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F-150 a bit more fuel efficient
The redesigned 2009 Ford F-150 comes to market later this month amid an unprecedented slowdown in the pickup truck market fueled by this year’s higher gasoline prices and the economic crisis that has affected not only the auto industry but just about every other sector of the economy as well.
Despite this year’s decline in pickup sales, the F-150 remains an important part of Ford Motor Co.’s long-term business plan.
But the new truck will need to find its way in a significantly changed market —- one that has lost most of the so-called casual truckers who in the past have bought pickups just because they wanted them, not because they needed them.
The Ford F-150’s success will depend on keeping and expanding its market share among those who use pickups as a way of life —- ranging from ranchers and farmers to construction and oil-field workers.
Fuel economy isn’t as important to these true truckers as it is to those who would use their pickups as an alternative to cars for everyday city commuting and family hauling, but it is a factor nonetheless.
Those who use pickups in their jobs often don’t have other, more fuel-efficient vehicles to drive while away from work, and to them, fuel economy is a real issue.
So while the new Ford F-150, for now, comes only with V-8 power, Ford has boosted fuel economy by about 8 percent across the entire line and has added special SFE models —- that stands for “superior fuel economy” —- that have EPA ratings of 21 miles per gallon on the highway.
Coming later —- but probably still a year or more away —- is Ford’s new EcoBoost line of turbocharged V-6 engines designed to offer V-8 power with the fuel economy of a six-cylinder. No mileage ratings have been announced yet for these engines.
The first, a 3.5-liter with 340 horsepower and 340 foot-pounds of torque, is expected to be introduced next year on the new Lincoln MKS sedan. No timetable has been given for adding the EcoBoost to other Ford and Lincoln models, but the automaker says this engine eventually will replace most of the V-8s in its current models.
But the redesigned F-150 benefits from improvements to its V-8 engines, including a 2 mpg increase in highway fuel economy on the SFE models. They will be equipped with a revised 4.6-liter V-8 that Ford promises will have “unsurpassed” fuel economy of 15 mpg city/21 highway —- while still providing up to 7,500 pounds of towing capacity.
Other F-150 models will be able to tow up to 11,300 pounds and will have hauling capacity of 3,030 pounds, Ford said. They will come with a 5.4-liter V-8.
“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,” Matt O’Leary, chief engineer for the F-150, said in an announcement about the SFE models.
“Fuel economy has moved from 10th to third place among pickup buyers’ top purchase considerations —- right behind durability and value,” he said. “The new F-150 delivers on all three as the industry leader.”
Despite this year’s decline in pickup sales, the F-150 remains an important part of Ford Motor Co.’s long-term business plan.
But the new truck will need to find its way in a significantly changed market —- one that has lost most of the so-called casual truckers who in the past have bought pickups just because they wanted them, not because they needed them.
The Ford F-150’s success will depend on keeping and expanding its market share among those who use pickups as a way of life —- ranging from ranchers and farmers to construction and oil-field workers.
Fuel economy isn’t as important to these true truckers as it is to those who would use their pickups as an alternative to cars for everyday city commuting and family hauling, but it is a factor nonetheless.
Those who use pickups in their jobs often don’t have other, more fuel-efficient vehicles to drive while away from work, and to them, fuel economy is a real issue.
So while the new Ford F-150, for now, comes only with V-8 power, Ford has boosted fuel economy by about 8 percent across the entire line and has added special SFE models —- that stands for “superior fuel economy” —- that have EPA ratings of 21 miles per gallon on the highway.
Coming later —- but probably still a year or more away —- is Ford’s new EcoBoost line of turbocharged V-6 engines designed to offer V-8 power with the fuel economy of a six-cylinder. No mileage ratings have been announced yet for these engines.
The first, a 3.5-liter with 340 horsepower and 340 foot-pounds of torque, is expected to be introduced next year on the new Lincoln MKS sedan. No timetable has been given for adding the EcoBoost to other Ford and Lincoln models, but the automaker says this engine eventually will replace most of the V-8s in its current models.
But the redesigned F-150 benefits from improvements to its V-8 engines, including a 2 mpg increase in highway fuel economy on the SFE models. They will be equipped with a revised 4.6-liter V-8 that Ford promises will have “unsurpassed” fuel economy of 15 mpg city/21 highway —- while still providing up to 7,500 pounds of towing capacity.
Other F-150 models will be able to tow up to 11,300 pounds and will have hauling capacity of 3,030 pounds, Ford said. They will come with a 5.4-liter V-8.
“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,” Matt O’Leary, chief engineer for the F-150, said in an announcement about the SFE models.
“Fuel economy has moved from 10th to third place among pickup buyers’ top purchase considerations —- right behind durability and value,” he said. “The new F-150 delivers on all three as the industry leader.”
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