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.

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 pounds across all cab configurations and payload of 3,030 pounds.

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: AdvanceTrac® 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.

On sale in October, the new F-150 offers fuel economy that has improved an average of 8 percent across the entire lineup as a result of a wide-range of engineering enhancements.

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 significant miles per gallon improvement across the entire F-150 lineup.

On sale in October, the new F-150 offers fuel economy that has improved an average of 8 percent across the entire lineup as a result of a wide-range of engineering enhancements.  The fuel economy gains reach as high as 12 percent versus the prior model year on F-150 models equipped with the high-volume 3-valve, 5.4-liter V-8 engine.  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

The 8 percent improvement in fuel economy across the entire lineup of V-8 F-150s is the result of using lightweight ultra-high-strength steel to lighten the truck up to 100 pounds versus the current model and aerodynamic refinements.

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 F-150 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.