Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford F-150

Ford's reported decision to put its long-awaited light-duty diesel truck engine on ice for the time being could well be a result of slowing truck sales and the rising cost of diesel fuel. Indeed, the Blue Oval's pickup sales are down by about 27% compared to last year and are a far cry from what they were a few short years ago. That downward trend in sales is partly blamed on the recent rise in fuel prices, and diesel fuel has outpaced gasoline in its upward spiral. So, while diesel engines are inherently more fuel efficient than those running on gasoline, that pricing difference is usually only made up when a truck is used for heavy hauling and towing – one reason the expensive oil-burners prove so popular in the largest of trucks. Ford's not so sure any longer that drivers of its non Super-Duty trucks want or need a smaller diesel engine option. So, for now, Ford's 4.4-liter diesel V8 has been shelved.

Though not in the full-size truck segment for nearly as long, Toyota's Tundra has seen sales declines much steeper than the pickups from Ford, and the Japanese automaker has also put its diesel V8 on hold. General Motors is still on track to launch its 4.5-liter oil-burner, as is Chrysler with a Cummins-built 5.0-liter turbodiesel V8. These relatively small diesels are expected to average about 25% better fuel economy than their gasoline brethren while offering a power improvement of 10-15%. Ford believes it can offer similar performance benefits with its EcoBoost series of engines, one of which is slated for the F-Series trucks in 2010, for a smaller surcharge. We'll see.


[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

More news on the Raptor front today. PickupTrucks.com just published a spy shot of a camo'd F-150 Raptor that at first glance adds nothing new to the puzzle. Closer inspection reveals that the semi-transparent covering actually exposes the basic look of the sporty F-150's grille, which purportedly has the Ford name emblazoned very large across a center bar. The truck was recently spotted on the streets of Vegas during the Ford Dealer Show. According to those in the know, Ford marketing boss Jim Farley unveiled the off-road-ready F-150 at that meeting, even showing a video of the mule throwing sand in the desert.

We're becoming more certain every day that the Raptor will use the 6.2L "Boss" V8 with a power output of between 380 and 420 horsepower. If the F-150 Raptor ends up wearing an SVT product as we suspect, we're betting the final power output being closer to the latter rather the former. Besides seeing the mule in action and hearing about the powertrain, dealers were also shown one of the Raptor's footlong-travel shocks, built exclusively for the Raptor by Fox Racing. Coupled with 35-inch all-terrain tires, this should be one badass, Baja-ready pickup.

Surely it won't be long before we get a whole batch of official pics from Ford, perhaps in time for the SEMA Show in November, but for now click over to PickupTrucks.com to see the new spy pics.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Could the reign of Ford's F-Series atop the sales charts in the U.S. come to an end? Some believe that it could indeed happen, and it's not even another pickup truck that is threatening the Blue Oval's bread-and-butter full-size pickup, it's the Toyota Camry. Let that sink in for a moment... alright, let's continue. The Camry already posted better sales numbers than the Chevy Silverado, the perennial second-best seller to the F-Series, for the month of April. In fact, the Silverado suffered a sales drop of 24.7 percent to 37,231 units while the Camry grabbed 40,016 sales in the same month. Still, even after the Camry's great sales month, the Silverado holds the edge when the entire year-to-date sales numbers are compiled, and the F Series still sits atop the list for now. Consider too that the Ford truck will get a major redesign for the upcoming model year. So, while high gas prices will likely continue to put pressure on full-size pickups, let's not jump to hasty conclusions just yet.

[Sources: Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, the Auto Channel]

Autoblog talks Diesel with Ford Powertrain Directo

CAFE standards are being raised to 35 mpg by 2020, and automakers are working on several technologies to help achieve the lofty standard. The next 12 years will see lighter, more aerodynamic vehicles, but some of the most interesting solutions will be found under the hood. Electric vehicles, hybrids, and small, turbocharged engines will power many vehicles, and diesel engines are set to once again infiltrate our borders, but on a grander scale.

We talked to Ford Powertrain boss Dan Kapp to better understand why diesel engines are inherently more efficient than petrol engines, and we also discussed how and where Ford will be using diesel going forward. Hit play on the video above to take a look.

click above for more high-res images of the 2009 Ford F-150

The Ford F-Series has been the top-selling vehicle longer than most of us at Autoblog have been alive, and the Blue Oval designed the new 2009 F-150 to help keep that streak alive. In 2009, several new additions will be made to Ford's best-seller, including an easy access step for the pickup bed, a flat-load back seat, an improved powertrain lineup, and a new frame that features more high-strength steel. The truck experts at PickupTruck.com spent a whole day with F-Series Chief Engineer Matt O'Leary and Design Director Pat Schiavone, and the fruit of their labor is eight videos that detail every square inch of Ford's most important product. We've added a walk-through tour of the interior of the new F-150 Platinum after the jump, and you can click the Read link below to view videos ranging from tow information to design inspiration at PickupTruck.com.

[Source: PickupTruck.com]

click above for high-res live shots of the 2009 Ford F-150

We already brought you official photography of the newly-revamped 2009 Ford F-150 just after midnight today, but that's hardly enough attention for America's best-selling vehicle. Now that the Blue Oval boys have rolled out the new truck into Cobo Arena - with help from Toby Keith and a cast of characters - we see little reason to think that the F-series won't retain its crown.

Improving the F-150 "truck-ness" are several features, such as the tailgate step that we appreciated so much on larger Super Duty, and new fold-down steps that can be accessed from the side of the truck. Considering how deep the box is on this truck, the steps will definitely come in handy on the ranch or at the grocery store.

Ford's slick Integrated Trailer Brake Controller is now available on a half-ton truck for the first time, and Trailer Sway Control helps keep the vehicle on the road while towing so that hopefully you won't need to experience the effectiveness of Roll Stability Control and side-curtain airbags. Tow and payload ratings are as-yet announced; we expect to hear more by the Chicago Auto Show next month.

More after the jump...

If you roll in a Ford truck, you'd best be aware of the rules. If you violate 'em, the BFT patrol will be all over your case like stink on a monkey. And if you've been to the zoo, you know how monkeys stink. It's not good. BFT, as you might have surmised, stands for Built Ford Tough, and the rules detail activities and things that don't jibe with the image the F-Series projects. They include No Puny Dogs; No Scooters; No Manicures; No Cutesy Cell Phone Rings; No Fancy Coffee; and No Liquid Wrench, among others. Ford has helpfully provided a website that details individual violations captured on video by camera crews traveling with BFT cops. Case #073, above, documents a fancy coffee violator, while Case #235 (embedded after the jump) is an action-filled segment featuring a manicure infraction. We expect to see additional case videos added over time.

If you're driving, say, an F-250 4x4 with a pair of Vespas in the bed, a caramel macchiato in the cupholder, a Yorkshire Terrier in the passenger seat, and a BK Veggie in a take-out bag, we'd expect to see you get chased down, tased, "softened up" a bit, and probably locked up for 20 years without parole. If your Hannah Montana ringtone goes off at any point during all this, we fear that BFT would then be forced to get medieval on you. Consider yourselves warned.

[Source: BFT]

Click the image above for high-res shots of the 2008 Harley-Davidson Edition Ford F-Series pickup.

The new for '08 Ford Harley-Davidson F-Series Super Duty is what you've come to expect after walking ten times around this dual-branded block. Harley owners not willing to ride in the rain (we can't blame them) and others that like to emulate the leather- and chrome-clad image have purchased over 60,000 of the things in the last eight years. This time around it's a celebration of the Pennsylvania-based biking outfit's 105th anniversary, coinciding with Ford's own celebration of building cars for just as many years.

Paint schemes are inspired by Harley's special-edition 105th anniversary motorcycle and come in one of two flavors: either a two-tone, black and "Vintage Copper" combo or an all black body with copper pin striping. According to Brad Richards, the Ford/Harley brand manager, the chrome side vents and grille are inspired by the heat diffusers found on the cylinder heads of the V-Twin, and the 20-inch polished wheels bring the theme home.

The "Vintage Copper" color finds its way inside, accenting the leather seats and panels, while anniversary Harley badging adorns the front and rear thrones, plus a serialized plaque mounted on the armrest.

You can get all the details in the press release after the jump and peruse the gallery below for a handful of high-res shots.

Click the image above to view the Autoblog Chip Foose interview

Questions remained surrounding the Ford Chip Foose F-150, so we set out in search of answers and found ourselves speaking to the man whose name appears on the truck. A couple of questions and a Chip riff or two later, here's what we learned - the inspiration for the truck was Foose's own F-series, the truck should be available in three or four months (!), and a lighter-weight two-door version might be on its way if Chip's crew has its way. SVT may not be able to resurrect the Lightning, but we think this would be an adequate substitute. Press through to watch us stutter and stammer our way through an interview with the Hot Rod Hall of Famer after the jump.

If you listen closely enough, you can hear the gargantuan "Whew!!!" from the glass house on Michigan Ave. Oakland County, Mich., Judge John McDonald has ordered International Truck and Engine to resume shipment of the 6.4L Power Stroke diesel engine that powers the uber-important Ford Super Duty pickup.

This whole mess started when Ford began debiting International's invoices to the tune of $125 million to help pay for expensive warranty costs incurred repairing the notoriously problematic last-gen 6.0L Power Stroke. As it turns out, Ford spent an estimated $1 billion on warranty costs due to a faulty fuel system on these engines supplied by International. For its part, International disputes the $1 billion figure and has refused to help foot the bill. Ford took action by filing a law suit and International retaliated by stopping production of the new 6.4L Power Stroke, which has resulted in the loss of 4,000 units of Ford's most profitable vehicle.

The temporary agreement calls for Ford to stop debiting International's invoices and actually pay the company. In return, the diesel engine supplier will resume shipments of the new 6.4L Power Stroke. The judge also ordered both sides to continue meeting in order to come up with a final solution, but that won't be easy since there's a lot bad blood between these two companies now. We don't know who's right in this case, but we do know this fire will likely flare up again.

[Source: Automotive News]