2010 Ford F150: What's New

Vehicle Overview
Ford has a version of the F-150 to meet almost any buyer’s needs. For 2010, it comes in 10 trim levels, with the return of the FX2 and Harley-Davidson edition pickups and the introduction of the all-new SVT Raptor model.

In the year since the redesigned F-150 went on sale, the half-ton pickup has garnered numerous awards and recognition, including PickupTrucks.com’s Best Overall Light-Duty Pickup.

The F-150 offers best-in-class towing (11,300 pounds) and payload (3,030 pounds) ratings.

There are three cab styles: regular, extended and crew cab.

Exterior
The front end emulates Ford’s Super Duty work trucks, with a squared-off nose, a giant grille and a domed hood that adds 2 inches in height.

Each trim level gets its own grille treatment, starting with a simple one on the base XL and topping out with mesh grille inserts for the highest trim levels. The Platinum trim’s grille is called satin chrome, and it’s repeated on a metal panel on the tailgate. The Platinum also has chrome-capped side mirrors and 20-inch, 16-spoke aluminum wheels. The rest of the lineup offers 12 wheel options, starting with 17 inches and ranging to 20 inches in diameter.

Some unique features are offered as options for the cargo box. Borrowed from the Super Duty, a step pulls out of the open tailgate and hinges down to ease climbing into the bed. A post on the tailgate swings up and locks, forming a handle to help step up into the bed. Another option handed down from Ford’s heavy-duty trucks is the split bed extender. Whereas the solid U-shaped bed extenders rest either on the open tailgate or flipped up on the bed floor — and are always there — the F-150’s U shape detaches in the center, allowing either side to stow against the bed wall and free up the cargo floor for full use.

Another option is a side step that you pop out of the rocker panel in front of the rear wheel by kicking a button. It allows you to reach over the side of the cargo box. This eases access to Ford’s take on C-channel rails that let you position tie-down cleats anywhere along the box’s length. They’re a spring-loaded pin design, like GM uses, so they can be repositioned in seconds without unscrewing anything. Other features that utilize these rails are heavy-duty partitions, crossbars and a Ford-branded tool box that hangs on the inner side of the box wall.

• Capless fuel-filler system
• Available reverse sensing and backup camera
• Available running boards or tubular side steps
• Available telescoping tow mirror
• Available two-tone paint on some models

Interior
The interior includes enlarged buttons, controls and less-intrusive door panels with larger map pockets in the SuperCab and SuperCrew. There’s a large, lockable center storage console to accommodate laptop computers, with added ridges compatible with hanging file folders.

The F-150’s seats use high-grade materials and are available with powered adjustments, including lumbar support, heating and cooling. The materials are easier to clean, Ford says, and the higher trim levels use real woods and metals in the interior. Cabin noise has been lowered dramatically, Ford says, and the Platinum trim level boasts additional noise abatement.

The SuperCrew’s cab provides a backseat that rivals the interior space of the Toyota Tundra Crew Max. The backseat flips up to reveal a flat floor and 57.6 cubic feet of cargo volume, according to Ford. The space is 47.9 inches high, floor to ceiling.

Despite questionable success with its Lincoln division’s luxury pickups, Ford has decided to give the idea a try in the mother brand with the Platinum, which includes powered leather seats with accent stitching and embroidered logos. A USB port and MP3 jack for the stereo are standard, and the power-retracting running boards seen on the Expedition are now optional here, too.

The four-door SuperCrew F-150 Harley-Davidson has heated front captain’s chairs and leather rear bench seats inspired by Harley-Davidson biker jackets. The upper bolsters have textured details that resemble the piping on jacket sleeves, and the seat tops have replica sergeant stripes with authentic Harley buttons. Seatback storage areas have real Harley zippers with engraved button snaps to pull.

Hand-made badges embedded in the seats and center console (engraved with the truck’s VIN and a unique serial number) come from Utica Metal, the same company Harley-Davidson uses to source the badges for its bikes.

The four-door SuperCab F-150 SVT Raptor has unique cloth and leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with a center hash mark to help the driver quickly reorient to the centerline while running at high speeds off-road.

Other goodies include an optional backup camera (a stand-alone option) that helps line up a trailer hitch, plus the first integrated trailer-brake controller to be offered in a light-duty pickup. Ford’s Sync voice-activated multimedia system is available with 911 Assist, a new service similar to GM’s OnStar. An optional navigation system uses an 8-inch touch-screen that can show real-time traffic and gas prices for nearby stations when teamed with Sirius Travel Link, a service of Sirius Satellite Radio.

Under the Hood
The mechanical changes started at the foundation with a new fully boxed frame. Power plants start with an entry-level 4.6-liter V-8 that’s more powerful than the previous-generation’s base V-6, but it is also more fuel efficient, despite using a four-speed automatic transmission. This engine is known as the two-valve to distinguish it from the more powerful new three-valve version of the 4.6-liter V-8. The top choice is the previous generation’s 5.4-liter V-8 — tweaked for more output and capable of running on E85 ethanol fuel or gasoline. The latter two engines mate to a six-speed automatic. The all-new 6.2-liter premium V-8 is exclusive to the Raptor model. It’s mated to the six-speed transmission but offers a unique “off-road mode” that optimizes shift points for high-speed off-roading. At some point during 2010, Ford says its turbocharged, direct-injection, gasoline V-6 EcoBoost engine will be added.

Four-by-four versions come with a choice of manual or electronically actuated four-wheel-drive systems. The FX4 adds a locking rear differential and optional 17-inch wheels with off-road tires.

• 4.6-liter V-8 two-valve rated at 248 horsepower, 294 pounds-feet of torque
• 4.6-liter V-8 three-valve rated at 292 hp, 320 pounds-feet of torque
• 5.4-liter V-8 three-valve rated at 320 hp, 390 pounds-feet of torque on E85; 310 hp, 365 pounds-feet of torque on gasoline
• Four-speed automatic (standard with 4.6-liter two-valve V-8)
• Six-speed automatic (standard with 4.6-liter three-valve V-8, 5.4-liter V-8)

Safety
Standard features, along with the required front airbags, include side curtain airbags to protect front and backseat occupants; antilock brakes; and an electronic stability system with traction control and Roll Stability Control, which uses a sensor to detect the start of a rollover and attempts to forestall it.

• New head restraints
• New seats designed to help keep passengers properly positioned
• Dual-stage front airbags
• Front seat-belt pretensioners

Of Interest to Truck Owners

• GVWR regular cab: 6,450-8,200 pounds (4×2), 6,650-8,200 pounds (4×4)
• GVWR SuperCab: 6,500-8,200 pounds (4×2), 6,700-8,200 pounds (4×4)
• GVWR SuperCrew: 6,800-7,100 pounds (4×2), 6,950-7,200 pounds (4×4)
• Payload regular cab: 1,670-3,030 pounds (4×2), 1,640-2,730 pounds (4×4)
• Payload SuperCab: 1,490-2,650 pounds (4×2), 1,420-2,340 pounds (4×4)
• Payload SuperCrew: 1,470-1,760 pounds (4×2), 1,370-1,660 pounds (4×4)
• Max towing capacity regular cab: 5,400-11,300 pounds (4×2), 5,700-11,300 pounds (4×4)
• Max towing capacity SuperCab: 5,200-11,300 pounds (4×2), 5,400-11,300 pounds (4×4)
• Max towing capacity SuperCrew: 5,100-11,300 pounds (4×2), 7,700-11,200 pounds (4×4)
• Fuel tank capacity: 36 gallons (SuperCab 4×4 standard and long bed, SuperCrew 4×4), 26 gallons (all other models)
• Axle ratio: 3.15:1, 3.31:1, 3.55:1, 3.73:1
• Crawl ratio: 41.06:1 (6A w/3.73:1 axle)
• Minimum ground clearance: 8.6-9.9 inches (regular cab), 8.2-10.0 inches (SuperCab), 7.8-9.9 inches (SuperCrew)
• Approach angle: 22.2-24.3 degrees (regular cab), 21.1-25.5 degrees (SuperCab), 21.2-25.5 degrees (SuperCrew)
• Departure angle: 18.8-21.9 degrees (regular cab), 18.3-22.1 degrees (SuperCab), 18.1-20.7 degrees (SuperCrew)
• Ramp breakover: 17.7-19.9 degrees (regular cab), 15.7-19.8 degrees (Super Cab), 14.5-18.6 degrees (SuperCrew)
• Cargo-bed load height: 33.0-35.4 inches (regular cab), 32.6-35.7 inches (SuperCab), 32.2-34.6 inches (SuperCew)
• Cargo floor length: 67 inches (short bed), 78.8 inches (standard bed), 97.4 inches (long bed)
• Cargo floor width: 65.2 inches
• Cargo floor width at wheel well: 50.0 inches
• Cargo bed depth: 22.4 inches