2009 F-150 "SFE" gets upto 21 mpg

[TMN]

Ford Motor Company

America's best-selling pickup, the Ford F-Series, is raising the bar once again – this time with unsurpassed fuel efficiency on the new 2009 F-150, thanks to significant miles per gallon improvement across the entire F-150 lineup.



On sale in October, the new F-150 offers fuel economy that has improved an average of 8 percent across the entire lineup as a result of a wide-range of engineering enhancements. The fuel economy gains reach as high as 12 percent versus the prior model year on F-150 models equipped with the high-volume 3-valve, 5.4-liter V-8 engine. At the same time, the new F-150 delivers class-leading towing capability of 11,300 pounds and hauling capacity of 3,030 pounds – a combination no other competitor can match.

In addition, Ford is announcing the introduction of the new F-150 SFE "superior fuel economy" edition delivering up to 21 miles per gallon on the highway while still providing 7,500 pounds of towing capability – fuel economy that is unsurpassed in the full-size pickup segment.

"Ford has committed to have the best or equal to the best fuel economy with every new product we introduce, and we are delivering with the new F-150," said Matt O'Leary, Ford F-150 chief engineer. "Fuel economy has moved from 10th to third place among pickup buyers' top purchase considerations – right behind durability and value. The new F-150 delivers on all three as the industry leader."



F-150 SFE

The new SFE package will be available on F-150 SuperCrew XL and XLT 4X2 vehicles with 4.6-liter, 3-valve V-8 engines and 5.5-foot beds. The SFE pickup will achieve 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.

The SFE package trucks also feature a new fuel-efficient six-speed automatic transmission, a 3.15:1 rear axle and 18-inch chrome clad aluminum wheels with low rolling resistance P265/60R18 all-season tires.

"Earning the trust of so many truck customers during the past 31 years has taught us a lot about what they want and value from their F-150," O'Leary said. "In the past, there was a tradeoff – more fuel economy meant less capability and vice versa. With the new F-150, we didn't accept tradeoffs. We delivered capability and fuel economy."

The SFE package will be a no-cost option on XLT SuperCrew pickups with the chrome package and will cost $1,095 when ordered on XL SuperCrew pickups with the decor package.

[chiefstang]

Saw this this weekend, and ordered one for my lot right away. Definately a great idea, but I think it's kind of a wash when you tell the customer he has to also buy a $1100 appearance package to get it. The point of the package is to save them money, and to have them have to order a chrome package to get it kind of defeats the purpose. I ordered one anyways figuring it would sell on hype alone. Look at all the boobs paying extra money for the Hybrid Escape. You could buy alot of gas for the $10,000 difference between the Hybrid and a four cylinder Escape. I wonder if the workability will suffer with that 3.15:1 axle though. Oh well, there's an ass for every seat, and I'm sure I'll have no trouble selling it.

[TMN]

I was a bit surprised that they bundled it with a higher line truck. I would have thought that it would be the base model(s), work trucks, etc. But cant you order the base trucks with the same axle anyway?