By Matt HardigreeThe 2009 Ford F-150 has arrived and, for potential buyers, there are two major stories here other than the new frame and exterior: more standard/available features and more model variations. Now standard is the AdvanceTrack with Roll Stability Control (RSC), Trailer Sway Control, the new Tailgate w/ box side steps and the new "Easy Fuel" capless fuel-filler system that uses a a sensor to automatically seal shut when the nozzle is removed. Available on all F-150's is the SYNC system (with all goodies), new 700-watt Sony sound system, integrated trailer brake controller (segment first on light-duty pickups) and rearview camera assist. There are going to be a total of 35variations of the new F-150 (XL, STX, FX4, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch), including the new Platinum series, which adds extra detailing and chrome on the outside and features such as ash wood accents, 10-way adjustable leather captain's chairs and standard 20-inch polished aluminum wheels.
In the power department, the 4.2L V6 is out as the base engine, with a 2-valve 4.6-liter V8 that is promised to produce more horsepower with the same fuel economy. The mid-range engine is a new 3-valve 4.6-liter and the top of the line is the familiar 5.4-liter Triton V8 which has been tweaked for more horsepower and now capable of running on E85 corngas blends. Across the range there's a fleet-average 1 mpg improvement in fuel economy, despite having no V6. Both diesel and EcoBoost options are planned for the F-150 in 2010. The new F-150 gets fully boxed frame construction with bolstered steel side rails. The new frame is lighter and provides 10% more torsional rigidity.
On the space front, the SuperCrew cab has been stretched six inches to grow the interior to 57.6 cubic feet of space behind the front seats and 47.9 inches of height (leaving enough room to lay in a 45-inch flatscreen television with room to spare). Out back the new pickup box, in addition to the aforementioned side steps and optional stowable bed extender, now has a capacity of 65.5 cubic feet. Full press release below — plus, as an added bonus — some video from Mike Levine of PickupTruck.com on the interior of the new F-150 Platinum edition.
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."
