2009 Ford F-150

The 2009 Ford F-150 doesn't bring any wild new hardware to the table. There's no two-mode hybrid like the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado and 2010 Dodge Ram will offer. Leaf springs still connect the rear axle to the frame, unlike the 2009 Dodge Ram which uses coil springs. Ford may introduce a diesel F-150 to compete with the upcoming diesel trucks from Chevrolet and Dodge, but the company seems to favor the impending EcoBoost engine which will combine direct injection and turbocharging to deliver diesel-like performance without the prohibitive cost of a diesel engine or diesel fuel. In true Ford fashion, this engine will not be available at launch.

The only significant changes for the 2009 Ford F-150 are the introduction of six-speed automatic transmissions, a larger crew cab, and a new 4.6-liter three-valve V-8 engine. The rest of the truck is just a freshening of the 2008 F-150, something you realize just as soon as you hit the road.

Ford is very proud of the fact that the 2009 F-150 offers more possible configurations than any competitor truck. If you decide to buy an F-150, you'll first need to determine which cab style fits your needs (regular, super, and crew cabs are available), then decide how much bed you require (there are three choices ranging from 5.5 to 8 feet in length), and, finally, determine how luxurious you'd like the truck to be, since there are seven different trim levels.

Once you've figured out all of that, you can choose among the three V-8 engines, then decide between rear- and four-wheel-drive. There are 35 different core configurations for the F-150 just taking cab size, bed length, and trim level into account. Fourteen of those possible combinations are available with the SuperCrew cab.

© Source: automobilemag
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2009 Ford F-150 Spy Shots!

One of our contacts stumbled upon an essentially undisguised prototype of Ford's redesigned F-150. As the sunlight was just about to slip behind the mountains, they managed one revealing shot as the truck rushed back to the safety of its enclosed trailer, parked up the street at a gas station.

Considering that every F-Series prototype seen to date has been covered from stem to stern in heavy black camouflage, it appears that we caught this unclad look at Ford's new truck at the tail end of a photo shoot. The prototype truck was loaded and covered before our impromptu spies could swoop in for more shots.

This cleanest-ever look at the new F-Series reveals Ford's surprisingly cautious approach on its new truck. Although significant engineering changes likely lie under the surface, it now seems clear that the visual changes represent little more than a thorough facelift.

The headlights, hood, grille, and front bumper have been changed, and it appears that this truck has a version of Ford's Edge-inspired grille. New taillights are also clearly in the cards. The front and rear fenders also show a very subtle change--a sharp-edged character line sculpted in above the F-Series' flared wheel arches adds some minor detailing to the side panels. New side mirrors, and a revised side trim strip round out the visual changes.

Expect a clear look at the new F-150 at January's Detroit auto show.

© Source: thecarconnection
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