Ford
F-Series, the No.1-selling truck in the United States for 20 years,
will expand its lineup in the first quarter of 2000 by introducing
the 2001 model year F-150 SuperCrew. The new entry will be the first
under 8,500-pounds GVW truck with four full-sized doors and a full
rear passenger compartment.
A unique
evolution of the Ford 150 pickup, the F-150 SuperCrew provides
the comfort and interior package of a heavy-duty CrewCab truck
with the versatility, ride, handling and garageability of
the light-duty SuperCab pickup.
Major
attributes of the new F-150 SuperCrew include a cab that is
12 inches longer than the F-150 SuperCab,
providing best-in-class
rear-seat roominess; four conventional doors for the easiest entry
and egress of all the pickups available in the U.S. and a fold-flat,
Expedition-like 60/40 rear seat.
Other significant
F-150 SuperCrew features include an enclosed storage compartment
that makes it possible to have an optional 6-disc CD player with
a front bench seat, a unique 5 1/2-foot box design with steel inner
and composite outer panels and the same overall length as the short
wheelbase SuperCab for better maneuverability and garageability
than other crew cab models.
Standard engine
for the F-150 SuperCrew is Ford's 4.6-liter Triton V-8, with the
5.4-liter Triton as an option. Also standard is XLT trim, rear-seat
reading lamps, cupholders, and door map pockets. Industry firsts
on SuperCrew are rear child-seat tethers, a rear-seat power point
and power-adjustable brake and accelerator pedals, all standard.
Other standard SuperCrew features include privacy glass for the
rear doors and backlight, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, air conditioning,
power windows and locks, aluminum wheels, and on the 4x4 model,
electronic shift on the fly. For improved functionality of the pickup
bed, a Bed Extender will be introduced soon after the vehicle launch.
An optional
power glass moonroof with a unique overhead console is also available.
F-Series
(under 8,500 GVW) Line-Up Improvements
In
addition to the new SuperCrew, the F-150 line for 2000 has a
host of new comfort and convenience features in a lineup simplified
by the dropping of the light-duty F-250 nomenclature.
Other changes
include:
Comfort-enhancing
flip-up 40/60 rear seat and an improved 18-degree rear seating
angle in the F-150 SuperCab
New overhead
console and left and right side visor vanity mirrors standard
on XLT and Lariat F-150 pickups, optional on XL models.
Driver's
side keypad entry system available on Lariat models.
Chromed
steel wheels and 17-inch OWL tires - previously available on 4x4
models only - available on 4x2 models as well.
New colors
are Island Blue Clearcoat Metallic and Chestnut Clearcoat Metallic
F-250 (under
8,500) Replaced
The under 8,500
GVW F-250 has been discontinued. The over 8,500 GVW F-250 Super
Duty remains a cornerstone in the overall F-Series lineup. Functions
previously handled by under 8,500 GVW F-250 pickups now go to a
new F-150 7700 payload group with all of the attributes of the F-250,
including heavier frame, larger brakes, higher-capacity wheels and
8,800 pounds towing capability.
Powertrains
F-Series' standard
4.2-liter V6 is the most powerful V6 engine in a full-sized pickup.
The optional
4.6-liter Triton V-8 is teamed with a five-speed manual or automatic
overdrive transmissions, while only the automatic transmission is
matched with the 5.4-liter Triton V-8.
The Triton
V-8 engine line features 100,000-mile tune-up intervals and a fail-safe
cooling strategy to protect engines from seizing in the event of
coolant loss.
The F-150's
2,385-pound maximum payload rating also is best-in-class for a half-ton
pickup and the 4x2 regular cab model's 8,500-pound maximum tow rating
is tops in its class.
F-150 natural
gas, bi-fuel natural gas and bi-fuel propane vehicles will continue
to be available.
