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Ford F-150 trucks show tough new styling and more power too
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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BANDERA, Tex. -- On the limestone bed of a creek cut through Texas Hill Country, a new rendition of Ford's F-150 pickup applies the power of a hunker V8 to all four wheels so tire treads splash through the wet stuff but still keep a keen grip on all that slick stone.
The truck doesn't slip or slide, although creek water laps at the hubs and the wheels, floated independently up front in a double wishbone design, dance over the rocky steps and craters.
A new chassis design, with super-strength boxed rails and hydroformed front sections to support weight of the front suspension, remains rigid despite these tire contortions, while in the truck's enlarged cab with leather-clad front buckets and a bench in back the ride quality feels surprisingly smooth and stable.
Now hook a left before the deepest pool and let that eight-pack powertrain with sophisticated variable cam timing show its strength as we scamper up a steep embankment, treads front and rear spewing loose stones backward into the creek.
In a level glade that follows, we park and climb out to check our gear lashed down tightly in the cargo box, but also, with the warm afternoon sun highlighting shapely sheetmetal, shoot a few digital images of the truck's new package styling.
It looks strong and muscular posed in tall stance with a bold face, curvy bulges on the sides around wheelwells and large squarish headlamp clusters on front corners flanking a big grille in the shape of an inverted trapezoid.
A few styling cues lifted from Ford's larger F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks are evident, such as along the top of side doors where forward sections swoop low so the driver can get a better view of the oversized rearview mirrors.
Overall, it's an eye-catching design of crisp angles and complex curves blending together to forge a unique statement for one powerful pickup.
Clearly, Ford has reinvented its mainstay model.
For the past 21 consecutive years, the F-150 has led all other nameplates -- car and truck -- to rank as the best-selling vehicle in America, and for 26 years it has scored the best-selling truck title.
With more and more consumers selecting a pickup truck rather than a conventional car for primary transportation, Ford's designers had to get this one right: Bring innovation and new features for performance, pack aboard the comforts and conveniences of a car to make F-150 more friendly to passengers, yet also carry forward truck-tough traits of the previous version to keep from alienating F-150's core market who use a truck as a workhorse.
The new designs for F-150 trucks -- coming to market as 2004 models with two V8 engine options, plus three cab styles and several lengths for the box in back -- measure nine times stiffer for chassis rigidity and feel far more agile when steered around a curlicue circuit.
Ford's concept for a pickup also provides more powerful engines with class-topping towing ability, and there are larger passenger compartments dressed with five different designations of trim.
Actually, there are so many different configurations for cab and box lengths, powertrain and trim, that you need a chart to sort it out.
Cab designs consist of a Regular Cab, SuperCab and the SuperCrew.
Two-door Regular Cab is a conventional scheme offered with bench or bucket seats and a cargo box extending in length for 78.8 or 97.5 inches.
The SuperCab gets two front-hinged doors trailed by two narrow ones with rear hinges. There's a front seat with the buckets or bench and a small rear bench with flip-up seat design and a canted seatback for added comfort.
Cargo boxes for SuperCab include the two lengths listed for Regular Cab plus an abbreviated box of 67 inches.
Spacious SuperCrew comes with four front-hinged doors and two rows of seats for a capacity of five or six. Only cargo box here is the brief one at 67 inches.
Two-wheel-drive (2WD) orientation with a front-mounted engine sending torque to the rear wheels is standard but four-wheel-drive (4WD) traction is available across the board with manual or electronic switching.
The steering mechanism changes to a responsive rack and pinion system and brakes for all versions put a disc on every wheel plus anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brake force distribution (EBD).
For passive safety, the trucks stock dual stage frontal air bags and side-impact air bags tied to computer-controlled equipment minding the tension of seatbelts and deployment of the air bags.
The computer, monitoring on-board sensors and gathering data timed in milliseconds regarding type and intensity of a crash, can analyze a particular disruptive incident at the onset and react to it by deploying different safety devices in a manner appropriate for circumstances of the collision in order to maximize protection of the human cargo.
Two different Triton V8 engines link to a four-speed electronic automatic transmission.
Standard is a reworked version of Ford's overhead-cam 4.6-liter V8, which achieves 231 hp at 4750 rpm and as much torque as 293 lb-ft at 3500 rpm.
It delivers a definite kick in the 2WD version for off-the-line action while still mustering fuel economy numbers as high as 19 miles per gallon on the road.
Optional is the new 5.4-liter Triton V8 outfitted with two intake valves and one exhaust valve per cylinder, plus variable cam timing, which optimizes intake and exhaust valve actuation over the engine's entire speed range.
This plant runs up to 300 hp at 5000 rpm, with torque extending to 365 lb-ft at 3750 rpm.
High power and torque ratings for the larger engine make this one the best choice for towing a trailer. Maximum towing capacity rises as high as 8900 pounds with an optional payload towing package.
Trim tiers rise from the base XL and STX to a well-equipped XLT, the off-road FX4 and deluxe Lariat.
All have interiors that look more like a comfortable car than a working-class truck. Most use cloth fabric upholstery for seats, although leather comes with Lariat, and variations include satin-metal finish or bright chrome for vent rings, door handles and optional consoles.
Top-of-the-line Lariat with the leather buckets shows a floor-mounted shifter stick projecting from the console just like a sporty car.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2004 FORD F150 Specs |
| Description: |
Full-size pickup truck |
| Model Options: |
Full-size pickup truck |
| Wheelbase: |
Regular Cab: 125.8 inches
144.5 inches
SuperCab: 132.5 inches
144.4 inches
163.0 inches
SuperCrew: 138.5 inches
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| Overall Length: |
Regular Cab: 211.5 inches
230.1 inches
SuperCab: 218.0 inches
229.8 inches
248.5 inches
SuperCrew: 224.0 inches
Box length Regular Cab: 78.8 inches
97.5 inches
SuperCab: 67.0 inches
78.8 inches
97.5 inches
SuperCrew: 67.0 inches
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| Engine Size: |
SOHC 4.6-L V8 Triton
SOHC 5.4-L V8 Triton VCT
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| Transmission: |
4.6-L: Auto/4 4R70E
5.4-L: Auto/4 4R75E
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| Drive: |
2WD Rear
4WD
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc
ABS/EBD
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
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| Gross Weight: |
4.6-L 2WD: 6650 to 6800 pounds
4.6-L 4WD: 6800 to 6900 pounds
5.4-L 2WD: 6650 to 7050 pounds
5.4-L 4WD: 6850 to 8200 pounds |
| Towing Capacity: |
4.6-L: 7000 pounds, 5.4-L: 9500 pounds |
| Gas Mileage: |
4.6-L 2WD: 15/19 mpg
4.6-L 4WD: 14/18 mpg
5.4-L 2WD: 15/19 mpg
5.4-L 4WD: 14/18 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 20,000 to $ 36,000 |
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