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.

We're told this new 5.4-liter V8 uses Ford's new "open valve injection" technology and as the name suggests, injects fuel into the cylinders while the intake valves are open (instead of closed like during conventional combustion cycles). The incoming air improves the mixture of air and fuel before the 'charge' is ignited. Ford says the result is increased horsepower during towing, higher RPMs, and an improvement in emissions from the more efficient burn. Head on over to check out the full story from our friends from PickupTrucks.com. [ford-trucks via PickupTrucks.com]

This type of suspension allows extra travel so that the truck can get across obstacles at a much quicker pace. The magazine claims that this truck is probably still as much as two years out, probably just long enough for people to buy their FX4 and then be forced to trade up to the FXXX4, or whatever they're going to call it. [Four Wheeler Mag via PickupTruck.com]

With Ford's revamped F-150 reportedly set to take its official bow in about a week, at the Detroit Auto Show, some of the camouflage has begun to disappear from the prototypes testing around Dearborn. The winds from some extreme Michigan weather blew the cover off one F- series prototype, revealing the new grille design for the first time with some clarity. Even our photo of a completely undisguised F-150— caught during a photo shoot in late November—only showed a sliver of the new grille, so the face of the F-series had remained partially in doubt. The grille treatment on this F-150 prototype suggests that some of toughness of Ford's new Super Duty trucks will trickle down into the lighter-duty models.

We have seen evidence of what appears to be at least one other grille
treatment for the new F-series, which may be destined for other trim
levels and configurations. So there may be a bit more in store for
the mug of Ford's new truck. But for now, we can at least provide you
this partially clear look at at the face of Ford's most important new
model.

One of our contacts stumbled upon an essentially undisguised prototype of Ford's redesigned F-150. As the sunlight was just about to slip behind the mountains, they managed one revealing shot as the truck rushed back to the safety of its enclosed trailer, parked up the street at a gas station. Considering that every F-series prototype seen to date has been covered from stem to stern in heavy black camouflage, it appears that we caught this unclad look at Ford's new truck at the tail-end of a photo-shoot. The prototype truck was loaded and covered before our impromptu spies could swoop in for more shots.

This cleanest-ever look at the new F-series reveals Ford's surprisingly cautious approach on its new truck. Although significant engineering changes likely lie under the surface, it now seems clear that the visual changes represent little more than a thorough facelift. The headlights, hood, grille, and front bumper have been changed, and it appears that this truck displays some version of Fords Edge-inspired thick-barred grille treatment is in play here. But it thankfully manages to avoid looking like a three-bar-grilled, Edge clone. New tail-lights are also clearly in the cards. The front and rear fenders also show a very subtle change—a sharp-edged character line sculpted in above the F-series' flared wheel arches adding some minor detailing to the side panels. New side mirrors, and a revised side trim strip round out the visual changes.

In light of the huge influx of new blood that has entered the full-size truck market in the last 12 months, the tepid changes to this F-series are a bit of a surprise. The small changes beg the question: Does this signal a lack of imagination at Ford, or is it simply a sign of the degree of cost-consciousness in Dearborn? Perhaps changing consumer tastes and rising gas prices have hampered the F-150's cash-cow status among the Blue Oval bean-counters, keeping the visual changes to a minimum.

2009 Ford F150! (Interior, too!)

*Photos include interior shots showing the base door panels, well as the "Platinum" trim (which replaces the Lincoln Mark LT).

This has been a busy several months for 'spy photos' of trucks. First we caught the 2009 Dodge Ram, and shortly afterwards, Ford's '09 F150. Actually, we've just arrived at the point in time when the 2009 models are trickling out of the secure proving grounds and hitting the streets for real world testing. But these F150 (regular cab) shots are different from all the ones before.

Although still camouflaged, more interior and exterior details are shining through. Some F150 prototypes have shown different grilles, but the one you see here under the camo is the REAL thing!

We're expecting one, or maybe both, of Ford's new 5.8L and 6.2L BOSS V8's will make its way into the F150. Eventually Ford's new 4.4L Lion diesel motor will also show up under the hood. This will be a first for the F150 lineup to get a diesel.

Style-wise, the new F150 will be more evolutionary than revolutionary with bolder fender flares and a "power dome" hood. Some may even refer to it as a "Super Duty Lite" in styling with a smaller version of the Super Duty's bold 3-bar grille with vents on the side.

Interior:

With the discontinuation of Lincoln's Mark LT, the top-of-the-line - above the Lariat - will be called "Platinum". One of our photographers was lucky enough to get the Platinum interior through the window (wood and brushed aluminum trim, leather seats and what appears to be a unique gauge package), while our other shooter managed to get a clear and unobstructed photo of the door panel of what is likely the base trim package.

Ford's re-engineered F150 will bow for 2009, but will likely arrive at dealerships early in the second quarter of 2008. Officially, we'll likely see a big introduction at the NAIAS this coming January.

Just how did we get such good photos?

Well, in the words of one of my photographers, "He went to Burger King for breakfast, got his food, hid under a bridge to eat and I ruined his breakfast. Heh - I actually felt kinda bad about that."

PhotoCredit: Chris Doane for Brenda Priddy & Co.

Photo Credit - Platinum Interior: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Co.