The new frame is boxed and partially hydroformed, features seven crossmembers, and is reportedly nine times stronger than the previous F-150's. Attached to the front rails is a double wishbone, with a beefy, aluminum lower A-arm and an easily serviced coil-on-shock unit. In the rear is a corporate live axle, located by extra-wide leaf springs and damped by shocks mounted outside the frame, both modifications specifically designed to improve empty and loaded ride and handling. This unusual shock setup enhances body-motion damping and reduces roll.
Ford F-150
During skidpad maneuvers and high-speed lane changes, the truck carved pavement neatly and cleanly via a new heavy-duty power rack-and-pinion steering unit, which replaces the old recirculating-ball system. Besides being more responsive, it feels lighter. Also inspiring driving confidence is the all-new braking arrangement consisting of large, vented four-wheel discs with standard electronic ABS. Pedal feel is excellent and, despite high ambient (95 degrees F) temperatures and repeated high-speed stops, the brakes displayed zero fade.
Naturally, a workhorse needs horses. Ford will offer two engines: a new SOHC 24-valve (three valves per cylinder; two intake, one exhaust) Triton 5.4-liter V-8 and a smaller SOHC 16-valve 4.6-liter V-8. The 5.4 serves up 300 horses at 5000 rpm (a 15-percent improvement over last year, and 500 rpm higher) and 365 lb-ft of torque at 3750 (a four-percent improvement, about 1200 rpm higher in the rev band). Its new head design uses two intake valves and one exhaust valve, as in a Mercedes. Other 5.4-motor advances include variable valve timing, with 50 degrees of adjustment range, and electronic throttle control. Ford claims five-percent-lower fuel consumption and a broader torque peak.
The new engines are powerful, yet quiet; even the idle quality is superb. Both are mated exclusively to four-speed automatics. Despite even higher torque outputs, these trannies exhibited smoother, more well-managed shifts, and less noise than we've come to expect from Ford trucks.