2010 Ford F-150: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

The 2010 Ford F-150 lineup expands to include a new Harley-Davidson model. Also a new engine might be offered following this large pickup truck's 2009 redesign. The 2010 F-150's base powertrain will likely remain a 248-hp 4.6-liter V8 with a 4-speed automatic transmission. A 292-hp version of the 4.6 and a 320-hp 5.4 V8 will probably return to the engine roster, both matched with a 6-speed automatic. The 5.4-liter V8 is capable of running on E85 ethanol-blended fuel. New to the fold will reportedly be Ford's turbocharged, direct-injected 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, which will top the power chart if it yields the 340 horses it's rumored to produce.

Rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive that cannot be left engaged on dry pavement but includes low-range gearing for off-road use will undoubtedly still be available. Ford might correct the F-150's lack of a "full-time" 4WD system that's available on most competitors. Available safety features should include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags.

Three cab styles will likely be continued: Regular cab; SuperCab extended cab, with rear-hinged back doors that don't open independently of the fronts; and SuperCrew crew cab, which has four conventional doors. Likely carried over as well will be 5.5-, 6.5- and 8-foot Styleside cargo beds and a 6.5-ft Flareside bed. If the off-road-oriented Raptor appears as expected with its 6.2-liter engine in mid-calendar 2009, it will likely be the ninth model in a lineup that includes the base XL, sporty STX, off-road-oriented FX4, midlevel XLT, special-edition Harley-Davidson, uplevel King Ranch and Lariat, and line-topping Platinum.

The 2010 Harley-Davidson F-150 is a SuperCrew that's available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive without low-range gearing. It uses the 5.4-liter V8 and has specific trim, sport suspension, and 22-inch wheels.

Likely carried over on most F-150 models will be features such as a hideaway side step for access to the pickup bed, a tailgate step, a retractable cable lock to secure items in the bed, and a capless fuel filler. Electronic devices should again include Ford's Sync voice-activated cell phone and MP3 player control system, a voice-activated navigation system that includes real-time traffic information, a rearview camera, a built-in dashboard computer with available printer, a tool inventory system, and a vehicle tracking device for fleet users. Also expect the return of the SFE (Superior Fuel Economy) package for 2WD models that includes the 292-hp 4.6 V8 with 6-speed automatic transmission, low-rolling-resistance tires, and a different axle ratio. Maximum payload capacity will likely again be about 3030 lb on regular cabs, 2650 on SuperCabs, and 1760 on CrewCabs, with maximum towing capacity of 11,300 lb on all models. This report is based on evaluations of the 2009 Ford F-150.