Videos: Ford launches new TV spots to promote 2011 F-150 powertrains
Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford
TV spot for the 2011 Ford F-150 - Click above to watch the video after the jump
The Ford F-150 is an outrageously important vehicle here in America. Not only has it been the best-selling pickup truck for the past 33 years, it has out-sold every single vehicle in the country for 28 of those years. So when it comes time to update the bread-and-butter pickup, Ford has to make sure it is still poised to be a high-volume seller.
For 2011, Ford hit a bullseye by adding four new powertrains to the F-150 lineup - a 3.7-liter V6, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, and two V8 engines measuring 5.0 and 6.2 liters. By doing this, Ford says that there's no need to compromise when shopping the F-150 because its range of powertrains provide the most power, best towing capacity and best fuel economy in the class. Checkmate.
To promote this, Ford has just launched its latest series of television ads that showcase the "no compromise" theme. The automaker has signed comedian Dennis Leary to provide the voiceover, and you can check out both of the new ads, as well as Ford's press release, after the jump.
Question: How do Ford's new advertisements compare with these latest examples from Chevrolet?
Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Videos: Ford launches new TV spots to promote 2011 F-150 powertrains
Videos: Ford launches new TV spots to promote 2011 F-150 powertrains originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsVideo: Drag racing Ford’s V6-powered F-150s
Filed under: Truck, Videos, Ford
PickupTrucks.com drag races Ford's newest V6 F-150s - Click above to watch video after the jump
Ford has created an exciting lineup of engines for the 2011 F-150. From the 6.2-liter V8 and Coyote 5.0 down to the 3.7-liter V6 and turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost, it's pretty much impossible to make a bad choice. Our friends at PickupTrucks.com currently have the keys to both of the V6 models, and they are putting them through the paces for their Work Truck Shootout. That story isn't quite ready yet, but in the meantime, Editor Mike Levine decided to run them down the strip at Michigan's Milan Dragway.
The resulting times are very interesting. The naturally-aspirated 3.7, which produces 302 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, made the quarter-mile trip in 15.87 seconds with a trap speed of 87.69 miles per hour. The more powerful EcoBoost, which boasts 365 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, needed just 14.67 seconds to cover the quarter-mile, crossing the lights at 94.6 mph. Interestingly, both of the times for the V6 engines were quicker than all of the figures for half-ton V8 trucks tested during the site's 2008 Light-Duty Shootout.
You've just read about them, so why don't you hop over the jump and watch them run down the strip.
Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL and Ford Motor Company
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
Continue reading Video: Drag racing Ford's V6-powered F-150s
Video: Drag racing Ford's V6-powered F-150s originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Ford F-150 to achieve up to 23 MPG
2011 Ford F-150 - Click above for high-res image gallery
As we said shortly after driving Ford's latest F-150 pickup trucks, we think the Dearborn automaker has the very best range of powertrain options in the segment for 2011. One of the engines we are most impressed with is the 3.7-liter V6 that now serves as the base powerplant in the F-150, but until now, we didn't have final EPA fuel economy figures.
Well, that's been rectified, as Ford has announced that the 302-horsepower 3.7 will serve up 16 miles per gallon in the city and 23 on the highway in rear-wheel drive models, the latter figure making it the most fuel-efficient full-size pickup on the market. Stepping up the next rung to the 5.0-liter V8 will get you 360 horses and a fine 15 city, 21 highway EPA fuel economy rating, another best-in-class figure.
There are two more optional engines in the 2011 F-150. The top rung, 411-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 will deliver 12 mpg in the city and 17 on the highway. That's not exactly stellar mileage, and it's actually one mpg lower in both categories compared to General Motors' 6.2-liter V8, but we're expecting much better figures from the 3.5-liter EcoBoost, which matches the 6.2's 11,300-pound tow rating and 3,060-pound payload.
Sadly, we still have to wait for final EPA mileage certification on the twin-turbo V6 mill. In the meantime, feel free to hit the break to read Ford's latest press release touting its F-150 fuel economy figures.
Live photos copyright (C)2010 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL and Ford Motor Company
[Source: Ford]
2011 Ford F-150 to achieve up to 23 MPG originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFirst Drive: 2011 Ford F-150 and its four new engines
Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, First Drive, Off-Road
Will Pickup Buyers Embrace A Turbocharged V6? They Should, And Fast.
2011 Ford F-150 - Click above for high-res image gallery
The year is 1977. Jimmy Carter replaces Gerald Ford to become the 39th President of the United States and creates the United States Department of Energy. Apple Computer is incorporated, and the Commodore PET, the world's first personal computer, is sold. NASA's first space shuttle is christened Enterprise and performs its initial test flight.
Music lovers welcome Fleetwood Mac's latest release, the Grammy-winning album Rumours. The Supremes, Elvis Presley and Led Zeppelin play their final concerts, and, later in the year, Elvis leaves the building for good. The top grossing movie? Star Wars. On television, Fonzie rather famously jumps the shark.
In the world of automobiles, Porsche introduces the front-engine 928 and Burt Reynolds turns the black and gold Pontiac Trans-Am into an object of desire. And, finally, the Ford F-Series earns its status as the best-selling vehicle line in America. Clearly, a lot has changed since 1977... except, of course, for the Blue Oval, which can still boast that its full-size pickup truck is the number one nameplate in the United States.
Ford has no intention of passing that particular baton to anyone else, and in order to maintain this impressive bit of marketing gold for a 34th straight year, the Dearborn-based automaker is putting four brand-new engines, including a 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6, in the engine bay of its F-150. The automaker says 2011 marks "the most significant powertrain upgrade in 62 years of the F-Series." We, of course, had to verify that claim for ourselves.
Continue reading...
Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL and Ford Motor Company
Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Ford F-150 and its four new engines
First Drive: 2011 Ford F-150 and its four new engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord to campaign F-150 EcoBoost in Baja 1000
Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Truck, Work, Ford, Specialty, Off-Road, Racing
2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost Desert Racer - Click above for high-res image gallery
Convincing pickup truck buyers they don't actually need a big 'ol honkin' V8 engine is going to be tough, regardless of how good the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 in the 2011 Ford F-150 may be. We already know that the mill puts out enough power to get just about anything done, but what about its durability? After all, the old-school V8 (never mind that modern Ford overhead cam V8s share almost nothing in common with their OHV predecessors) has been in use since, oh, just about the dawn of the American automobile industry.
With that in mind, Ford is eager to convince potential buyers that its twin-turbo V6 powerplant is fully capable of surviving the rigors of pickup duty. And to prove it, The Blue Oval has some pretty harsh plans for its latest EcoBoost engine, culminating with an entry into the famed Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race.
But before that final torture test, that same 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine will be used by a lumber company in Oregon to haul logs weighing thousands of pounds up steep hills. Then, that same engine will tow a pair of Sprint Cup Ford Fusions at full throttle for 24 hours around the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway oval track in Florida. Then it's on to Baja, after which it will be torn down and shown off to the public.
Clearly, Ford believes in the durability of its EcoBoost engine, which has already gone through 1.6 million miles (both real over-the-road and simulated miles) of abusive testing. We look forward to seeing how this one particular randomly selected engine performs throughout its upcoming torture testing. Hit the jump for all the details.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Ford to campaign F-150 EcoBoost in Baja 1000
Ford to campaign F-150 EcoBoost in Baja 1000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Ford F-150 with EcoBoost puts down the power
Filed under: Performance, Truck, Work, Ford
2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost smokes its tires - Click above for high-res image gallery
We're still a few days away from being able to share driving impressions of the 2011 Ford F-150 pickup and, more specifically, the Blue Oval's four new heavy-hauling powerplants for the '11 season. What we can share, however, are some pictures we snapped while Ford showed off what its truck was capable of.
We're especially impressed with the latest application of Ford's EcoBoost technology. As you're already aware, the 3.5-liter twin-turbo powerplant puts down 365 horsepower and a more-than-ample 420 pound-feet of torque. What those black-and-white figures don't tell you, though, is how smartly the EcoBoost engine moves the full-size F-150 down the road, even when hooked up to a suitably large trailer.
While we'll stop short of calling the EcoBoost-powered F-Series a muscle truck, but here's some pictorial evidence that it's more than capable of frying the tires off its aluminum wheels. And we're not just talking about gratuitous burnout photos either. Check the chart.
So... if that's the Boost part of the package, what about the Eco? Well, we're going to have to wait for Ford and the EPA to get an official rating published, but Ford fully expects the turbo mill to post class-leading fuel efficiency figures. Speaking of which, Ford let slip a projection indicating that its base 3.7-liter V6 engine will manage 23 miles per gallon on the highway - matching the figure of General Motors' hybrid pickup twins.The number crunchers amongst you will find plenty of interesting (and impressive) little tidbits perusing our high-res image gallery below. Here's a hint: Click on the image to the right and pay special attention to the relative figures posted by both Ford's base 3.7-liter V6 and 3.5-liter EcoBoost as compared to their competitors. What are you waiting for?
2011 Ford F-150 with EcoBoost puts down the power originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Ford EcoBoost F-150 puts out 365 horsepower, 420 lb-ft of torque
Filed under: Truck, Technology, Ford
2011 Ford F-150 engine options - Click above for high-res image gallery
The 2011 Ford F-150 now has more exciting engine choices than at any other time in the storied truck's history. But as much as we're looking forward to rocking the new 411-horsepower 6.2-liter V8, the 360-hp 5.0-liter V8 or the 300-hp 3.7-liter V6, the top of-the-line EcoBoost V6 has us the most excited. The reason? Ford keeps taunting us with tales of terrific torque curves and class-leading fuel economy.
While The Blue Oval is still playing coy on fuel economy, we've finally got official word on the power tip. The twin-turbo 3.5-liter will churn out 365 ponies, a figure that's great, but not terribly unexpected in a full-size pickup. The bigger story is the mill's promised 420 pound-feet of torque at 2,500 rpm. That lofty figure is more than General Motors or Chrysler can deliver with their light duty pickups, but not quite enough to out-twist the 434 lb-ft. from Ford's new 6.2-liter V8. But while the 6.2 has stronger numbers all around, the EcoBoost 3.5 can hold its twist longer, with 90 percent of peak power is available from 1,700 rpm all the way to 5,000 rpm.
The EcoBoost 3.5's power figures translate into the ability to tow a best-in-class 11,300 pounds or haul a payload of 3,060 pounds. Impressive stuff, indeed, but we'll only be blown away if the twin-turbo mill can also manage best in-class fuel economy. After all, EcoBoost variants will likely command a significant price increase over what appears to be a very capable new 5.0-liter V8. The EcoBoost 3.5 will become available early in 2011. Hit the jump to check out the official Ford press release.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading 2011 Ford EcoBoost F-150 puts out 365 horsepower, 420 lb-ft of torque
2011 Ford EcoBoost F-150 puts out 365 horsepower, 420 lb-ft of torque originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord letting 20,000 people drive EcoBoost F-150 before truck lands in showrooms
Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Ford
Test drive the 2011 Ford F-150 - Click above to enlarge
Ford is ready to show off the 2011 F-150... in fact it's so excited about it that it wants you to drive one (or four) before the truck arrives in dealer showrooms. The F-150 is receiving a slew of new powertrain options, including the all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost unit. The twin-turbocharged. direct-injection V6 mill is capable of great power numbers and is rumored to come in around the 400 mark for both horsepower and torque. Also making their debut in the 2011 F-150 are the 3.7-liter V6 base engine, the 5.0-liter V8 and the top-of-the-line 6.2-liter V8 for the Platinum edition truck.
Ford is taking a fleet of trucks on a whirlwind tour around the country and expects to put 20,000 butts in the driver's seats. The Built Ford Tough Roundup is going to kick off in Texas on Saturday, September 25th, 2010. It will then make a great big convoy across the USA as Texas gives way to Maryland, Georgia, Florida and finally California. All those stops will be hit before the 2011 Ford F-150 checks its on-sale date off the calendar.
If you are interested in checking out these updated trucks for yourself, you can register online at DriveF150.com. If you are on Facebook (at this point, who isn't on Facebook?), you can sign up by going to Facebook.com/FordTrucks.
This is a great way to give consumers a sneak peak at a new product before it's for sale. If you plan on going, make sure you get in line early for the EcoBoost, 5-point-0 and the big 'ol 6.2 because those waits are bound to be just a bit longer than the those for the 3.7-liter.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Ford letting 20,000 people drive EcoBoost F-150 before truck lands in showrooms
Ford letting 20,000 people drive EcoBoost F-150 before truck lands in showrooms originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsOfficially Official: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor gains SuperCrew, loses 5.4L V8 for 2011
Filed under: Truck, Ford, Off-Road
2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew - Click above for high-res image gallery
Ford's off-road beast, the F-150 SVT Raptor, has only been on sale for a year, but it's already getting a few upgrades for the 2011 model year.
Many reports and a few spy shots indicated that Ford had been prepping a four-door SuperCrew version of the Raptor (you know, for when the family wants to do the Baja run with you), and the automaker has officially confirmed the details (again). The SuperCrew's wheelbase is a full 12 inches longer than the standard Raptor, meaning it should provide a more comfortable ride along the way, and the 5.5-foot box can still haul everything you need when you get there.
Speaking of capability, all Raptors now come standard with more power on tap - the 6.2-liter V8 will be the only available powertrain for 2011 (sad trombone for the people who rushed out to get the 5.4). As we reported earlier, it stands to reason that the 2011 Raptor will get a price increase to account for the larger mill, but it's a small price to pay for an extra 101 horsepower and 69 pound-feet of torque over the 5.4-liter V8.
From there, the other enhancements for 2011 are purely cosmetic. Raptors can now be had in a new color - Ingot Silver Metallic (pictured) - and matte black accent graphics are available on the hood. These new graphics can be ordered separately from the box side decals, too. Inside the cabin, Ford now offers a standard 4.2-inch LCD display (called the "productivity screen") in the center of the revised instrument gauges, similar to what was introduced on the 2011 Super Duty.
Dealers will start taking orders for 2011 Raptors as you read this with the first examples hitting dealerships later this year. Ford's detailed press release is available after the jump.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Officially Official: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor gains SuperCrew, loses 5.4L V8 for 2011
Officially Official: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor gains SuperCrew, loses 5.4L V8 for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord F-150 engines for 2011 announced, includes EcoBoost V6
Filed under: Truck, Technology, Ford
The Ford F-150 is getting a lineup of four all-new engines for the 2011 model year that includes two V6s and two V8s. According to Ford, the entire new engine family will be more fuel efficient than the outgoing 4.6-liter and 5.4-liter V8 by at least 20 percent.
The same 3.7-liter V6 and 5.0-liter V8 found in the 2011 Mustang will be available at launch this fall in the F-150, as will the 6.2-liter V8 from the 2011 Super Duty truck. Then, early in 2011, the F-150 will be the first rear-wheel-drive application of the much praised 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6.
The base 3.7-liter V6 will be rated at 300 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque while yielding a 6,100-pound towing capacity, which matches the Silverado hybrid. The 3.7 liter will be offered in the XL, XLT and STX trim levels only. The high volume engine is expected to be the new 5.0-liter V8, which you can read more about after the jump.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Ford F-150 engines for 2011 announced, includes EcoBoost V6
Ford F-150 engines for 2011 announced, includes EcoBoost V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments