Tall riding vehicles, such as pick-ups, have come under heavy attack once again for their large girth, apparent high-speed instability and appetite for natural resources. However, it seems that peering long enough into their Magic 8 ball as paid off as Ford Motor Company has taken steps to answer all of these concerns with the unveiling of their new, 2004 Ford F-150 at the recent North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
Though it didn’t necessarily knock people off their feet, this particular vehicle should be given much attention since it accounts for 28 percent of Ford Division’s sales and 23 percent of the entire company’s US sales. In addition, it has been the undisputed leader: best-selling truck for 26 consecutive years and best-selling vehicle for 21 years running. It sold more than 800,000 units in 2002 alone.
With a slew of more sophisticated competition from its Japanese and American rivals, there’s little doubt that the public anticipated an all-out effort from the company who pioneered the concept of the pick-up truck. From initial reactions, this one is set to deliver the goods.
From the outside, the new F-150 is all about confidence. The tall yet planted stance has been done by widening the front and rear tracks by 38.1 mm. The straightforward circular wheel arches house larger tire and wheel choices. Add the fresh and refined look of the quad-circle styled headlamps, wrap-around facia, nearly flushed side glass and a more vertical tumblehome (the inward bow of the side windows) sums up to one handsome truck.
Inspiration is drawn from a set of earlier F-series trucks and concepts including the current F-150, the F-series Super Duty, the F-150 Lightning Bolt Performance Concept and of course, the mighty F-350 TONKA. There are also some nifty blast-from-the-past details such as a roofline reminiscent of chopped-top custom street trucks and a stepped-down belt line.
Inside, the same, if not more, attention to detail has been given to enhance the F-150’s interior giving it car-like ergonomics and refinement. Designers have opted to take a modular approach, giving the cabin more flexibility by allowing the adoption of different colors, textures and materials to customize the look of each variant (wood grain and warm steel trim, anyone?).
Another first is the flow-through center console, giving owners the option of choosing two captain’s chairs over the standard 40/20/40 split-fold front bench. This new design accommodates a floor-mounted shifter (an F-150 first) or if stacked, can maximize the room for the middle front passenger in the bench seat configuration.
Rounding up the extensive features is the modular overhead railing system. The aluminum railings, which is integrated into the headliner and extends from behind the rearview mirror to behind the second row seats, allows customization when it comes to interior storage options. Additional modules such as first aid kits, toolboxes, flashlights or even a rear-seat DVD entertainment system can be snapped on with ease.
The less than impeccable driving experience is answered by using a solid and stable fully boxed frame with hydroformed front rails—a departure from the common ‘C’ rail design. The result is a body that is nine times stiffer in torsion and 50-percent stiffer in bending.
Steering the F-150 is less of a hassle with the biggest and strongest rack-and-pinion system ever used in a Ford vehicle. It replaces recirculating ball system in the current model. The spirited driving experience is enhanced further by improvements to the Double Wishbone front suspension, incorporating a coil-on-shock design, a long-spindle and a cast-aluminum lower control arm. This results in a lower unsprung weight, while vastly improving ride and stability over choppy surfaces. The Hotchkiss-design rear suspension has been modified with the use of larger leaf springs (20 percent bigger than the current model) and shock absorbers, which have been placed outboard of the frame rails, another F-150 first.
Ensuring to put the F-150 to a grinding halt are disc brakes on all four corners. These incorporate larger and thicker calipers which are more robust—60 percent stiffer than the current model. In addition, the twin-piston front calipers and single-piston rear caliper now measure in at 13 inches in front and 13.7 inches at the back. All in all, the enhanced braking system ensures better heat dissipation for a more consistent performance in stop-and-go driving or while towing.
The sleek cowl houses a choice between two familiar powerplants: an all-new 5.4-liter 3-valve per cylinder Triton V8 or its more compact 4.6-liter 2-valves per cylinder brethren. The former incorporates variable valve timing, all-aluminum heads and magnesium camshafts among a host of other innovations. All in all, it bumps the overall output to a hefty 300 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 50.46 kg-m of torque at a low 3,750 rpm. Not to be outdone, the 4.6-liter Triton manages to crank out 231 horsepower at 4,750 rpm and 40.5 kg-m of torque at 3,500 rpm.
Both engines benefit from the segment’s first torque-based electric throttle control. A system first used in military aircraft, it uses driver inputs from the accelerator pedal to actively modulate the throttle at the drive wheels. It replaces the mechanical throttle linkage by using an electronic control circuit and an actuator at the throttle valve of the engine. This produces seamless and consistent engine response, improved fuel economy and enhanced integration of the different vehicle systems.
Likewise, maintenance of the Triton V8 engines have been made less painful with the use of a new lifetime automatic transmission fluid that never needs changing and a first scheduled tune-up at 161,000 kilometers (100,000 miles).
Safety is paramount with the 2004 model and Ford has pioneered the use of their patented Personal Safety System™ inside every F-150. The system enables the frontal airbags to be deployed at various levels, taking into account the severity of the crash, the use of the front seatbelts, and the position of the seats via sensors mounted to the seat’s track. Weight sensors on the front passenger seat have been added as well. There’s no excuse not to buckle up with all occupants enjoying the use of 3-point ELR seat belts with a BeltMinder™ system for the front passengers.
The revised line-up assures that there’s a Ford F-150 for just about everyone. Those opting to use this truck for work-oriented purposes will go for the base XL with its easy to clean vinyl interior and 17-inch steel wheels; the STX ups on the base model, substituting cast alloy wheels for the steel ones and adding the option for an in-dash 6-disc CD changer. There’s also the venerable XLT which aims to serve those who use their vehicles for both work and recreation. Outdoor enthusiasts will find nothing better with the rough-and-tough FX4 with its 18-inch cast alloy wheels, warm steel interior accents, aircraft inspired instrumentation cluster and a flow-through center console with a floor-mounted shifter. The range-topping Lariat can easily fit well in a rapper’s posh garage with its 18-inch chromed aluminum wheels. Inside, it has dual heated leather captain’s seats, an Ebony-stitched interior augmented with woodgrain touches, cream-colored gauges, a multi-functional steering wheel, a trip computer, automatic climate control as well as power adjustable seats and pedals.
The legacy of twenty years of leadership as well as its huge contribution to Ford Motor Company’s bottom line means that the 2004 Ford F-150 has a huge weight resting on its pick-up bed. Nonetheless, the huge array of both technical and cosmetic changes will seem to satisfy its customers and silence its critics. There’s little doubt that this gem of a vehicle will continue on as the number one in America for decades to come.
By Ulysses Ang | Photos Courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Originally Published in the March 2003 Issue
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