, while the 6.6-liter Duramax is based on a legacy architecture that's right at the limit of its performance envelope.

Bragging rights in the heavy-duty segment are critical because almost every truck is used for towing and hauling on a regular basis. More power can mean greater confidence in moving big loads.

How high might the 6.7-liter V-8 jump to? We're told to more than 400 hp and over 775 pounds-feet of torque. The difficulty is striking the right balance between any power increase with fuel economy and emissions regulations.

The 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty is expected to go on sale in April with the power ratings already announced. If a power jump does occur in the next year, early buyers might not miss out. We're told that it may only require a reflash of the software in the 6.7-liter's engine control unit.