While we don't have an image of the Harley, the Big Hog Daddy gets some snazzy blue flame paint which carries through to the gauge cluster, Harley badging, and the ubiquitous Harley leather on the inside. Also optional: tightly wrapped head bandannas, brain-bucket helmets and a hardcore, weekend-warrior attitude.

2009 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY GROWS CAPABILITY WITH INDUSTRY-EXCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGIES, FEATURES

* Ford F-Series Super Duty, America's most capable work truck, offers more standard capability for 2009, including an integrated trailer brake controller and trailer tow mirrors on select models.

* Ford Work Solutions is a collection of industry-first, affordable technologies available on 2009 F-Series Super Duty XL, XLT and FX4 trucks that will provide customers connectivity, flexibility and security to better run key aspects of their business - from their Ford truck, even on the job site.

* New 'Built Ford Tough' factory-applied spray-in bedliner, available on 2009 F-Series Super Duty pickups, delivers exceptional weather resistance and protection against gouging, scratching, cracking and chipping.

The 2009 F-Series Super Duty line of pickups, the industry's most capable full-size heavy-duty work trucks, come equipped with even more capability, thanks to new standard features and two new packages - a Cabela's FX4 for the outdoor enthusiast and for the first time, a Harley-Davidson™ F-450 pickup.

All four Super Duty trim levels - XL, XLT, FX4 and Lariat - come with new standard features. The XL, the no-frills workhorse version, now comes standard with air conditioning, Securilock and manual trailer tow mirrors.

The XLT, a step up from the XL, now has power-heated trailer tow mirrors, privacy glass, integrated trailer brake controller, remote keyless entry and Securilock as standard features.

For 2009, the FX4 adds standard PowerScope™ integrated power-fold, power-telescoping mirrors, power seats, privacy glass, integrated trailer brake controller, captain's chairs and SIRIUS satellite radio.

The most luxurious of the Super Duty lineup, Lariat adds all of the new FX4 standard content as well as the reverse camera system, a power sliding rear window, heated seats, molded running boards and SYNC, Ford's industry-first, voice-activated hands-free communications and entertainment system.

New Smart Technologies

Ford is further expanding its 'smart' features for truck customers by equipping its trucks with new technologies that make staying connected and getting the job done easier.

* SYNC is Ford's industry-first, voice-activated hands-free system that fully integrates mobile phones and most media players into the vehicle using Bluetooth technology and USB connectivity.

* Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link™ offers a host of convenient features including more than 150 hours of music storage and a collection of data services including real-time local traffic, coast-to-coast weather conditions and fuel price information for more than 120,000 gas stations. Users can browse the music juke box via touch-screen or by using voice recognition. The system also integrates the climate control and SIRIUS satellite radio into one easy-to-use, smudge-resistant, 8-inch touch-screen display.

* Ford Work Solutions, a collection of industry-exclusive technologies for F-Series trucks and commercial E-Series vans will help make business owners more productive and successful. Four industry-exclusive innovations include:

o An in-dash computer developed with Magneti Marelli and powered by Microsoft Auto that provides full high-speed Internet access via the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network and navigation by Garmin.

It's the first broadband-capable in-dash computer in production. It features available wireless accessories including a mouse and printer. This system allows customers to print invoices and access and send documents stored on their home or office computer networks - right on the job site.

o Tool Link, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset-tracking system developed with DEWALT, the industry leader in professional power tools, and ThingMagic, the industry expert on embedded RFID technology. This enables customers to maintain a detailed real-time inventory of the tools or equipment stored in the vehicle.

o Crew Chief, a fleet telematics and diagnostics system, which allows small fleet owners to efficiently manage their vehicles, quickly dispatch workers to job sites and keep detailed vehicle maintenance records.

o Cable Lock security system developed in partnership with Master Lock®, the industry-leading lock manufacturer, to secure large tools or equipment in the cargo area of E-Series vans and wagons.

All four Ford Work Solutions technologies also will be available this fall on the new 2009 Ford F-150 XL, STX, XLT and FX4 trucks and E-Series vans. Transit Connect vans join the lineup in mid-2009.

Cabela's FX4

Ford is expanding its relationship with Cabela's, the world's largest outdoor outfitter, by offering a new Cabela's FX4 package for 2009.

According to customer data, 76 percent of F-Series buyers hunt and fish. With F-Series serving as the official truck of Cabela's for the past 7 years - and trucks prominently placed at stores nationwide and featured in Cabela's publications and TV programming - there's no more authentic way to connect with customers.

The Cabela's FX4 package for 2009 features a unique two-tone paint scheme in five colors: Ebony, Oxford White, Forest Green Metallic, Royal Red Metallic and Silver Metallic.

Each is contrasted with Sterling Grey Metallic lower body accents, running boards and wheel lip moldings, finished off with custom mud flaps and unique Cabela's badging.

The interior features standard cloth seats with the Cabela's logo or available aniline leather seats with a unique two-tone embossed grain pattern. The center stack is finished with a dark Paldeo wood appliqué. All-weather floor mats also wear the Cabela's logo. And for the avid outdoor enthusiast, additional lockable storage in the front console and underneath the rear seats is perfect for keeping equipment secure and out of sight.

Harley-Davidson™ F-450

Ford and Harley-Davidson team up again for a new Harley-Davidson™ F-450, the "Big Hog Daddy" of the road.

As with the still available F-250/350 SRW models, each individually numbered Harley-Davidson™ F-450 features a unique blue-flame paint scheme that starts at the side vents and runs down to the box side of the truck. The flame design scheme is carried through to the interior gauges in the instrument panel.

The custom-perforated black leather-wrapped seats, door panels and center console cover reveal blue leather underneath giving the same blue-flame effect as the exterior. Harley-Davidson™ badges are visible on the fenders and tailgate, along with "Harley-Davidson" script located on the box side.

Tough Bed

Ford is offering Tough Bed, a unique, military-grade, factory-installed, spray-in bed liner for the first time on the 2009 F-Series Super Duty.

"Tough Bed is a smart solution for Ford Super Duty customers who want to better protect their most important asset - the pickup box," said Tom Aubrey, Ford F-Series Super Duty marketing manager. "Like the entire truck, Tough Bed stands up to the most stringent durability standards including those required by the U.S. Military - that definitely makes it 'Built Ford Tough.'"

According to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), installation of spray-in bedliners grew from 27 percent in 2004 to nearly 34 percent of all pickup trucks in 2006 and will continue to grow at a steady rate to nearly 40 percent in 2008.

Developed in partnership with PPG Industries, Tough Bed exceeds the standards of today's typical aftermarket spray-in bedliner solutions. This military-grade coating has been through the government's toughest blast mitigation testing to determine whether the material can with stand the force of a bomb blast. It has performed equal to or better than other protective coating systems at one-third the thickness.

The polyol-based elastomeric film and isocyanate hardener are applied to the pickup box by a precision, high-pressure, automated sprayer to ensure one thin, smooth, even coat - unlike the traditional hand-spray application of aftermarket bed liners.

The finer application ensures that the bedliner materials won't run or sag on the inside walls of the box in addition minimizing unnecessary weight. Tough Bed does not compromise Super Duty's class-leading cargo capacity or the installation of aftermarket assets such as tool boxes, tonneau covers and truck caps. Its uniformly textured surface also helps minimize load slippage while delivering an exceptionally clean appearance.

The special bedliner material formula is immune to the effects of ultraviolet radiation and will not fade or chalk. It also protects against physical damage to the pickup box such as gouging, scratching, cracking and chipping. It is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile factory limited warranty.

All F-Series Super Duty models are built at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky.

[via FSeriesTrucks.com]

"The high-end vehicles that are allowed are plush with amenities and covers on the back. It doesn't look like a pickup. It's fancier."

They even allow the Lincoln Mark LT, which is just an F-150 with a nicer grille and chrome.

This may not be a big deal in Greenwich, Glencoe or Grosse Pointe, but this is the reason why Texas has concealed handgun laws. We sympathize with Mr. Greenwood's frustration

"If we had a big Hummer, that could be in the driveway. If we had a Lincoln Mark LT, that could be in the driveway. But a Ford F-150 can't. That doesn't make sense."

We'll follow up on the story when someone gets shot. [Dallas Morning News]

"While many might still groan at a GT500KR that can transform on-the-fly into an F-150, Thompson talked to futurists at Microsoft to find some grounding in reality. Their meetings discussed what cars and trucks might be like in 2030. "They (Microsoft futurists) talked about vehicles being able to maneuver between smaller spaces, meaning it would have to squeeze itself, or it would grow larger or grow bigger wheels to get over a large obstacle. I thought, 'Wow, if these guys are already thinking about this now, then we need to be looking at this.'"

It looks like KITT's new off-road program will become a regular part of Knight Rider. Thompson says we'll see it in two of the first four episodes. There might be other modes on the horizon, too. "As long as we stay within about the same mass, you might see other versions of KITT," says Thompson. "You're not, however, going to see it turn into a huge spaceship," Thompson tells us."

Now we're only left wondering when Ford comes out with a special "Knight Rider" edition F-150. Like the Harley-Davidson version, we're assuming the truck bed won't be big enough to hold KITT. Also, note the Shelby cobra that's part of the TV show's logo. We wonder how many ads Ford had to buy to get that level of a boa constrictor-like grip on the creative process? [Knight Rider]

Essentially, HEVT has fitted all the systems necessary to turn the F-150 into a parallel plug-in hybrid. Mounted behind the rear differential is an electric motor capable of 200 ft-lb of torque, while a stack of batteries is located in place of the crew-cab seats. A regenerative braking system is also fitted, as is a system enabling the engine to charge the batteries and for the engine to be uncoupled from the driven wheels. HEVT's own electronics and software package, called the Adaptive Control Unit, keeps all these goodies running in harmony, and the interior is equipped with a Prius-style display so drivers can monitor their power usage. The really clever thing is that this technology is somewhat universal, requiring minimal modification to work in other gas-guzzlers.

HEVT claims the technology needed is cheap enough that, when combined with the fuel savings, retrofitted vehicles will actually save money across their lifetimes. We'd like to see a final price, but if this is true it could be a great solution for the countless existing individual and corporate owners of large trucks, enabling them to upgrade to a considerably more fuel-efficient vehicle without actually buying a new one. That's a double-win for spotted owls and wallets alike...if this technology comes to market in any usable form.

San Jose, July 22, 2008 - Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies, Inc. (HEVT) unveiled the world's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the popular Ford F-150 pickup truck at Plug-In 2008 Conference and Exposition, the first international plug-in conference and expo. Converted with a proprietary adaptive controller and using a scaled-down version of the proprietary drive train HEVT has designed for transit buses, the F-150 has been transformed from a standard combustion engine vehicle getting about 16 MPG to a PHEV getting up to 41 MPG for a typical day's driving.

The HEVT prototype was displayed during today's keynote address by Dr. Andrew S. Grove, former chairman of Intel Corporation. "Trucks, SUVs and vans are the least-efficient vehicles on the road, so retrofitting them should be a high priority if we want to make a meaningful, near-term difference in oil consumption. Rapid commercialization of prototypes like HEVT's is the way to go," Dr. Grove said.

The prototype shows how HEVT's plug-in hybrid drive train technology can retrofit existing PSVs (pickups, SUVs, and vans), to displace gasoline with electricity, cutting operating costs and harmful emissions and boosting performance. This is an important step toward energy security, because it reduces the fuel required to operate trucks and other large vehicles.

"One way to reduce fossil fuel use is to find ways to plug in some of the hundreds of millions of internal combustion engines already on the world's roads," said CalCars founder Felix Kramer. "The pioneering PHEV designs for trucks and buses from Dr. Ali Emadi and his team at HEVT are especially promising."

Engineers at HEVT have developed a sophisticated electronics and software system called the Adaptive Control Unit (ACU) which serves to control the hybrid drive train. While driving, the ACU controls use of the electric motor and gasoline engine to optimize fuel economy and performance. An in-dash display unit monitors performance, indicating the charge remaining in the battery pack and the energy recovered through regenerative -braking.

"HEVT's solutions apply to not just smaller passenger cars and hybrids, but almost any vehicle including larger gas guzzlers," said HEVT founder Ali Emadi. "Our laboratory simulations show that the larger the vehicle, the greater the benefits - in gas costs, particulate and greenhouse emissions, and sound pollution. For this reason we are currently focused on PSVs and will later expand to school buses as well as transit buses."

HEVT will begin with a small pilot program of Ford F-150 pickup truck conversions available to organizations and individuals on a custom basis. The pilot program will help HEVT's continued development and optimization, pushing conversion costs down and lowering lifetime cost of ownership for converted vehicles.

According to KGP, the new engine should be capable of a 9% increase in power and a 15% increase in torque relative to the 5.4-liter gas V8. According to this leaked report, the gas V8 should be capable of 320 HP and 390 lb-ft of torque.

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: Doing the math, this would put the diesel V8 at approximately 350 HP and 450 lb-ft of torque, while still achieving 20% fuel economy. Let's hope sources and calculators don't lie.

2010.5 Ford F-150 Diesel Spy Report Ford's F-150 diesel has moved beyond the mule stage, and is now running as a fully trimmed prototype, wearing the latest F-150 sheetmetal. We caught this prototype taking a break from hot-weather testing, and we can now reveal some details confirming its diesel status.

A look inside the cockpit reveals a large "Diesel Fuel Only" warning sticker placed under the F-150's gage-faces. We also peeked inside the fuel door to see the the Urea Fill Port next to the diesel input port. The Urea port will allow the occasional addition of a Aqueous Urea, which acts as a Selective Catalytic Reducer to cut NOx emissions—allowing the F-150 to meet emissions requirements. The Urea tank is sized to be filled at the F-150's oil change intervals.

The F-150's diesel is a 4.4-liter V8, which will see a 9% increase in power and a 15% increase in torque, while delivering a 20% increase in fuel-economy—when compared to Ford's current 5.4-liter V8 gasoline engine. Ford expects to launch the 4.4-liter diesel on the 2010-1/2 F-150.

This is an extreme shift for Ford, an automaker planning on offering only V8 engines for the 2009 Ford F-150. While the 4.6-liter V8 at the bottom of the current truck's range supposedly delivers more horsepower and torque with the same fuel economy numbers as the outgoing 4.2-liter V6, it's still huge. Is it true? We're not sure yet. What we do know is that EcoBoost technology better be damn good to deliver the same HP and torque..

But, the numbers PickupTrucks.com is hearing indicate 250 HP and 300 lb-ft of torque on this new EcoBoost four-banger. Our thought is that'll be plenty of power — as long as it's getting fuel economy somewhere above 20 MPG. We guess time will tell. We hope Toby Keith doesn't mind things getting smaller in the engine compartment. [via PickupTrucks.com]

There's been some speculation as to just what engine would be used, either the 6.2-liter or the 5.4-liter V8. But, since the truck was seen pulling into a Roush building, we're pretty sure it'll have a blower on it. Of course, this obviously all depends on if the truck even sees the light of day. Remember, Ford has already delayed the 2009 F-150 for two months due to slumping sales. [Inside Line]

FORD FURTHER CUTS TRUCK PRODUCTION AS DEMAND SLOWS; MORE CARS, CROSSOVERS, FUEL-SAVING POWERTRAINS ADDED

Next-generation European Ford Focus and Fiesta small cars reach North America in 2010

* North American large truck and SUV production further reduced for remainder of 2008; new Ford F-150 pickup introduction timing adjusted due to market conditions and current-model sell-down

* Production reductions will be achieved through additional downtime, shift reductions and line-speed actions at Ford's large truck and SUV assembly plants

* Production will increase for the Ford Focus sedan and Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small utility vehicles

* Next-generation, European Ford Focus and Fiesta small cars to begin production in North America in 2010, as Ford confirms it is revising its product plan to add more small cars, crossovers and fuel-efficient powertrains, including many from Ford's acclaimed European lineup

* More details and an updated outlook will be provided during Ford's second-quarter financial report in July; it is clear, however, that 2008 Automotive results will be worse than 2007, cash outflows will be greater than previous guidance and, unless the economy improves, it will be difficult for Ford to break even companywide on a pre-tax basis in 2009, excluding special items

* Ford Motor Credit Company will incur a pre-tax loss this year - excluding any potential payment related to Ford's profit maintenance agreement - primarily due to further weakness in large truck and SUV auction values; Ford Credit no longer plans a distribution payment to Ford in 2008

DEARBORN, Mich., June 20, 2008 - Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today said it is making further reductions to its North American truck production plan while adding more small cars, crossovers and fuel-efficient powertrains, as the company responds to the continued deterioration in the U.S.business environment and the accelerated shift away from large trucks and SUVs.

"As gasoline prices average more than $4 a gallon and consumers worry about the weak U.S. economy, we see June industry-wide auto sales slowing further and demand for large trucks and SUVs at one of the lowest levels in decades," said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. "Ford has taken decisive action to respond to this accelerating shift in customer demand away from large trucks and SUVs to smaller cars and crossovers, and we will continue to act swiftly moving forward."

Ford now expects U.S. industry volume in 2008 - including medium and heavy vehicles - to be between 14.7 million and 15.2 million units, compared with the previous assumption of 15 million to 15.4 million units. Accordingly, in the third quarter, Ford now plans to produce 475,000 vehicles, a reduction of 50,000 units from previously announced plans and a decline of 25 percent compared with the 2007 third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Ford plans to produce 550,000 to 590,000 units, a reduction of 40,000 units from previously announced plans and a decline of 8 to 14 percent compared with the 2007 fourth quarter.

In parallel, Ford is adjusting the public introduction timing of the new 2009 Ford F-150 by approximately two months due to the industry-wide slowdown in the U.S. truck market and the need to sell down dealer inventory of the current model. The new F-150 now will go on sale in late fall.

"The new 2009 F-150 raises the bar yet again on capability, quality and durability, and we know core truck customers are eagerly awaiting its arrival," said Mark Fields, Ford's President of The Americas. "Our plan all along has been to introduce the new F-150 after our dealers had a chance to sell down inventory of the existing model, and - with the current slowdown in the marketplace - we decided it was prudent to adjust the start of public sale for the new truck by about two months."

With these actions, Ford said it now is clear that 2008 pre-tax Automotive results will be worse than 2007, cash outflows to fund operating losses and restructuring will be greater than previous guidance and, unless the economy improves, it will be difficult for Ford to break even companywide on a pre-tax basis in 2009, excluding special items. Ford North America still expects to reduce annual operating costs by about $5 billion by the end of 2008 - at constant volume, mix and exchange, and excluding special items - compared with 2005.

Ford Motor Credit Company now will incur a pre-tax loss this year - excluding any potential payment related to Ford's profit maintenance agreement - primarily due to further weakness in large truck and SUV auction values. Ford Credit no longer is planning a distribution payment to Ford in 2008.

Ford said it will provide more details on changes to its overall plan when it announces second-quarter financial results in July. In the meantime, Ford is taking the following production actions:

* Production of the 2009 F-150 now will begin in August at Kansas City Assembly Plant and in September at Dearborn Truck. One shift will be eliminated at both Kansas City (from two to one) and Dearborn (from three to two). Dearborn Truck will be idled most of the third quarter.

* Michigan Truck Plant will be idled for nine consecutive weeks beginning the week of June 23, in line with demand for the company's full-size SUVs.

* One shift of production will be eliminated at Louisville Assembly Plant for mid-size SUVs in the third quarter.

* The line speed will be reduced at Kentucky Truck Plant for large pickups in the third quarter.

* The line speed will be reduced at Chicago Assembly in the third quarter for full-size sedans.

* Production will wind down at Cuautitlan Assembly Plant in Mexico by the end of 2008. The plant, which now produces large pickups, will be retooled for production of the new Fiesta small car for North America beginning in early 2010.

Ford also is taking the following actions to increase capacity in the third quarter:

* Oakville Assembly will add a third shift for production of the Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX and all-new 2009 Ford Flex crossovers.

* Kansas City Assembly Plant's line that produces the Ford Escape, Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner and Mariner Hybrid small utility vehicles will add a third shift.

* Wayne Assembly Plant's body and paint shops will add a third shift, and the line-speed will be increased for final assembly production of the popular Ford Focus small car.

Production at Ford's stamping, engine and transmission plants is being adjusted in line with the changes in assembly capacity.

"We view the move to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles as permanent, and we are responding to customer demand," Mulally said. "In the near term, we are adjusting production to the actual demand - increasing small cars and crossovers and reducing large trucks and SUVs. For the long term, we are moving fast to introduce more small cars, crossovers and fuel-efficient powertrains - including more hybrids - and we will adjust our manufacturing facilities to match our updated product lineup."

Ford said it is uniquely positioned to build on its strength today as a crossover vehicle leader, while leveraging its small car expertise in Europe and bringing more of those vehicles to North America.

In addition to hatchback and sedan versions of the European-engineered Ford Fiesta small car that goes on sale in North America in early 2010, Ford is announcing today that four- and five-door versions of the next-generation European Ford Focus small car will be produced in North America beginning in late 2010.

The new Focus will be common with Europe, South America and Asia Pacific and represent the next generation of today's successful European Focus. Excellent fuel economy will be achieved through new highly efficient direct-injection engine technology and a new advanced six-speed transmission.

The new Focus and Fiesta - as well as other small cars and crossovers from Europe - will be part of an unprecedented period of new Ford product introductions that has only just begun in North America. The new Ford Flex crossover and Lincoln MKS sedan went on sale this month, and the new F-150 goes on sale in late fall. New versions of the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ mid-size cars debut late this year, as do all-new hybrid versions of the Fusion and Milan.

By the end of this year, 70 percent of all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products by volume in North America will be new or significantly upgraded compared with the 2006 models. By the end of 2010, 100 percent of the product lineup will be new, including in 2009 the next-generation Mustang, new fuel-saving EcoBoost engines and new European Transit Connect.

"We remain absolutely committed to accelerating the development of the new products that customers want and value," Mulally said. "We sell some of the best smaller cars and utility vehicles in the world in our profitable European and South American operations, and our plan is to introduce these same vehicles in North America as quickly as possible. This is an integral part of our plan to leverage our global assets and achieve our goal of profitable growth."

[Source: FORD]

Seriously, this is an actual press release out of Dearborn today. Yes, the same day Ford revealed the Ford F-150 lost the crown of America's best-selling vehicle to the Honda Civic as well as a 16% decline in vehicular sales, the company has issued a release claiming boldly "Ford delivers customers trucks they want and need." The customers apparently want and need them so badly that Ford, like a cheater who's been caught and finds themselves desperately bargaining with their jilted spouse to entice them to stay, will begin offering employee pricing on all F-series truck purchases or leases during the month of June. We can already see it now:

Please baby, don't go! I love you — I know you need me! Please! I can change!

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]

...2005-2006 versions of the pick-me-up equipped with the 5.4-liter engine. 600,000 of the trucks are in the United States and around 50,000 are in Canada. The rest? Who knows? Zimbabwe, maybe? Although Ford says there have been 11 minor accidents, no injuries have been tied to the issue. Except maybe Toby Keith's ego. Well, maybe that's more a problem with this post than the actual recall.

Scoop: Ford's 2010.5 F150 Diesel.... Sources at Ford's recent dealer's meeting recently revealed plans for a 4.4-liter V8 diesel, and we caught the first mules earlier today! The dual exhaust off to the side is the number one give-a-way to the true identity of this test mule. Our spies are telling us to expect about 340-horsepower and (and torque at 430 lb-ft.). After the launch of the 4.4-liter in the F150, the powerplant will appear in the Expedition, Navigator, E-Series Vans and Super Duty trucks. Photo Credit: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Company

... in fuel economy, a 9% boost in power and a 15% boost in torque over an F-150 equipped with a 5.4-liter gas engine. That means the HP of this black-smoke engine should be somewhere around 340. Only problem is that owners will need to drop a load of urea into a special tank at each oil change. Mmm, that sweet, sweet smell of urea.

UPDATE: A closer inspection of the placard also indicates 4.4-liter diesel will find a home in the next Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition — of course we're still wondering about those rumors we'd heard about the 5.4-liter Trition V8. [PickupTruck.com]

"[Ford's] going to drive this [and other vehicles shown to Ford dealers] right up Toyota's ass."

The vent gauges require no drilling and don't obstruct a substantial amount of airflow, either. The $30 price tag simply includes a pod that fits in the Mustang or F-150's vent. The pod can then hold a standard 2 1/16-inch gauge of your liking. [Roush]

Mostly, the young ones have their asses handed to them and then, in increasing numbers, sulk off in the general direction of the highway—and, lacking old Cure records or adequate elephant seal pr0n to solace themselves, play sluggish chicken with traffic. One seal has already bought it. Authorities are worried and confused. Badass old seals are kicking back with their "harems" of hard-won lady seals and taking it all in. Motorists are advised to proceed with caution, as elephant seals are a much more formidable obstacle that most of nature's other impediments. (Image: AP)

Elephant seals are California traffic hazard [LAT]

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.

Models with improved reliability

BMW 7 Series

BMW X3

Cadillac STS (V6)

Chrysler 300 (V8)

Dodge Charger

Ford Explorer (V6)

Ford F-150

Ford Mustang

Jaguar S-Type

Jeep Commander

Kia Sportage

Mazda RX-8

Porsche 911

Saab 9-3

VW Jetta (5-cylinder)

Volvo S40 (non-turbo)

Models with declining reliability

BMW 6 Series

Chevrolet Suburban

Chevrolet Tahoe

Chrysler 300 (V6)

Dodge Ram 1500

GMC Yukon

GMC Yukon XL

Hyundai Entourage

Kia Amanti

Kia Sedona

Lexus GS (V6, AWD)

Pontiac G6

Toyota Camry (V6)

Toyota Tundra (V8, 4WD)

VW Passat (V6)

[via Freep]

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.