Ford F-150
The Ford F150 is a full size pick up truck, and it is really the leader in it's class. When people think of a pick up truck they usually think of the F-150, it has been around for more than sixty years and it has bee the best selling truck on the market for decades. Despite all of Ford's recent financial problems the one thing they always had going for them was the F-150, it kept them afloat during a very difficult time. The F-150 has had a glorious history and there is little reason to think that won't continue into the future.
The F-150 is Ford's bread and butter, it has been the best selling vehicle in North America for more than twenty years and it is believed that over half of Ford's profits come from sales of the F-150. The F-150 has been in production for more than sixty years and is not likely to go away any time soon. Obviously for a vehicle that has been around for that long there have been significant changes over the years and the current F-150 is the tenth generation.
There were a number of changes to the F-150 when the latest generation was unveiled in 2009. The biggest change is that there is a larger interior with more choices in cab styles. There is also more flexibility in the layout of the interior. They have also managed to lighten the weight well at the same time making the chassis stronger through the use of high strength steel. Not only does this improve towing capacity and fuel mileage but it also makes the F-150 safer.
There are three different engine options available on the F-150, the most powerful being a 5.4 litre Trition V8 that is rated at 320 horsepower. There is also a 4.6 litre 3 valve V8 that produces 292 horsepower and a 4.6 litre 2 valve V8 that produces 248 horsepower. The 4.2 litre engine that was available on previous models is no longer available since they have closed the plant that makes it. The 5.4 litre engine and the 3 valve 4.6 litre engine are connected to a 6 speed transmission while the 4.6 litre 2 valve has a 4 speed transmission. Starting with the 2010 model these are automatic transmissions as the manuals are no longer available.
The F-150 is one of the safest pick ups on the road today. Ford has made great strides to improve the safety of the F-150, by adding front and rear side impact airbags as well as front torso airbags. The have also made electronic stability control and an anti-rollover system standard equipment. The F-150 received a good rating in both front impact and side impact collision testing and it was awarded a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.