2009 FORD F-150
New for the 2009 F-150 is the Platinum series, the most luxurious
F-150 ever and the answer to a perennial question: Just how high-end do
truck customers want to go?
NEW 2009 FORD F-150: MORE CAPABILITY, MORE CHOICE, MORE ‘SMART’ FEATURES FOR AMERICA’S TRUCK
The vision for Ford’s truck team was clear: Redesign America’s
favorite truck inside and out to give customers unrivaled capability,
unprecedented choice and a host of smart, game-changing features.
The result is the new 2009 Ford F-150, the new benchmark in the
full-size pickup segment from the industry’s truck leader – which has
built more than 33 million F-Series pickups since 1948.
The Ford truck team adopted a holistic, 360-degree approach to
revamping the new 2009 F-150 – from its segment-first features to the
tough new exterior highlighted by a dramatic three-bar grille and more
spacious, flexible and refined interior, to the unparalleled choice of
cab styles and trim levels – including a new Platinum series that
redefines truck luxury.
The improvements are just as dramatic beneath the sheet metal. A new
high-strength, lighter-weight chassis is the backbone that allows this
tough truck to deliver more horsepower, better fuel economy and safety,
and additional towing and payload capacity.
“The Ford F-150 is an American icon,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s
president of The Americas. “Ford is the truck leader, and F-150
customers expect and demand the best truck on the market.
“Our team not only met those expectations, they exceeded them with
the new 2009 F-150,” Fields added. “With Ford’s product-led
transformation in full swing, the new F-150 could not have come at a
better time – for Ford and for our customers.”
In all, more than 1,000 Ford engineers, designers, researchers and
others worked together to develop the new 2009 F-150. The team drew
inspiration by listening to Ford’s large customer base.
“Before we started working on the new truck, we continued the
conversation with people who use these trucks every day for work and
play,” said Matt O’Leary, chief engineer of the 2009 F-150. “We went to
their ranches, their job sites and their homes, making sure we crafted
features that would improve their ownership experiences and, really,
their lives.”
The results will be clear to customers when the new 2009 F-150 rolls
off assembly lines at Ford’s Dearborn (Mich.) Truck Plant and Kansas
City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo. – and as the new F-150 goes on
sale in dealer showrooms this fall.
Most Capable
Ford F-150 customers
tackle tough jobs when they work and play, and they need a full-size
truck that rises to the challenge. The current F-150 is already the
most capable truck on the market, but Ford’s truck team drove
capability to new levels with the 2009 model.
The improvement starts with the 2009 F-150’s fully boxed frame
constructed with hydro-formed and high strength steel side rails. The
lightweight frame delivers 10 percent more torsional rigidity, which
delivers increased durability and safety. The sturdy chassis also paved
the way for the new 2009 F-150 to improve upon the current model’s
class-leading towing and hauling capability across all cab
configurations.
“The new, improved chassis helps deliver additional payload and
towing capacity as well as improved fuel economy, which we know is top
of mind for customers,” O’Leary said.
Thanks to the strength of the frame and comprehensive package of
standard safety equipment, including side-curtain air bags, the new
F-150 is engineered to earn top safety ratings from the National
Highway Transportation Safety Administration and the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety.
Complementing the modern frame
is a high-tech suite of features that ensures the F-150 is sure-footed
and safe in all driving and load conditions. The new F-150 offers
segment-first standard AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control)
and Trailer Sway Control plus available Rearview Camera Assist as well
as Integrated Trailer Brake Controller a segment-first on light-duty
pickups.
The interior of the new 2009 F-150 SuperCrew offers more usable
space for moving more 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 out of the way. Combined with
a truly flat load floor, the feature gives the new SuperCrew class
leading 57.6 cubic feet of space behind the front seats and can
accommodate items up to 47.9 inches tall, such as flat-screen TV that
needs to be hauled from the electronics store to home.
Most Choice
Ford’s F-Series may be America’s best-selling vehicle, but
one-size-fits-all does not apply to today’s truck buyer. From the Texas
rancher to the general contractor in Florida, F-150 customers have
different needs and tastes.
In response, Ford’s truck team designed a truck that offers more
choice than any full-size truck on the market. With three cab styles,
four box options and seven unique trim levels, the F-150 comes in 35
different configurations to meet the widest range of customer needs and
wants – all delivered with quality.
Customers can choose from the no-fuss XL workhorse, to the sporty
STX and off-road capable FX4, to the mid-range XLT. For those looking
for tough luxury, Ford offers the high-end Lariat and King Ranch F-150
models.
The striking F-150 Platinum features a satin chrome grille with fine
mesh inserts, 10-way captain’s chairs upholstered with top-quality
leather, tuxedo stitching and embroidered logos on the seatbacks. Satin
gloss Lacrosse Ash wood grain accents and real brushed aluminum panels
give the dash, center console and doors an upscale look and feel.
Standard 20-inch, 16-spoke polished aluminum wheels give the truck a
commanding presence on the road.
With more customers interested in personalizing their trucks, Ford
is offering the largest selection of wheels in the segment with 13
offerings across the F-150 lineup.
Under the hood, the new F-150 will be powered by three modern V-8
engines, mated to either a 4-speed or a new fuel-efficient 6-speed
automatic transmission. The engines include:
- 5.4-liter, 3-valve Triton V-8, which has
been optimized for better performance with improved horsepower and
torque, and is capable of running on E85 (85 percent ethanol and 15
percent gasoline), regular unleaded gasoline or any blend in between. - 4.6-liter, 3-valve V-8, which
is new for F-150. Both the 5.4-liter and 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8’s
utilize open valve injection. This unique feature improves the flow of
fuel into the combustion chamber, which results in an increase in
horsepower during towing and reduced emissions. - 4.6-liter, 2-valve V-8,
a third V-8 choice in the line-up that delivers more horsepower with
the same fuel economy performance as the outgoing truck’s V-6.
This all-V-8 engine lineup delivers a fleet-average 1 mpg improvement in fuel economy versus the outgoing F-150.
Diesel and EcoBoost gas turbo direct injection engines are planned for F-150 in 2010 as well.
Most ‘Smart’ Features
Ford’s researchers spent thousands of hours listening to truck buyers
to gain inspiration for a host of smart new features for the new 2009
Ford F-150.
It starts with the clever interior, which features a flow-through
console that has been lengthened by approximately 2 inches and is large
enough to stow two or more laptop computers. Special ridges are molded
into the edges of the bin to accommodate file folders. The console also
has a multi-tiered, removable tray and locks to protect valuables.
More than 30 storage areas are built into the interior, ranging from
a bin on the top of the instrument panel to a number of small spaces
designed to accommodate tools like cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs and
gate access cards.
A redesigned, more ergonomic shifter remains on the console. New,
larger buttons and switches are ergonomically designed and within easy
reach and view of the driver. A USB port and auxiliary MP3 player input
are conveniently mounted on the dash. Two 12-volt outlets are located
on the dash and center console.
Even the pickup box on the new F-150 breaks the mold with clever and
capable features the competition cannot match. The class-leading cargo
capacity of 65.5 cubic feet is only the beginning of the story.
The F-150’s pickup box is made easier to use, more
flexible and accessible with such new features as Ford’s
industry-exclusive Tailgate and Box Side Steps, Stowable Bed Extender
and Cargo Management System.
“These features are impressive on their own. For the customer who
uses their pickup box five, six or seven times a day, these innovations
together make a huge difference,” O’Leary said.
That same kind of logic drove the team to include other clever
features on the truck, including Ford’s Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel-Filler
System. When fueling is completed and the nozzle is removed, the system
automatically seals shut, reducing emissions.
The new 2009 Ford-150 also will allow truck customers to be
connected to the world like never before. Ford has been working with
Microsoft, Sony and SIRIUS to offer customers leading technologies to
help them stay connected with their lives while on the road including:
- Industry-exclusive Ford SYNC™, a
voice-activated, hands-free, in-vehicle communications and
entertainment system offers even more functionality for the 2009 model
year, with 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report. - SIRIUS Travel Link™
that when combined with voice activated navigation will provide users
with a suite of data services including real-time traffic,
coast-to-coast weather conditions and fuel price information for over
120,000 gas stations. - Voice-activated navigation
that integrates several functions, including voice recognition
destination entry, climate control and SIRIUS satellite radio into one
easy-to-use system, displaying them on an 8-inch touch screen display. - Sony audio system
that features 700 watts of power, 5.1 surround sound and 10 Sony
speakers and amps and is certified by Sony to deliver a unique, rich
listening experience.
“We know how important the F-150 is to our customers,” said O’Leary.
“With the new 2009 F-150, we are delivering a top-quality truck lineup
that is second-to-none in capability, features and a range of choices
that will continue to make Ford America’s favorite truck.”
