http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...AUTO01/9100332

Perhaps this helps to explain why the 2011 F-150 is barely touched at all, except for the new engine lineup obviously. Not to say the engine lineup isn't a major & excellent thing to happen, but unless that one thing is of interest to an individual, the rest of the tweaks are incredibly boring. Take the cheap little LCD screen ala SuperDuty, instead of rolling out a full LCD instrument cluster and MyFord Touch. Not only is it cheap looking compared to Ford's awesome new dash clusters, but it has almost no use unless you tow with your truck. Or how about sticking some tiny bubble mirrors on your side-views with some 3M tape, rather than installing BLIS. If Ford is looking to shave some costs, there ya go. Unfortunately, it makes sense to ignore the big trucks in favor of small cars at this point in our economy. Let's just hope they don't ignore us for too many more years.

On a side note, I still look forward to seeing what the EB's city MPG numbers will be. Other than that, I'd still rather have the two sweet updates from the '10 model: rear slider w/defrost(!) & less brake dust(!) - much more exciting than a tiny LCD screen for towing that I'd never use.

Oh, there are a bunch of really cool, interactive(!), MyFord Touch videos on Ford's website. It's pretty ingenius, my hat's off to Ford for steppin' it up in that respect. If only I could play with those touch-screen ambient bubbles in my 2011 F150...

 

Barely touched? Stop kidding yourself. The updates have been impressive especially since it is the middle of the life cycle, not the start. Calling it cheap sounds like sour grapes. The new dash screen gives you, "Fuel economy. Towing information. Off-road data. Plus plenty of ADDITIONAL vehicle information." Not just towing. Why do you want BLIS so bad? It has a flashing light that tells you when a car is on the side of you. Not all that helpful and may be annoying at times. And it may not be helpful for those towing a trailer since the system detects the vehicle when it is closer to the truck; hence maybe why it isn't on trucks. I think they put the spotter mirrors on the smaller mirrors because they are going to sell a lot of 5.0's which may not come with tow mirrors and since BLIS won't help when you have a trailer hooked up, it it is a liability to have it on a truck.

Also, since when does a slight pullback of a couple percentage points mean the F150 isn't or won't get updated? Come on dude! No My Ford Touch but that was expected since most that have it are new models or full refreshes. The F-150 is neither. I might like to be able to change the lighting too, but bashing the productivity screen which is actually useful and praising the bubble that changes the light from green to pink is being ridiculous if I do say so myself.

- all new engines

- EcoBoost, along with a 3.7, 5.0 and 6.2

- new SelectShift transmission

- best in class fuel economy (estimated at least 17 city, 24 hwy, or about 21 averaged) all the while getting approximate 400hp/400trq (simply amazing!) and a 11,300 lb towing capacity

- the most powerful half-ton on the market

- all new brakes (courtesy of 2010)

- electric power steering

- e-locker across almost all models, not just FX4

- off-road package

- customizable lcd productivity dash screen – this is “the game changer”

- power-sliding rear window with defrost (courtesy of 2010)

- telescoping wheel

- integrated key fob

- factory remote start

- for the FX4 – black surround heads and tails, body colored handles, new grille, wheels, non-chrome running boards

- spray-in bedliner

- 110v inverter in the center console

- perimeter alarm

- auto up/down windows

- SuperCrew Raptor

- more high strength steel, etc.

- to be continued as we learn more

This is substantial.

 

Yeah I agree with bluegreenf150. I would like to have the MyTouch in the 2011, but the rest is going overboard a bit. We have BLIS on our 2010 Fusion, and that thing is not worth the time yet, it needs some work. It goes off, A LOT, and for false alarms. We have had it give sensor failures a couple times, but nothing in awhile thankfully.

All it really seems to do is make you eventually ignore it in a Fusion who cried wolf type of way. I can only imagine what it would do in certain situations in an F-150 like towing as mentioned above me.

I am excited for the 2011, I hope to one day have one since they discontinued the truck I really want. And aside from the MyTouch I don't see it missing much, they are keeping up on interior improvements, stuff like the backup camera are additions some companies are calling new still while Ford has had them, and the Nav system and SYNC are being well taken care of year over year.

I really hope to get my 2011 FX4 5.0 and don't think there will be anything in it I will be missing really, Ford takes good care of its F-150 customers.

 

That was a pretty interesting article. We'll see where their strategy gets them, but IMHO they're thinking in the right direction for controlling costs by going to global platforms.

 

Does anyone know how many watts this will be? Thanks

 

Dude, every one of your posts sounds like you are pissed at Ford for not bringing out a brand new completely rebuilt truck from the tires up every 3 years so you can upgrade. Seriously, these improvements every 2-3 years are what keeps the F150 #1.

The changes are nothing to sneeze at for an MCE. Get a grip man!

 

I'm with comet on this. Normally 2 years on I would be wanting the new design as we all know the first model year is pretty basic feature list but 2 years on the 2011 ain't really gained anything worth boasting about! Yeah the engines are great if you want to take a risk with new engines and you need the extra power for towing but there's no more appeal to the 2011 as there was in the 2009 as I'm someone who don't need a more powerful engine. In a way its good though as it's saving me money not wanting to upgrade.

 

Geez, you guys are hard to please!

 

I'm extremely happy with my 09 perhaps they just stepped up the design too much and spoilt us for features in the 09. I'm sure when the brand new f150 comes out we will see some great new features added. I still can't believe the higher end models don't get auto ajusting HID headlights still! That would be one feature I would really want on a factory truck as a standard option. As when I tow my lights can't dazzle on coming drivers.

 

It is like anything. People want people to be doing good, but not they don't want someone doing better than they are. People want you to have a good truck. But they don't you to have a better truck than they have. That is where the buy the 2010 argument is coming from. In so many ways the 09 guys are doing the same thing the 04-08 guys did to them. If the 2011 F150 had either the blind spot BS or HID they would say the same thing..."my lights/mirrors work fine. I don't need it."

As for not buying and trusting anything new, the 09 guys didn't follow their own rule. They went with a new tranny and over 2000 new parts.

Comet is a bit different. He is just trying to psyche himself out of another new F150 because he went with the 09 instead of trusting his instincts to hold onto his 04 a bit longer. Don't be surprised if he is driving a EB F150 in the Spring.

edit: Dearborn Derek said the new model was coming in the 2014 MY. With that in mind, if anyone is thinking about a new truck, now would be time to buy because you will get at least 3 solid years before the next redesign. If not, that is ok too, nobody is forcing anyone to buy one. Don't hate. Congratulate.

 

 

Hmm, perhaps I phrased the end of my post incorrectly. For clarification, I most certainly DO want MyFord Touch. I think it's totally cool. My comment about wanting to play with the ambient orbs was just to be funny - I actually DO want to play with those orbs()... and everything else it has to offer! I mention the orb screen specifically because it just looks cool, even though it's function is relatively mundane. I could picture myself leaving it on that screen all the time.

bluegreen is kinda right, though, as far as me thinking heavily about picking up an '11. I think the EB will be sweet. I was just hoping for more do-dad's in the truck to go along with it. Oh, and good point about the BLIS on a pickup for towing. As you can tell, I don't tow anything, so that never even occured to me. Point well taken, makes sense now.

But as Barritia stated, it makes me frustrated that all the focus was on the engines more than anything else. I'm like a tech junkie I guess, always want the latest and greatest. That's why I couldn't have stood driving my old-style 2004 for 2 years until the EB came out. It'd be easier to stay in my '09 and not get the '11, than to stay in my '04 and see the '09-style drive by me.

So what does that LCD screen do besides show towing related info, and then the usual stuff that the little screen we have now shows? I don't really get the point of it unless you tow. I was just surprised that besides the EB, the '11 really doesn't have anything that excites me at all. When the '10's came out, they had new brakes and rear slider w/defrost, two very cool upgrades. The all-in-one key is cool, that's true. But no push start. SelectShift is an odd thing, not something I'd use myself. Spray-in liner should be cool, but it sounds like you can't get it for the Platinum.

I dunno, guess I was just hoping for something to pique my interest besides just the EB (which, again, is VERY exciting in it's own right and I certainly don't want to take anything away from this new engine lineup which was desperately needed).

I think the interactive MyFord Touch video's are at this link here:
http://www.fordvehicles.com/technolo...c/myfordtouch/

If I knew for sure it'd be 2014 for a new model it'd be easier to pick up an '11. My fear is that they do some sort of refresh for 2012 to freshen it up a bit until they redo the entire truck. I hate to lose 10k driving off the lot and then want to trade up the following year. Makes sense though if you look at the other manufacturer's pickup truck remodel plans. Who knows. Damn economy screwing with my stock gains, or lack thereof recently...

 

Thats a "glass is half EMPTY" take if I've ever heard one.

 

Comet,
I don't tow either but, I'm going to do some towing next year for the business when I get the 2011. Maybe you can find some reason to start towing so you're not letting all of this towing tech go to waste.

 

Or he could just let me borrow his truck when I need to tow my travel trailer.