somewhat long article. Basically I bolded the motor crap for quick reference. More or less going to be a bomb *** truck, 4 years late.

I can't wait to see this, the new 400+hp ram, and chevys new heavies.. eat your heart out Japanese catfish.

When the current F-150 debuted in 2003, it seized the Truck of the Year award, and turned the fill-size truck segment on its ear. With sophisticated looks, stylish interior, and competitive lineup of powertrains, the F-150 made everything else on the market look obsolete.

However, it is four years later, and all of the competitors have released their new trucks in the interim – all aiming to match or beat the F150. The truck is still the king of sales, but the age is showing; especially in the powertrains, where the Ford’s 300hp V8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission cannot match the 400-some horsepower engines mated to six-speed transmissions offered by the competitors.

So, despite rising gas prices and a housing market collapse, it is the right time for Ford to release a new generation of the F-150. A lot has been written about the new truck, but unfortunately, the most prominent piece, written by Edmunds, was the one that had the most mistakes in it. So let me take this opportunity to present the full and correct outlook for the upcoming truck.

The exterior styling will borrow heavily from the Super Chief concept revealed at the Detroit show in 2006 – sporting a bold, brassy, in-your-face front. If the huge nose is not imposing enough, the cabin was made taller by about three inches, making the truck appear significantly bigger than the current model and most of the competition. Speaking of the cabin, Ford will respond to the trend started by Dodge and offer a new larger “Super Cab.” The truck will also incorporate many of the innovative features released with the 2008 Super Duty, such as tailgate step, or integrated trailer brake, and add some more, such as fold-away steps right behind the cab to ease access to the front of the bed.

The interior will follow the design theme started with the current F-150 and continued with the 2007 expedition and 2008 Super Duty. However, the 2009 F-150 will abandon Ford’s current switchgear and the “brick” stereo head unit, and use a version of the switchgear from the 2008 Escape, including top-dash display.

On the powertrain side, there is one big disappointment – there will be no BOSS V8 engines at launch; all the V8 engines at launch will be from the Modular / Triton family. However, new engines will be added quickly though the 2009 model year and at the beginning of the 2010 model year. The big news in powertrains is the elimination of the four-speed automatic transmission and adoption of six-speed automatics all across the lineup. This move will leapfrog the like of GM and Toyota who offer such transmissions on only the most powerful and expensive models.

The base engine will be an all new 3.7 liter V6. This is a version of the D35 engine rapidly spreading through Ford’s lineup, and while there will be other 3.7l V6’s in Lincoln’s and Mazda’s lineup, the V6 in F150 will be unique, specifically tuned for low engine torque. While the numbers are not revealed yet, expect about 260 horsepower and 280 or more ft.lbs of torque at about 2000 RPMs.
Next up will be the venerable three-valve 4.6l V8 from the Explorer. This engine will be not modified in any way from its Explorer application so the power numbers will remain 292hp, and 300ft.lbs of torque. This engine is at its final years of production, and will be dropped shortly after the engine lineup is completed in the 2010 model year.

The third V8 at launch will be a new version of the 5.4l V8. Mostly using the Expedition setup, Ford has reworked the engine for more power, torque, refinement, and efficiency. The final numbers were not revealed yet, but 325hp and 380ft/lbs of toque is a reasonable expectation.

The first post-launch change in the powertrain lineup will occur in the first weeks of 2009. As a Job2 change, Ford will add a 6.2l V8 engine. This will be the first member of the BOSS family, and while the engine is still in testing, it is expected to be rated at around 425hp. This engine will be officially revealed and released a couple months prior in the 2009 Lincoln Navigator.

 

continued...

Final major change in the engine lineup will come with the launch of the 2010 model year of the truck in the summer of 2009. A new 4.4l V8 diesel engine and a TwinForce 3.5l V6 will be added, and, as mentioned above, the 4.6l V8 will probably be dropped. The diesel is a larger version of the 3.6l Lion V8 diesel Ford developed with France’s Peugeot/Citroen (PSA) automaker, and will deliver around 315hp and 520ft.lbs of torque. The Twin Force engine will be positioned as a V8 alternative with better fuel economy. Using twin turbochargers, direct injection, and twin independent camshaft timing, the engine will deliver about 400hp and 400ft.lbs of torque at 1500rpms.

It is unfortunate Ford will not launch the truck with the full engine lineup, and it will likely hurt the sales some; but with the rapid rollout of the remaining engines the damage should be minor. Moreover, Ford has a final ace up its sleeve; in the 2011 or 2012 model year, Ford will add a monster of an engine: a TwinForce version of the 6.2l V8 – delivering more than 650ft.lbs of torque and around 500hp. The new engine will deliver performance equal to, say, a Chrysler SRT-10, but with a smaller engine and better fuel efficiency. Like with the 2008 Super Duty, Ford is not playing around with the truck and aiming squarely for the “class leading” designation. We will see the truck at Detroit Auto show in January, and Job1 is on August 8th, 2008.

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Wow, that makes me feel a little better I guess. Still kinda sucks that we have to wait untill 2009 for the good engines to come out, but as long as it really is in the first few weeks of 09', I can wait 5 more months for Job 2 to finally come out.

 

The twin force setup should be sweet. One of the new Lincolns are coming out with that 3.5l twin force in the next coming year or so.

And yeah, about the dash here's what I said back in June...

 

Thanks for that info Slick!

Jeez .. 2011 is a long way off. Hope the bean counters don't so something retarded and pull that option, especially after dangling the carrot...

bubba

 

sweet nice post.

 

Safe to say the TF 6.2L will be limited access like a "performance only" 2wd model? Can;t imagien I'd be able to get that on a a 4wd SCrew! Life couldn't be that sweet, could it?

The only positive about the initial intro will be the 6 speed on teh 5.4L, mind you teh 5.3 with 3.73's out pulls us now(never mind 6.0L), and by then they'll have a 6 speed too so basiclaly we need the 6.5L even in std form....

 

why do you say that?

 

Think Lightning...

or SRT-10. That engine definitely won't be available in every model.

 

TwinForce Six point Two liter V Eiggght.......mmmm

 

I agree with the 6.2L being a performance type engine. This engine program is the same as the closest competition, Chevrolet and GMC. They use a 4.8L, 5.3L, 6.0L (Chevy VortexMax) and 6.2L (Denali) in their limited performance trucks. Looks like Ford is following suite.

 

But 6.2l w/6spd is mainstream in 09 model GM lineup(replacing 6.0L) According to news this week they will have come 2011
"all new 'Gen V' 6.2-liter dual overhead cam (DOHC) V8 engine - a major departure from GM's traditional overhead valve (OHV) pushrod engine design used in its trucks, like the ‘Gen IV’ 403-horsepower / 417 lb-feet L92 6.2-liter V8 under the hood of the GMC Sierra Denali. The only DOHC V8 GM currently offers is Cadillac’s 4.6-liter Northstar engine.

The Gen V 6.2 motor will use variable valve timing (VVT) like the Gen IV 6.2, but the use of dual overhead cams holds the promise of four valves per cylinder instead of the current two valves, for better intake and exhaust flow and increased power."

 

I guess I'll wait to buy a new truck then... I was wanting to get a V8!

 

by 2012 this 500 horse 6.2 should be out according to the articles right? who says by then toyota wont have a v8 with 475 stock

 

Will the power wars ever stop? I mean come on, how much is enough? 475 HP in an everyday driver 1/2 ton is just absurd. You can't possibly use that much power unless you are on the track. He||, my 300 HP "slow" F150 pulls my 6000lb travel trailer around with ease. Why on earth would I need another 60% more HP?

Yes, there are HP freaks who can never have enough and who will say "Why Not have 500 or 600 or 700?" That's fine, but that is definitely not the majority. I wish the manufactures would get off the HP war and start a fuel economy war.

Give me 325 ponies, 400 lb ft of torque, and 27+ MPG on the highway and I'll be a happy happy man. I guess what I really want then is a small V8 diesel!