Beginning next month, buyers will be able to order the 2017 Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck with a new 10-speed automatic transmission.

The transmission—co-developed with General Motors—is the first of its kind in a production vehicle.

In the F-150, it will be paired with an upgraded 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 engine.

DON'T MISS: 2017 Ford F-150: new 10-speed automatic transmission, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6

The new engine and transmission combination will become available in "mid- to late-October," according to The Detroit News.

It will be standard on the high-end Limited and performance-oriented Raptor models, and optional on other trim levels, said Doug Scott, Ford's truck group marketing manager.

Pricing will reportedly increase by a few hundred dollars compared to the previous 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine and six-speed automatic, but the cost to upgrade from other F-150 powertrains will remain similar.

Ford 3.5-liter V-6 and 10-speed automatic transmission

Ford 3.5-liter V-6 and 10-speed automatic transmission

In addition to the upgraded 3.5-liter EcoBoost, Ford will continue to offer the F-150 with a 2.7-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V-6, a naturally-aspirated 3.7-liter V-6, and a 5.0-liter V-8.

A six-speed automatic remains the only transmission option for those engines.

The new 10-speed automatic was announced by Ford and GM back in 2013, and was first shown on the 2017 Raptor when that model debuted at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.

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It features a wider gear-ratio spread than the six-speed automatic it replaces.

Ford says that allows the F-150 to use lower-numerical rear-axle ratios, which in turn improves highway fuel economy. Final EPA ratings for the new powertrain haven't been released.

The 10-speed is made from a combination of steel, aluminum, and composite alloys, to save weight.

Ford 10-speed automatic transmission

Ford 10-speed automatic transmission

GM's first application of the news transmission will be in the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Beyond F-150 variants, it's been suggested that Ford will also deploy the 10-speed in redesigned versions of the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs.

Meanwhile, the new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine is expected to produce the same 365 horsepower as the outgoing version, but with 450 pound-feet of torque—an increase of 30 lb-ft.

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It features both direct and port fuel injection, along with numerous other upgrades like new turbochargers and an electronic wastegate.

Like its predecessor, this engine will probably find its way into a large portion of F-150 trucks.

The outgoing 3.5-liter and the 2.7-liter EcoBoost engines currently account for about 60 percent of F-150 sales.

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew

They are part of Ford's aggressive plan to improve the efficiency of its best-selling truck.

In addition to downsized engines, Ford employs an aluminum cab and pickup bed on the current-generation F-150 to reduce weight.

Reports have also indicated that it will add diesel and hybrid powertrain options by the end of the decade.

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