DETROIT — Ford didn't want to tamper much with its best-selling F-series pickup, the perennial sales champ in the U.S. Even with Chevy's redesigned Silverado rapidly closing the gap, the Blue Oval folks elected to roll into the 2009 model year with a more modest slate of changes, spearheaded by an aggressive new face with the now-ubiquitous three-bar grille.
Due at dealerships this fall, the 2009 F-150 gets an extensive exterior overhaul but relatively few major under-the-skin alterations. The chassis has been stiffened, and Ford has added such features as standard traction and roll stability control, as well as trailer sway control.
Engines are essentially carried over, with some enhancements in power and fuel economy. Buyers can choose from one of three V8 gas engines, displacing 4.6 and 5.4 liters, coupled with either a four-speed automatic or a new six-speed box. A diesel option has been delayed until 2010, when Ford also plans to offer a version of its new EcoBoost turbocharged direct injection gasoline engine.
If the F-series is known for one thing, it's the sheer variety of combinations available, and the 2009 model doesn't veer from that all-things-to-all-people strategy, with three cab variants, four different boxes and seven trim levels: XL, STX, FX4, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum.
The new Platinum series starts with 20-inch tires on 16-spoke polished aluminum wheels, adding a satin-chrome grille with fine mesh inserts and a snazzy cockpit with 10-way leather captain's chairs, ash wood-grain accents and brushed aluminum trim.
The new F-150 Super Crew gets a 6-inch stretch, boosting rear-seat legroom and cargo space, plus an articulated second-row seat that flips up and out of the way. Other interior features on the new F-series include standard side-curtain airbags and optional rearview camera, a flow-through console with removable multi-tiered tray, USB and MP3 ports, a 700-watt Sony audio system, voice-activated navigation, Sirius Satellite Radio and TravelLink, and the Ford Sync communications/entertainment system, upgraded for 2009 with 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report.
What this means to you: Are we the only ones who think Ford is overdoing that three-bar face? — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
Due at dealerships this fall, the 2009 F-150 gets an extensive exterior overhaul but relatively few major under-the-skin alterations. The chassis has been stiffened, and Ford has added such features as standard traction and roll stability control, as well as trailer sway control.
Engines are essentially carried over, with some enhancements in power and fuel economy. Buyers can choose from one of three V8 gas engines, displacing 4.6 and 5.4 liters, coupled with either a four-speed automatic or a new six-speed box. A diesel option has been delayed until 2010, when Ford also plans to offer a version of its new EcoBoost turbocharged direct injection gasoline engine.
If the F-series is known for one thing, it's the sheer variety of combinations available, and the 2009 model doesn't veer from that all-things-to-all-people strategy, with three cab variants, four different boxes and seven trim levels: XL, STX, FX4, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum.
The new Platinum series starts with 20-inch tires on 16-spoke polished aluminum wheels, adding a satin-chrome grille with fine mesh inserts and a snazzy cockpit with 10-way leather captain's chairs, ash wood-grain accents and brushed aluminum trim.
The new F-150 Super Crew gets a 6-inch stretch, boosting rear-seat legroom and cargo space, plus an articulated second-row seat that flips up and out of the way. Other interior features on the new F-series include standard side-curtain airbags and optional rearview camera, a flow-through console with removable multi-tiered tray, USB and MP3 ports, a 700-watt Sony audio system, voice-activated navigation, Sirius Satellite Radio and TravelLink, and the Ford Sync communications/entertainment system, upgraded for 2009 with 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report.
What this means to you: Are we the only ones who think Ford is overdoing that three-bar face? — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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