FORT WORTH, Sept. 27, 2010 – Ford allowed release of driving impressions today for the 2011 F-150 pickup trucks. It followed a week of media presentations at the Texas Motor Speedway. The lineup for the Ford F-series trucks features the most extensive powertrain overhaul in the F-series history. There are four new truck engines: a 3.7-liter V6, 5.0-liter and 6.2-liter V8s and a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ and they are really good. Driving is a breeze, at least most of the time. Nothing is perfect.
Ford’s F-series has had a 33-year run as the best-selling truck in America. The media event was called a “launch” so automotive journalists could experience first-hand the ability of these new engines. Attendees were from all over the United States and many from Canada. It is anticipated that the new F-150 will have 20% better fuel economy than last year’s model, although the EPA ratings are not yet complete.
The journalists at the launch also experienced the EPAS, electric power-assisted steering, which is also supposed to help in fuel economy. Although the EPAS is supposed to give a better driving “feel”, most of the drivers did not notice any difference from what they had anticipated. Americans like their power steering and the EPAS simply does its job and does it well.
The media event allowed each of the journalists to drive different configurations of the F-150, as well as powered by each of the new engines. Driving routes included the area around Texas Motor Speedway, but also out to Decatur, Ranger, Mineral Wells, Gladewater, Grafford, and other rural areas around Fort Worth. A large portion of the time was spent towing a very large trailer weighted down with a heavy-duty load. For those of us who were quite accustomed to towing large trailers, such as my horse trailer, stock trailer, and hay trailer, this was no big deal. But for many of the media personnel, it was a challenge. The towing was easy and the new F-series engines pulled effortlessly. In fact, along one stretch of highway, I absent-mindedly forgot there was a trailer attached due to the ease of driving. The tow-haul mode really works well and provides better control, especially when going down a steeper grade.
Driving the 2011 F-series pickups with the new engines was a breeze. It was smooth and easy. To top all that off, fuel economy is better. Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas, commented, “…for 2011, that class-leading towing and payload capability is enhanced even further with engines that deliver projected class-leading fuel economy.”
Six speed automatic transmissions are mated to all four of these new engines. SelectShift is available also, that allows the driver to select the desired gear, feature a progressive range. Braking is also enhanced with the tow/haul switch engaged.
The new F-150’s offer a wide range of options as well as this wide range of new engines. The LCD message center has been increased in size and is now 4.2 inches. The in-mirror rearview camera is also larger and drivers can zoom in and out for such jobs as hooking up a trailer. I really like rearview cameras and think they should be standard in all vehicles. This becomes more important to you as you get slightly older and have more grandchildren running around. New clusters of information are available as menu options on the display including fuel economy, towing performance, and even off-roading. Of course, the Ford SYNC and Ford Work Solutions are also available.
Not everything is always 100% rosy. There are a few changes that are annoying and some minor things I did not like. For example, I tow some small utility trailers quite often, such as carrying a riding lawn mower. The towing hitch on the 2011 F-150 has been redesigned and the chain hookups have been set vertically and moved back. It is almost necessary to lie down on the ground simply to hook up a small trailer for short hauls. Not all trailers towed behind a full-size pickup are huge and heavy.
The basic trim levels are offered as in previous years – XL, XLT, FX2, FX4, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, Raptor, and Harley Davidson. A new optional trim is the XLT Custom exterior that features 18 inch wheels, body-color four-inch running boards, body-color front and rear bumper fascias, and a unique grille. Another upgrade option is a new Lariat Limited.
Bottom line – the new 2011 Ford F-150 is terrific. The new powertrains are outstanding. The driving is marvelous. There is not a whole lot of other ways to describe the experience at the “launch” of this new lineup.
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