2009 F-150 Special Features
NEW FORD F-150: MOST ‘SMART’ FEATURES
The new 2009 Ford F-150 builds on its segment-leading
capability, with industry- and class-exclusive “smart” features aimed
at making the pickup an even more useful tool.
Most Capable Pickup Box
The new F-150
features the most capable pickup box in the segment. It starts with
class-leading cargo capacity of 65.5 cu. ft. when properly equipped,
made more flexible and accessible with new box-centered features.
“When we introduced the taller pickup box on the 2004 F-150, we
heard from customers that they loved the extra cargo capacity but they
were having trouble accessing the box from the side,” said Matt
O’Leary, chief engineer of the 2009 Ford F-150. “We watched them try
and jump up on the tire, use the edge of the running board or carry a
milk crate to use as a step. They told us that we should just take the
box height back down – but taking away cargo capacity from customers
seemed counterintuitive, so we went to work on smart solutions that
make the box even more functional.”
Among them:
- Box Side Step, which helps customers gain
access to the front of the pickup box. This industry-first innovation,
available on 6.5-foot and 8-foot Styleside boxes, is mounted firmly to
the frame and tucks neatly beneath the underside of the box when not in
use. The 11-inch wide step extends out from under the box with the push
of a button and is easily stowed by pushing it back in. The system
mounts one step on each side of the box for full access; each step can
support up to 500 pounds. - Tailgate Step,
first introduced on the 2008 F-Series Super Duty. This ingenious
feature is popular with a nearly 50 percent take rate. It is made of
high-strength steel and is fully integrated into the tailgate. To use,
simply lower the tailgate to the down position and slide the step out
and drop it down into the step position. A grab handle folds up and out
of the tailgate to provide extra support when using the Tailgate Step,
supporting up to 300 pounds. - Stowable Bed Extender, which
can extend storage space to the end of the open tailgate or it, can sit
inside the tailgate leaving a small, enclosed section that keeps cargo
from sliding forward near the cab. When not in use, this innovative
extender separates into two pieces that fold and snap securely to the
sides of the box, allowing full space and functionality of the box. - Cargo management system, which is factory–installed
and available on any truck with a 6.5-foot Styleside box. It provides
easy-to-use secure storage of all types of cargo. The basic system
comes with two side rails and a pair of cast aluminum cleats rated for
600 pounds. Available side mounted, blow-molded plastic tool bins can
hold up to 60 pounds and feature double-wall construction, providing a
water-tight, thermal barrier that can even keep beverages cold. The
system has additional load bar and bed divider options, to maximize
cargo storage and flexibility. - Lockable storage. The
innovative Midbox is an enclosed storage system that’s mounted in front
of the standard pickup box and behind the cab. Available on Regular Cab
with 145-inch wheelbase and SuperCab with 163-inch wheelbase, Midbox
provides an additional 26.3 cubic feet of protective, lockable storage
for tools and other valuable equipment without compromising the use of
the full pickup box. Rugged steel construction features double-paneled
doors that are accessible from both sides of the vehicle. The doors
lock and unlock with the same key that operates the driver’s door, and
the dent-resistant exterior door panels are fitted with factory Ford
door handles for an integrated look. Latches feature double-bitted keys
and lock tumblers designed to provide exceptional security. In
addition, commercial grade sealing provides a weather- and
dust-resistant interior compartment.
“Any one of these features might not seem like a big deal, but for
the customer who uses the box of their pickup five, six or seven times
a day, these innovations working together are really meaningful,”
O’Leary said.
That same kind of logic drove the team to include other clever features on the truck, including the EasyFuel™ Capless Fuel-Filler System.
This customer convenience helps to reduce evaporative emissions that
create smog and global warming. When fueling is completed, and the
nozzle is removed, the system automatically seals shut.
This feature is expected to be a hit with customers, which is why
Ford is rolling it out on new vehicles – cars and trucks alike.
The Ultimate Towing Vehicle
The new 2009 F-150 offers the most towing capability in the segment
and features segment-exclusive technologies and features engineered and
built with the tower in mind.
“Towing a trailer or boat can be intimidating, especially for people
who don’t do it often,” said Don Ufford, chief engineer, Ford Truck
Engineering. “Hooking up the trailer can be difficult, and feeling in
control of the load on the road is challenging, too. That’s why we’re
equipping the new F-150 with the same towing features Super Duty
customers have come to love – and adding even more content for F-150
owners.”
They include:
- Advance Trac® with RSC® is standard on all
F-150 models. The system can predict the vehicle’s path using a sensor
to detect and measure oversteer and yaw by monitoring the vehicle’s
speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When the system
senses wheel slip or the loss of traction, it applies braking where
needed to keep the truck tracking safely on its intended path. Unlike
competitors’ systems, this Ford-exclusive system uses a second
gyroscopic roll rate sensor to accurately predict the vehicle’s roll
angle. If a significant roll angle is detected, the system applies
additional countermeasures to enhance vehicle roll resistance. - Trailer sway control
works in conjunction with AdvanceTrac® with RSC® and can determine from
the yaw motion of the truck if the trailer is swaying and take measures
– such as applying precise braking or reduced engine torque – to bring
both vehicle and trailer under control. - Integrated Trailer Brake Controller is
factory-installed and allows direct operation of the trailer’s
electronic brakes by squeezing the control module on the instrument
panel with more confidence than the typical aftermarket system. - Tow Haul Mode changes
shift points under acceleration, keeping the truck at a higher rpm and
further up in the power range. Tow-haul also prevents the transmission
from upshifting when the vehicle crests a hill, and it provides
downhill braking that allows the transmission to downshift, letting
engine-compression braking slow the vehicle and maintain a steady speed. - Reverse Camera System mounts
a small camera below the Ford oval badge in the center of the tailgate
that is activated when the truck is shifted into reverse, giving the
driver a clear view behind the vehicle. The video image is displayed in
the navigation screen on trucks equipped with that option or in the
self-dimming rearview mirror on trucks without the navigation system.
The system provides the visibility needed to back up to a trailer and
precisely line up the hitch. The screen image includes an
industry-first centerline and colored guides giving the driver a better
perspective of the vehicle’s center point and periphery.
“Capability matters to Ford truck customers, but that extends beyond
towing and hauling,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global
Product Development. “Customers tell us how important it is for them to
feel connected on the road, and that’s why we’ve been working so hard
to bring them technologies and features that provides them real-time
access to key information, while minimizing driver distraction.”
Most Connected
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. A host
of new technologies will be available on the new 2009 F-150. Among them:
- Ford SYNC™, a hands-free, voice-activated
hands-free in-car communication and entertainment system developed by
Ford and Microsoft. The system fully integrates most Bluetooth-enabled
mobile phones and digital media players, providing customers hands-free
cell phone and music selection capabilities. SYNC will offer more
functionality for the 2009 model year, with 911 Assist and Vehicle
Health Report provided with no monthly fees.
911 Assist: When a phone is properly paired, turned
on and connected to SYNC, the system will be ready to assist in placing
a call to a local 911 emergency operator in the event of an air
bag-deploying accident. The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed,
as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators. A SYNC-assisted
call should reach 911 operators faster than competitive systems, as
there are no handoffs and no need to speak to a call-center operator.
Vehicle Health Report (VHR):
This feature will allow customers to stay connected to their vehicle’s
condition and maintenance schedule. In creating a vehicle health
report, SYNC will gather relevant information from the major vehicle
control modules and package the diagnostic data into a usable format.
That data packet will then be sent to Ford via an 800-number
automatically dialed using the customer’s paired and operable mobile
phone. The whole process, which in some vehicles will include a routine
check of more than two dozen systems, takes a matter of minutes.
- SIRIUS Travel Link™, an industry-leading
technology that, when combined with the voice-activated navigation
system will provide users with a unique, information-rich in-car
experience. The suite of data services includes real-time traffic data
with accident and incident information, coast-to-coast weather data
including current conditions and five-day forecasts, fuel price
information for over 120,000 gas stations. Travel Link also offers
sports scores and schedules and a listing of over 4,500 movie theaters
with movie times, theater addresses, movie synopses and more. - Voice-Activated Navigation,
which 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.
The navigation system’s text-to-speech function calls out street names
while in route to a destination and reads incoming text messages when
the system is linked to SYNC. The integrated DVD player is capable of
reading CD-Audio, MP3 CDs, DVD, DVD-Audio and DVD-ROM (for digital map
updates). A music jukebox function stores more than 150 hours of music. - Sony Audio System
features 700 watts of power, 5.1 Surround Sound, Sony Matrix Surround
Sound and 10 Sony speakers and amps and is certified by Sony to deliver
a unique, rich listening experience for every Ford or Mercury vehicle.
“Ford has spent years listening to our F-150 customers, and as the
truck leader, we take our responsibility to deliver the right tools for
them very seriously,” said O’Leary. “Before we started working on the
new truck, we continued the conversation with people who use these
trucks every day for work and play. 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.”
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets
across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100
plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands
include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda.
The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit
Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
