The "Truck of Texas" award is given at the end of a juried voting process following an event lovingly referred to as the the Texas Truck Rodeo. Ford also took home awards for "Truck-Line of Texas," "Best SUV of Texas" with the Expedition King Ranch (which we didn't even know existed), and "CUV of Texas," (apparently a fairly new category) with the Ford Flex. But that's where things stop making sense.

Considering the F-150 is, you know, full-size and all, we're still confused with how Dodge towed away the full-size award. Then, just to pour gas on the conflagration of bragging rights confusion, the Dodge RamBox was awarded "Outstanding Truck Feature." So, we have a the F-150 as the "Truck of Texas" but apparently its not full-sized enough to be awarded the "Full-size Truck of Texas," nor does it have the best feature, both awards going to the Ram. Right. They sure do things strange down there in Texas, don't they? [Detroit Free Press]

Ford has come into this new product cycle with both barrels blazing, offering up the most capability it's ever packaged into a light-duty pickup. It boasts class-leading capabilities like a maximum 11,300 lb towing capacity and a 3,030 lb maximum payload capacity, while also offering best-in-class fuel economy (tied with the Chevy Silverado XFE) of 15 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway when you opt for the fuel-sipping SFE model. But that's only one of seven trim levels, each configurable with three powertrains, 13 wheels (that's more than the number of models of vehicles Honda sells stateside), four different bed configurations, three different cab lengths and the choice of two- or four-wheel-drive — a far cry from Henry Ford's Model T option list of "black."

I've had a chance to drive a few iterations of the new F-150, digesting Ford's new product and seeing how it stands up to the program's goals and what I've decided is at the end of the day, a truck can be broken into a few important components; the cab, box, drive system, engine and the transmission. As the variety of options for the F-150 is so immense, it's more practical to talk about the parts leading up to the sum, rather than the myriad combinations. At least, that is unless you want this review in book form. Let's get started.

2009 Ford F-150: The Engines

At launch, the F-150 will be available with three different engines, the 5.4-liter V8, a new 4.6-liter three-valve V8, or a carryover 4.6-liter two-valve V8. The 5.4 and 4.6 three-valve are both mated to a new six speed transmission while the older two-valve V8 keeps the four speed as the low cost option. The 5.4 gets a power bump up to 320 HP at 5000 RPM and 390 lb-ft of torque coming in at 3,500 RPM, the engine is a brute and the new six speed improves power delivery in all use situations — acceleration is considerably better, towing is almost effortless and fuel economy is improved.

We suspect with volatile fuel prices, consumers and fleets alike will be more likely to consider the new 4.6-liter three-valve option and they won't be disappointed. The 4.6 delivers 292 HP at 5,700 RPM and 320 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 RPM, it's a strong engine with healthy power delivery. In around-town driving, performance is virtually indistinguishable from the bigger, thirstier 5.4-liter. The carryover 4.6-liter two-valve engine with 248 HP and 294 lb-ft of torque is a bit hobbled in comparison by the four speed, but offers a decent choice for those looking at the low cost option. We're waiting with bated breath for the Ecoboost V6, but the direct-injection twin turbo V6 is still a bit in the future.

Transmission

It sounds funny to say, but the new six speed transmission is a stand out feature of the new F-150. The truck has emerged from the four speed doldrums with a well sorted and smartly programmed cog swapper. Back-to-back testing in 2008 versus 2009 F-150s makes it easy to recognize the improvement; On the on-ramp, the truck accelerates where before it bogged down, up and downshifting are smarter and quicker. The real magic isn't in the swiftness though, it's in the towing. Hook a heavy trailer up to the F-150 and the transmission shines. The gear spacing is excellent, keeping the engine in the power range, and there is very little hunting and pecking as we've seen with other full size trucks. When in tow mode the transmission holds gears longer and more impressively, with each tap of the brake, downshifts, providing engine braking immediately. A slick trick none of the competitors match.

Cargo Box

The F-150 offers four different box options, a 5.5 foot box, 6.5-foot box, a 6.5-foot style side, and an 8-foot box. All can be outfitted with a raft of goodies like the fold-out tailgate step first seen on the Super Duty pickups. If you've never used it, it's actually a pretty slick idea. It folds away when not in use and works better than jumping in and out of the bed. Speaking of folding away, a new option is a stowable bed extender which does away with the dual problems of needing a bed extender and having no place to put it. Along the side you get the option of a box side step which expands with a kick and retracts with a push. Considering the bed rails are so tall these days, reaching over the side of the truck is tough for all but the tallest folks, and it's pretty sturdy. Kind of a gimmicky option, but if you want it, it's well designed. The final option is the cargo rails, which when installed along the bed sides are pretty beefy, offering up to 600 lbs of load per cleat. We didn't really get to test these out, but they seem like a nice option if you need it. It strikes us that if you load up a bed with all of these options, there's still a lot of storage space, but it seems awfully cluttered.

Cabins

There are three different cabin styles amid the seven trims — a Baskin-Robbins level of choice we find a bit ridiculous. Are there really seven iterations between rubber-floored XL work truck and ultra-luxe leather-clad Platinum? Ford seems to think so. Ford has dropped the silly tiny doors on the regular cab model (and we suspect a great deal of cost) while stretching out the legroom in the all three cabs. We've sampled most, if not all of the trims — it's hard to tell which one you're in from time to time — and we feel comfortable saying they are all damn nice places to be. Even with the baseline trucks, the seats are comfortable, the gauges are easily read and communicate quite a bit of information, and there are some clever features. For instance, if you buy a truck equipped with a center console, the storage bin between the seats is designed to hold hanging folders. We haven't used hanging folders since our engineering days, but that's a pretty cool idea — especially for the contractor on the go. Other goodies include obnoxiously awesome leather for the King Ranch and Platinum Edition, a pretty slick sounding Sony-branded audio system, heated and cooled seats and Ford's spectacular Sirius Travel Link system (seriously, it's awesome). Something you don't notice until you drive an '08 and an '09 back to back is how the longer doors on the extended cab and crew cab models provide a lot better side visibility, as the door glass extends far back behind your should line.

Drivetrains

Where the cabin options are incredibly varied, the drivetrains offer simplicity. You get your choice of two wheel drive or four wheel drive, a locking rear diff, and four rear axle ratios ranging from 3.15:1 to 3.73:1. That's it. One interesting option, featured as standard equipment in the FX4 package, is the rear-locking differential, with a slick new design this year. The locker incorporates an electromagnetic ring that does the locking using only four moving parts. It's vastly simpler than the outgoing design and allows a quick engagement when you drop the truck into neutral.

Driving Impression

So now after we've taken a look at all those parts, what's the new F-150 like to drive? Considering we've tested it in situations ranging from around town, stop and go traffic, to highway, freeway, dirt roads, hauling, towing, off-roading and autocrossing, there isn't a lot we don't know about how the F-150 performs. It really comes down to choice. As we alluded to earlier, the F-150 is well mannered on regular roads, it brings additional quiet, refined steering feel and those firmer seats really make longer distances more comfy.

When you get serious about corners though, the F-150 offers mixed results. Performance on the autocross course is incredibly dependent on your choice of wheelbase, engine, four or two wheel drive, and wheel size. While it's rigid, fully boxed frame provides a great place to start from, the tuning for suspension travel and towing leaves the truck prone to healthy understeer, no surprise there. Its traction control system does a respectable job of keeping you out of trouble, but it'll let you get into a little throttle induced oversteer if you try. We have noticed a strange steering feedback at low speed hard cornering in 4x4 models, where steering effort spikes. Perplexed, we asked the engineering teams about it and the explanation has to do with the interaction with the front differential being engaged on the fly and used to direct power to the slipping wheels. Whatever the case, it was a bit disconcerting. Otherwise, turn in is sharp and predictable, at-limit control is predictable, and over the limit recovery is undramatic. Braking is handled without drama by the 13.7 inch front discs and 13.0 inch rears, and if you upgrade to the trailer towing package, you get integrated trailer brake control with trailer sway mitigation — a slick trick of accelerometers and predictive algorithms which detects trailer sway and addresses it with the application of the truck brakes and the trailer's brakes. A similar system exists without a seven pin hookup for electronic trailer brakes but relies on the truck only to manage the correction.

Of course, pavement ends, and when it does, the FX4 package with its tuned shocks, locking diff, and off-road spec tires is there to meet all comers. While it's no Jeep Wrangler, it's closer to mountain goat than not. We tackled approach angles we never thought we'd make, tight corners and serious mud. Those mirror cutouts are handy for more than just styling, giving visibility when your nose is way up in the air. We managed to get stuck only once, and that was in a mud hole we had made it through before. Or course, that was about two feet of mud with ruts up to the axles.

We have reached a high precipice from which to look down on the history of pickup trucks. Capabilities dwarf those of only a decade ago, interiors are available to match the finest German luxury barges, operating costs have been diminished, longevity is unprecedented, and buyers are as loyal as they've ever been. Without question this new truck is better than the outgoing model — quieter, smoother, more powerful, smarter — and considering the reputation the truck has to live up to, that's not really too surprising. We'd have no problem recommending the truck, but then again, there aren't too many trucks we wouldn't. When capabilities reach these kind of levels where capabilities and capacities vastly exceed the needs of most consumers then it's really all about brand preference. Considering the F-150 has nine million customers out there, we suspect it'll do just fine.

Vitals
· Manufacturer: Ford
· Models tested: F-150 XL, STX, FX4, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum Edition
· Model year: 2009
· Base Prices:
-XL: $21,320
-STX $24,120
-XLT $25,290
-FX4 $34,605
-Lariat $33.160
-King Ranch $39,815
-Platinum $41,415
· Engine types:
-4.6 liter 2 Valve V8
· Horsepower: 248 HP @ 4,750 rpm
· Torque: 294 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
-4.6 liter 3 Valve V8
· Horsepower: 292 hp @ 5,700 rpm
· Torque: 320 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
-5.4 liter V8
· Horsepower: 320 hp @ 5000 rpm
· Torque: 390 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm
· Fuel economy city/highway:
-14/19 (4.6L 2V w/4x2)
-14/18 (4.6L 2V 4X4)
-15/20 (4.6L 3V 4X2)
-14/19 (4.6L 3V 4X4)
-14/19 (4.6L 3V 4X4)
-15/21 Projected (4.6L 3V 4X2 SFE - high mileage model)
-14/20 (5.4L 4X2)
-14/18 (5.4L 4X4)
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: 5/5/5

NEW 2009 Ford f-150: MOST pickup for the MONEY

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 18, 2008 – After setting the standard for capability, reliability and quality for 31 years, Ford is now offering even more truck for the money with the new 2009 Ford F-150 – including unsurpassed fuel economy.

“No other truck offers more capability with better fuel economy than the 2009 Ford F-150,” said Matt O’Leary, Ford F-150 chief engineer. “When the truck hits showrooms in October, truck buyers will see real value.”

The 2009 Ford F-150, now with more standard safety equipment than any other half-ton pickup, offers comparable or better pricing at all three cab configurations versus the competition. The F-150 Lariat SuperCrew, for example, starts at $35,820*, more than $5,000 less than a comparably equipped 2009 Dodge Ram.

The 2009 Ford F-150 also offers more value compared with the current F-150. With the XLT SuperCrew, customers receive $1,000 more value versus the previous model with the addition of $1,600 in standard equipment for 2009.

The base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for Ford’s workhorse, the XL Regular Cab, starts at $21,320*; and the popular XLT SuperCab starts at $29,160*.

“With the new F-150, we are offering customers more capability and choice with better-equipped trucks at a greater value than the competition,” said Mark Grueber, Ford F-150 marketing manager. “With the high-volume XLT series, we are able to offer more towing capability, hauling capacity, more standard safety features, industry-exclusive Easy Fuel™ and V-8 power at a starting price of more than a $1,000 less than a comparably equipped competitive truck.”

All 2009 Ford F-150 pickups are equipped with more standard safety features than any other half-ton truck on the market and Ford anticipates that the new F-150 will achieve NHTSA 5-star rating and IIHS “Best Pick.” Ford F-150 safety features include:
AdvaceTrac® with RSC®
Trailer Sway Control
Anti Lock Breaking System
Safety Canopy® side curtain air bags with roll-fold technology for enhanced head protection in rollovers and side impacts
Front seat-mounted side air bags with patented K-shape design
Personal Safety System®
SOS post-crash alert system and new seats and restraints

The Ford F-150 also offers the industry-exclusive Easy Fuel™ capless fuel filler, V-8 power across the lineup and unsurpassed fuel economy of 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway with the new SFE package.

2009 Ford F-150 is Definitive Capability Leader

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 18, 2008 – The new 2009 Ford F-150 remains the most capable full-size pickup on the market, delivering towing capability of 11,300 lbs. across all cab configurations and payload of 3,030 lbs.

Ford built upon the F-150’s capability by strengthening the frame while making it lighter, improving horsepower, boosting fuel economy, adding more usable interior space to the SuperCrew models and offering even more standard safety features.

“F-150 customers have come to expect the best capability,” said Matt O’Leary, Ford F-150 chief engineer. “That’s why our team has been working so hard to deliver the most capable trucks for our customers, including a new, improved chassis that helps deliver additional payload and towing capacity as well as an 8 percent average fuel economy improvement across the lineup.”

Improved Chassis Helps Get the Job Done More Efficiently
The 2009 Ford F-150 features a fully boxed frame constructed from hydroformed high-strength steel side rails – and cross members that pass through the frame rails – for increased durability and safety.

The high-strength steel does double duty, providing approximately 10 percent more torsional rigidity, enabling engineers to finely tune chassis components, while also contributing up to a 100-pound weight reduction versus the current F-150.

“We’ve improved the new F-150’s driving dynamics, delivering a truck that’s consistently sure-footed in all driving situations and load conditions, regardless of the weather,” O’Leary said. “And we’ve built quality in to the new F-150 with laser-edge welds that are five times stronger than other trucks’ traditional spot welds. F-150 owners need to know that whether they use these trucks on the job site – or for play – they’re truly ‘Built Ford Tough.’ ”

F-150’s double wishbone short- and long-arm front suspension with coil over shocks shares components with the 2008 Expedition, although it has been further refined for the F-150. Double ball joint links allow for more precise steering inputs.

The Hotchkiss-designed rear suspension mounts the rear shock absorbers outboard of the frame rails for a smoother ride and improved body control. The revised suspension features 6-inch longer leaf springs. The springs are extended forward to provide better lateral compliance and refined rear axle steer characteristics.

The FX4 features an Electronic Locking Differential axle designed for true off-road performance. There is also a special 17-inch LT tire available to further enhance off-road capability. F-150 4x4 trucks offer a choice of manual or electronic shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive systems.

The F-150’s four-channel Anti-lock Braking System not only improves braking performance but provides the necessary foundation for enabling technologies like AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) with Trailer Sway Control and the available integrated trailer brake controller. A new brake booster and master cylinder offer better pedal feel.

Size Matters, F-150 Delivers
In addition to improved payload and towing capacity, the new 2009 F-150 SuperCrew offers more usable space for moving people and gear – thanks to a 6-inch stretch that improves rear seat legroom and cargo capacity.

A mechanically articulated second-row seat flips up and folds against the back of the cab by simply pushing up on the seat bottom, a move easily done with one hand, allowing easier loading and unloading of the truck’s rear seating area. The new SuperCrew’s longer door moves the B-pillar further back, improving the driver’s peripheral vision.

“The flat load floor and fold-up rear seat allow for a much better use of cargo space,” O’Leary said. “After F-150 customers find their way to their favorite electronics store on their 8-inch navigation screen in the instrument panel, they have enough room to safely and securely load their new large flat-screen television onto the flat-load floor and take it home.”

The flip-up seats combined with the flat-load floor, allows items up to 47.9 inches tall to be stored safely from the outside elements and secured in the locked cab. The total cargo space behind the front seats is a class-leading 57.6 cu. ft.

The center section of the front bench seat features hidden storage and on Lariat models the center section of the back seat folds down into an armrest for rear seat passengers.

Easy on the Ears
Beneath its skin, the new F-150 uses a comprehensive sound package and class-exclusive features to deliver a quiet and refined ride.

An exclusive Quiet Steel dash panel combines with an expanded absorber on the engine side of the dash panel to limit the amount of unwanted noise coming from the engine compartment. A single-piece substrate under the instrument panel replaces the former multi-piece unit, reducing the risk of squeaks and rattles and boosting perceived quality. The Regular Cab utilizes a soft-trim back panel to improve interior quietness. All models receive a new acoustic headliner.

The F-150 Platinum adds a laminated windshield and ultra-light, more absorptive carpeting and additional insulation in the dash panel, doors and back panel to deliver the kind of quiet ride that’s expected of today’s luxury SUVs.

All new F-150s have been tuned from top to bottom to reduce noise, vibration and harshness, including all the exterior body panels. Computer models were made to determine where to add curvature and grooves to the metal panels to reduce vibration. New powertrain mounts, in addition to being more durable, also deliver vibration-free performance at idle and while cruising on smooth roads.

The powertrain was tuned to optimize vehicle dynamics, shift quality and durability while reducing unwanted noise and vibration. For example, the standard 6-speed transmission on the 5.4-liter and 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8s reduces gear whine by 10 to 15 dB versus the outgoing 4-speed unit.

The new Ford F-150’s quiet ride stems in part from an advanced technology called the Multi Activation Regression Simulation (MARS) model. Sound technicians use the MARS computer model to balance different sound inputs coming into the vehicle – from the powertrain, wind and the road – and make all the sounds blend harmoniously.

“There are some vehicles out there that sound unbalanced. They are good for two of the three attributes, say wind and road noise, but are pretty bad for powertrain noise,” said Mark McCarthy, Ford Truck NVH Engineering manager. “What we’ve done with the new F-150 is focus less on getting each attribute as quiet as possible and work on getting all the levels in balance so the vehicle sounds and feels a little bit more harmonious.”

The sound balancing exercise and having such precise control over all the sound attributes allowed engineers to focus on the engine note, introducing certain frequencies back into the truck to give the engine a pleasing, powerful sound.

All-V-8 Powertrain Lineup
The new F-150’s engines do more than sound good.

The 5.4-liter, 3-valve Triton V-8 has been optimized for better performance and delivers 320 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque running on E85 (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline), pure gasoline or any blend in between; 4X2 trucks equipped with the 5.4-liter V-8 are EPA estimated to achieve 14 mpg city and 20 mpg highway – a 12 percent improvement versus the previous model. Fuel economy when operating on E85 will yield different values than gasoline.
The 4.6-liter, 3-valve V-8 is new for F-150. It delivers 292 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. of torque and competitive fuel economy on 4X2 versions of 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. Both the 5.4-liter and 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8s utilize open valve injection. This unique feature improves the flow of fuel into the combustion chamber and allows for more precise control of the combustion process. This results in an increase in horsepower during towing and higher rpm operations along with an improvement in emissions.
The 4.6-liter, 2-valve V-8 is the third V-8 choice in the line-up and delivers 248 horsepower and 294 lb.-ft. off torque with the same fuel economy numbers as the outgoing V-6 – 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway on 4X2 versions.

All three engines are full LEVII capable meeting California’s Tier 2 Bin 4 tailpipe and evaporative emissions regulations.

“We’re including Ford-tested-tough V-8 engines throughout our F-150 lineup,” O’Leary said. “We listen when customers tell us that performance is much more than horsepower and torque numbers. For them, it’s all about towing and hauling, and this powertrain line-up delivers the class-leading capability that customers demand.”

The 5.4-liter and 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8s are mated to standard 6-speed automatic transmissions. The 6-speed has been designed to meet the demands expected of America’s most-capable pickup.

All internal components of the smooth-shifting 6-speed have been upgraded to handle higher torque capacities; these include more robust clutch packs, bigger pump and bigger output shaft.
The transmission’s hydraulic system also was beefed up to enable improved idle speeds and improved converter clutch duty cycles.

Building on Safety Leadership
The 2009 F-150, with an all-new hydroformed steel body structure including an industry-first use of tubular ultra-high strength steel, is engineered to earn top safety ratings from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Standard safety equipment includes: AdvaceTrac® with RSC®; ABS; Safety Canopy® side curtain air bags with roll-fold technology for enhanced head protection in rollovers and side impacts; front seat-mounted side air bags; Personal Safety System®; and new seats and restraints designed to earn a “Good” rating from IIHS in low-speed rear-end collision testing.

2009 Ford f-150 UNSURPASSED IN fuel economy, CAPABILITY

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 18, 2008 – America’s best-selling pickup, the Ford F-Series, is raising the bar once again – this time with unsurpassed fuel efficiency on the new 2009 F-150.

Thanks to a wide range of engineering improvements, the new F-150’s fuel economy is improved by an average of 8 percent across the entire lineup and as much as 12 percent on models equipped with the 3-valve 5.4-liter V-8, versus the prior model year. At the same time, the new F-150 delivers class-leading towing capability of 11,300 pounds and hauling capacity of 3,030 pounds – a combination no other competitor can match.

In addition, Ford is announcing the introduction of the new F-150 SFE “superior fuel economy” edition delivering up to 21 miles per gallon on the highway while still providing 7,500 pounds of towing capability – fuel economy that is unsurpassed in the full-size pickup segment.

“Ford has committed to have the best or equal to the best fuel economy with every new product we introduce, and we are delivering with the new F-150,” said Matt O’Leary, Ford F-150 chief engineer. “Fuel economy has moved from 10th to third place among pickup buyers’ top purchase considerations – right behind durability and value. The new F-150 delivers on all three as the industry leader.”

F-150 SFE
The new SFE package will be available on F-150 SuperCrew XL and XLT 4X2 vehicles with 4.6-liter, 3-valve V-8 engines and 5.5-foot beds. The SFE pickup will achieve 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.

The SFE package trucks also feature a new fuel-efficient six-speed automatic transmission, a 3.15:1 rear axle and 18-inch chrome clad aluminum wheels with low rolling resistance P265/60R18 all-season tires.

“Earning the trust of so many truck customers during the past 31 years has taught us a lot about what they want and value from their F-150,” O’Leary said. “In the past, there was a tradeoff – more fuel economy meant less capability and vice versa. With the new F-150, we didn’t accept tradeoffs. We delivered capability and fuel economy.”

The SFE package will be a no-cost option on XLT SuperCrew pickups with the chrome package and will cost $1,095 when ordered on XL SuperCrew pickups with the decor package.

Fuel Economy throughout the Lineup
Lightweight ultra-high strength steel to lighten the truck by up to 100 pounds versus the outgoing model and aerodynamic refinements helped Ford deliver 8 percent better fuel economy across the entire lineup of V-8 F-150s but more standard safety technology and class-leading capability.

The new F-150 is now best-in-class for aerodynamics. The new F-150 SuperCrew 4X2 with a 5.5-foot box has the lowest coefficient of drag – 0.403 – in the segment. That’s 6 percent lower than a comparable 2008 F-150. Key aero improvements for the new model include:
A new chamfered shape to the rear of the cab, which incorporated the center-high-mount stop lamp. This shape helps direct aerodynamic wake over the pickup box efficiently.
The top of the tailgate, which angles outward to create a bold lip. This wider surface at the top of the tailgate works with the cab chamfering to direct airflow over the box efficiently.
The front bumper valence and spoiler design, which has been improved to better manage airflow underneath the truck without compromising off-roading.

In addition, as part of the fuel economy improvements, Ford’s powertrain team delivered technology upgrades to make the F-150 powertrains more efficient.

The new six-speed automatic transmission offers a wider gear ratio span than four-speed transmissions, allowing engineers the flexibility to have responsiveness in low gears and better fuel economy in the taller gears. The new double-overdrive gearbox is designed to contribute a 4 to 6 percent fuel economy improvement.

Both the 5.4-liter and 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8 engines utilize open valve injection. This unique feature improves the air/fuel charge conditions in the combustion chamber, allowing greater spark advance at higher loads and engine speeds. This delivers increased horsepower during towing and higher rpm operations, lower emissions and more efficient use of fuel.

The F-150 also regulates gas consumption by using aggressive deceleration fuel shut-off. The fuel shut-off is automatic and requires no unusual actions from the driver. When the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the system temporarily turns off the fuel. The flow of fuel seamlessly resumes when the truck reaches a low speed or the driver accelerates again.

To prevent engine hesitation normally associated with fuel interruption, Ford’s powertrain team developed proprietary software to integrate the technology with the F-150’s powertrains.

The new F-150 goes on sale in October.