Nothing matters if a lead is not properly answered.

No SEO or SEM, no mobile apps, no 360 degree views of the car on your website, no amount of third party lead-buying matters if you can’t get back to a customer right away with a quote. Too often, dealers underestimate this vital “blocking and tackling” step, pursuing all kinds of sexy strategies to gin up lead volume. They fail to recognize that if a lead isn’t properly answered, lead volume is meaningless.

The problem, of course, is that life in a dealership is complicated and I understand !

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2011 Dodge Ram review
The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 is the best pickup for you if you want to experience how good Chrysler design and engineering can be when it’s really good.  

The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 remains a full-size pickup leader, with stand-out styling, plenty of muscle, and a level of refinement no other half-ton quite matches. Changes to the 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 involve new trim packages and upgraded accessories. Added to the SLT trim level is an Outdoorsman package that replaces the previous TRX version and includes assorted off-road upgrades. Also new is the Laramie Longhorn package, the 2011 Dodge Ram 1500’s luxury-minded answer to the plush Ford F-150 King Ranch and GMC Sierra Denali models. Newly offered features include power folding heated side mirrors, a new navigation system, and a factory spray-on cargo-bed liner.

Should you buy the 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 or wait for the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500? Wait for the 2012 Ram 1500 only if you’re curious about how Chrysler’s heavily promoted new Pentastar V-6 might perform in this big pickup. The company is rolling versions of this engine into nearly every one of its model lines – from minivans to Jeeps – and it could be the Ram 1500’s turn for model-year 2012. Buy the 2011 Ram 1500 if you’re inclined to stick with one of Ram’s V-8s – including the mighty-fine Hemi -- that have proven their mettle.
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Changes

Styling: The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 styling is the same as the 2010 Ram 1500’s. It’s again  highlighted by the buzz-cut, forwarding-leaning grille that gives this truck much of its character. This pickup’s body itself is surprisingly aerodynamic, which helps reduce wind noise

The 2011 Ram 1500 comes in three cab styles: a two-door regular cab, an extended-length Quad Cab with two small rear doors, and the longer Crew Cab body with four conventional doors. The regular cab rides a 120.5-inch wheelbase and offers cargo-bed lengths of 6.3 feet and 8 feet. The 2011 Ram 1500 Quad Cab and Crew Cab use a 140.5-inch wheelbase. The Quad Cab has the 6.3-foot cargo box. The Crew Cab has a 5.6-foot box; all beds are wide enough to hold a 4x8 sheet laid flat.

The 2011 Ram 1500 returns a broad range of trim levels, from work-truck basic ST, better equipped SLT, lively Sport, and the luxury Laramie. Added to the SLT trim level for model-year 2011 is an Outdoorsman package that replaces the previous TRX version and includes assorted off-road upgrades. Also new is the luxury Laramie Longhorn package with a unique two-tone paint treatment and a rich leather and wood-trimmed interior.

The 2011 Ram 1500 remains the only full-size pickup to use coil-springs instead of leaf springs in conjunction with its solid rear axle. The affect is class-leading ride comfort and chassis control over bumps. Its towing capacity, when properly equipped, ranges from a meek 3,600 pounds with the V-6 all the way up to a class-competitive 10,450 with the Hemi.

Trucks like the 2011 Ram 1500 are categorized as “half-ton” pickups based on a loose definition of their payload, which is the maximum weight a truck can carry in passengers and cargo. Payload varies by body style, bed, and engine, but the 2011 Ram 1500’s payload ratings range from 1,340 pounds to 1,860. That’s generally class-competitive, though the 2011 Ford F-150 with its turbocharged V-6 claims a 3,060-pound payload ceiling. Heavier-duty versions of these pickups are also available. With beefier chassis and offering diesel engines, they’re tailored for commercial users, tradespeople, and serious towing. The Dodge Ram 2500, for example, falls into the three-quarter-ton category and the Ram 3500 into the one-ton category. The Ram 3500 has a payload ceiling of 5,130 pounds and can tow up to 17,500 pounds.  

The 2011 Ram 1500 trim configurations start with ST and SLT designations, ascend through Outdoorsman and Sport trims, and top-off with the Laramie. The Laramie is available as a Quad Cab and Crew Cab only; other Ram trims are available in all three cab styles. Technically, the Outdoorsman is a package available on SLT models and replaces the TRX version; it includes assorted off-road upgrades. Also new is the Longhorn package for Laramie models. Other packages include the sporty R/T for two-wheel-drive regular cabs; it adds a 4.10:1 performance axle ratio and 22-inch polished forged aluminum wheels, among other items  

Mechanical: The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 is available with an advanced new four-wheel-drive system but carries over the 2010 Ram 1500’s engine lineup. That’s a small surprise because many observers expected the 2011 Ram 1500 to be available with Chrysler’s new Pentastar V-6, which was introduced in the redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and is filtering through the 2011 Chrysler Group (Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram brands) lineup. The dual-overhead cam all-aluminum V-6 launches in a 3.6-liter displacement with horsepower ratings ranging between 280-305 and a minimum of 260 pound-feet of torque, depending on the model. The Pentastar eventually will replace seven less-sophisticated Chrysler Group V-6s and the company says it’ll bring an average 7 percent fuel efficiency improvement compared to those engines.   

At this point it looks like the Ram 1500 won’t get a Pentastar V-6 until model-year 2012 at the earliest, and it could well wait until the truck’s next major update, which is reportedly scheduled for model-year 2013.

When it does make it to the Ram 1500, it’ll be a welcome replacement for the base engine. That 3.7-liter V-6 has a mediocre 215 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque and labors to move this big truck. The V-6 is available only in two-wheel-drive (2wd) Rams and comes with an aged four-speed automatic transmission.

We recommend one of the V-8s available in the 2011 Ram 1500. Choices begin with a 4.7-liter V-8 rated at 310 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. It’s a good match for medium-duty work in this truck. Top-of-the heap is the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with 390 horsepower and 407 pound-feet of torque. Strong and smooth, this Hemi saves gas by automatically deactivating four cylinders in low-demand idle and cruising. Both V-8s use a five-speed automatic transmission.
Dodge was preparing to introduce a 2011 Ram 1500 Hybrid model but canceled the plan before production began. Aimed at maximizing fuel economy, the hybrid would have combined the Hemi V-8 with electric motors charged by on-board batteries. But slow sales of the similarly engineered Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid and Sierra 1500 Hybrid revealed very limited demand for gas-electric pickups.  

Like all full-size pickups, the 2011 Ram 1500 is based on a rear-wheel-drive design. Referred to in this context as two-wheel drive (2wd), rear-drive is an advantage when the cargo bed is full and there’s traction-enhancing weight over the wheels that also propel the truck. A 2wd pickup with a bed that’s empty or lightly loaded, however, can suffer poor grip on slippery surfaces. That’s where four-wheel drive (4wd) comes in.

The 2011 Ram 1500’s basic 4wd system apportions power between the front and rear wheels for better traction, but does not have a center differential that would allow it to remain engaged on dry pavement without risking drivetrain damage. This is referred to as part-time 4wd.

However, the 2011 Ram 1500 is one of only three full-size pickups (the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 /GMC Sierra 1500 are the others) to offer the convenience of full-time 4wd that can be left engaged on dry pavement. The driver can still choose to run in 2ed, but full-time 4wd is an advantage because the driver doesn’t need to monitor weather and road surfaced to decide when 4wd should be engaged and disengaged. And when the bed isn’t weighed down, it allows better grip in rain or on damp pavement, where part-time 4wd wouldn’t be suitable.

Full-time 4wd had been standard only on the Ram 1500’s top-line Laramie model. For 2011 it’s standard on the Sport version, too, and is included with the SLT’s Big Horn package. Moreover, the full-time 4wd system is Chrysler’s new Active Transfer Case and Front-axle Disconnect setup. These two independent technologies are not offered together by any other manufacturer. The system seamlessly transitions between 2wd and full-tine 4wd without driver intervention by disconnecting the front wheels from the drivetrain in order to reduce friction and rotational inertia. The Ram 1500’s previous full-time 4wd system did not feature this disconnect. Dodge says the new system provides a fuel economy improvement of 1 mpg (combined city/highway), optimal traction, and improved performance. Both Ram 1500 4wd systems include low-range gearing for off-road use.

Features: The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 continues to expand on an already broad choice of trim levels and options packages. Added for model-year 2011 in place of the former TRX4 configuration is the Ram 1500 Outdoorsman. This includes trailer-towing upgrades, lighting enhancements, all-terrain tires, and underbody protection for the benefit of active owners and off-road enthusiasts. Also newly available as a dealer-installed option is a fishing rod and gun rack that can hold two rifles or shotguns or six fishing rods.

Also added is the 2011 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn edition. This new flagship rides on 20-inch aluminum wheels but concentrates mostly on interior enhancements. It gets a dressier instrument panel trimmed in burled walnut and an interior than can be clad in a choice of two exclusive leather treatments, one with laser-etched filigrees to suggest a hand-worked southwestern appearance. The front seatbacks include saddlebag-like flap-closure pockets. In addition to the standard Laramie’s full feature set, the Longhorn adds items like a navigation system, remote starter, back-up camera, front ventilated seats, and rear heated seats.

The 2011 Ram 1500 is offered with an impressive array of cargo and convenience amenities. Foremost is a cargo bed with insulated, drainable, locking plastic bins built into its sides. Unfortunately it’s offered only on Crew Cab models. The four-door versions also come with in-floor storage bins with removable liners that can double as rolling coolers. A factory-applied spray-on bedliner is newly optional across the model line for 2011.

A plethora of useful cubbies and pockets makes the Ram 1500 a leader in in-cab storage, but a broader mix of cargo-box lengths – a long-bed Quad Cab, for example – would go a long way toward keeping up with its Ford F-150 and Silverado/GMC archrivals. The Ram 1500 is already among class leaders in infotainment, with available satellite TV, voice-activated navigation with real-time traffic and weather, USB iPod and Bluetooth cell-phone interface, even mobile WiFi for the truck and its perimeter. It’s available navigation system now includes software that’s supplied by GPS-industry leader Garmin.

We’re a little disappointed Dodge didn’t increase the 2011 Ram 1500’s appeal to commercial users by matching Ford’s innovative Tool Link system that uses radio frequency identification (RDF) to inventory and track tools stored aboard the truck.

All 2011 Ram 1500s include standard safety features that include head-protecting curtain side airbags for both front and rear seating rows and an antiskid system that includes trailer-sway control.
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Prices

The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 pricing hasn’t changed much from its 2010 levels and again depends on cab style, bed length, trim level, and options.

The base ST model with a standard cab starts out at $21,510; it’s $25,565 with a Quad Cab and $29,910 with a Crew Cab. Adding 4wd boosts those prices to $25,965, $29,975, and $33,130, respectively.  (All prices in this review include the manufacturer’s destination fee; Dodge’s fee for the 2011 Ram 1500 is $900.)

The 2011 Dodge Ram SLT versions are priced from $25,755 for a regular cab and $29,835 for a Quad Cab with 2wd and from $29,325 and $33,055, respectively, with 4wd. The Outdoorsman edition adds $2,595 to the cost of an SLT.

With 2wd, the 2011 Ram 1500 Sport Quad Cab has a base price of $34,800 and starts at $36,995 with a Crew Cab. With 4wd, base price is $34,360 for the Sport regular cab, $38,020 for the Sport Quad Cab, and $40,174 for the Sport Crew Cab.

The 2011 Dodge Ram Laramie has a base price of $37,580 for a 2wd Quad Cab and $39,340 for a 2wd Crew Cab; 4wd versions start $40,330 and $42,485, respectively. The Laramie Longhorn edition prices won’t be announced until early in calendar 2011.

Among prices for notable options, the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 on ST and SLT models is priced at $1,310, a rear backup camera is $200, the RamBox is $1,895, the rear-seat DVD and satellite-TV video combo is $1,695, and the spray-on bedliner costs $450. Load them with options, and prices for top-line Laramie models and upper-level SLT Crew Cabs can easily cross the $50,000 mark.
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Fuel Economy

The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 fuel-economy ratings are 14/20 for the 3.7-liter V-6, which comes only with 2wd.

Fuel-economy ratings are 14/19 mpg for 2wd Ram 1500s with the 4.7-liter V-8 and 14/20 for 2wd Ram 150s the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8.

Ram 1500s with 4wd and the 4.7-liter V-8 are rated 13/18 mpg and with 4wd and the 5.7-liter V-8 are rated at 13/19 mpg.

Dodge recommends mid-grade 89-octane gas for the Hemi. Ram’s other engines use less expensive regular 87-octane. The 4.7 V-8 can also run on E85 ethanol, but fuel economy declines by some 30 percent, to 9/13 with 4wd and 9/12 with 4wd.
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Release Date

The 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 went on sale in October 2010.
What's next for the Dodge Ram 1500

Today’s Ram 1500 traces its design to the half-ton Ram redesigned for model-year 2009 and should remain basically unchanged until model year 2013 at the earliest. Even then, the Ram 1500 isn’t likely to get a full redesign.

Expect some exterior styling updates, an upgraded interior, added high-tech connectivity and communications features, and – finally – the Pentastar V-6 engine in addition to or in place of the current V-6 and probably the 4.7-liter V-8, as well. The 5.7-liter Hemi will remain, though could see revisions to power ratings and perhaps even displacement. And some reports suggest Chrysler is looking at turbo, even twin-turbocharged editions of the Pentastar V-6 and displacements down to 3.0 liters. Ford is making waves by offering its EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6 in the 2011 F-150, so there’s a precedent for this sort of engine in a full-size pickup.    

Nearer term, there’s action on the Ram front, too. Italy’s Fiat in 2009 assumed control of the post-bankruptcy company now called Chrysler Group LLC and one of its first moves was to create a marketing divide between Dodge trucks and cars. It formed the separate “Ram” brand to concentrate on pickups and commercial vehicles. The Dodge brand will focus on cars and crossovers. The truck brand, by the way, retains the traditional ram’s-head symbol while the car brand uses a new logo that incorporates two red stripes at the end of the word Dodge. Some early speculation held that the strategy would enable Fiat to more easily sell off Ram as a turn-key truck operation. But it now looks as if Fiat is committed to retaining Ram as part of a global product strategy.      

We now know that strategy doesn’t include a Ram 1500 Hybrid, but whether it contains the possibility of a Ram 1500 diesel may be less certain. Half-ton diesel models were in the works for all three domestic pickup makers, as well for the Toyota Tundra. But the one-two punch of escalating fuel prices and the recession prompted them all to table those plans. Diesels promise more miles per gallon and substantially more torque than comparable gas engines. But the high initial purchase cost of a diesel and diesel fuel’s fluctuating price advantage/disadvantage relationship relative to gasoline have so far confined diesels to the three-quarter and one-ton pickup segments. What economic or regulatory circumstances might compel the manufacturers to reconsider half-ton diesel pickups are hard to predict.  

Complicating all of this is the fact that stricter federal fuel economy regulations are starting to phase in for model-year 2012, resulting in a substantial increase in automakers’ fleet-wide fuel economy which, for trucks will rise to 28.8 mpg by 2016. Fortunately for automakers and those with a need for heavy-duty hauling and towing needs, the federal government’s definition of “light trucks” includes the industry’s growing fleet of smaller and more efficient crossover SUVs. Still, the next generation of full-size trucks, including a future Ram 1500, will likely be leaner and offer more fuel-efficient engines to help meet the requirements.
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Competitors

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500/GMC Sierra 1500: Their last redesign was for model-year 2007, making these General Motors corporate cousins the elder statesmen among the most popular big pickups. But a fiercely loyal owner base, a solid basic design, keen pricing, and carefully considered upgrades have kept them second only to the F-Series trucks in sales. A variety of engines, cab and bed choices, and features mean they’re attractive for work and play, and they’re the only full-size pickups to offer a gas-electric hybrid model. Still, Silverado and Sierra are beginning to show their age with fewer leading-edge tech toys and slightly less accommodating crew-cab comfort. The next all-new Silverado/Sierra will likely arrive for model-year 2013 or 2014.    

2011 Ford F-150: America’s best-selling vehicle, car or truck, joined the Dodge Ram 1500 with a full redesign for model-year 2009, gaining evolutionary styling and some attractive new features. Cabs were enlarged, cargo beds got compartments and dividers, and the structure was improved for an outstandingly solid feel. The Ford arguably trails the Ram 1500 for refinement and handling, but the F-150 takes a big step forward on the powertrain front for model-year 2011 with sweeping changes to its engine lineup. These include introduction of the twin-turbocharged EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6 (365 horsepower, 420 pounds-feet of torque), a new 302-horsepower base V-6, and new V-8s of 360 and 411 horsepower. Look for the next all-new F-150 around model-year 2014.

2011 Toyota Tundra: Toyota jumped into the full-size fray with the model-year 2007 redesign of its half-ton pickup. Built in the U.S., Tundra has the size and power to tackle the domestic brands but hasn’t quite won over the serious-user and commercial audience. Tundra can seem more ponderous to drive than the domestic competition. And Ford and Dodge seem to be moving ahead on the infotainment and storage-innovation fronts. But this Toyota fights back with plenty of interior comfort, competitive towing and payload capability, and strong, smooth V-8 powertrains. Don’t expect major Tundra changes before model year 2014.

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If you live in Valdosta Georgia, Chevrolet Buick GMC Ford Lincoln Mercury Chrysler Dodge Toyota Nissan Jeep vehicles are just a short drive from your home or office; savings are closer than you think.  In fact, Chevrolet Buick GMC Ford Lincoln Mercury Chrysler Dodge Toyota Nissan Jeep goes the extra mile to ensure that your time and drive from Valdosta, GA or Lowndes

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Let us assist you in your research to find the new or used Chevrolet Buick GMC Ford Lincoln Mercury Chrysler Dodge Toyota Nissan Jeep car or truck car that best fits your lifestyle.  Chevrolet Buick GMC Ford Lincoln Mercury Chrysler Dodge Toyota Nissan Jeep has been helping consumers in Valdosta Georgia find the perfect vehicle for years.  In fact, you can call us to learn about our current Chevrolet Buick GMC Ford Lincoln Mercury Chrysler Dodge Toyota Nissan Jeep sale.

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2011 Ford Explorer
The Blue Oval has finally unveiled the new generation 2011 Ford Explorer, after a long line of more or less teaser images. The 2011 Ford Explorer will be powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine developing 290 hp and 255 lb.-ft. of torque that promises to offer the best in class fuel economy with a 5,000 pounds towing capability. The 2011 Ford Explorer will also be made available with an EcoBoost 2.0-liter I-4 engine developing 237 hp at 5,000 rpm and 250 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,700 and 4,000 rpm. The 2011 Ford Explorer will be offered with a unique six-speed transmission and a SelectShift Automatic transmission on the XLT and Limited trim levels.

To better cope with the off-road bit of its life, the 2011 Ford Explorer comes with a new 4WD
system and a terrain management that offers the driver the choice between four settings on a center console-mounted knob.

The equipment list of the 2011 Ford Explorer includes a Sony Audio System with HD Radio, an SD card reader and RCA video input jacks and a an 8-inch LCD screen with intuitive five-way controls.

The 2011 Ford Explorer price list will be announced at a later date.
Ford Press Release:

The all-2011 Ford Explorer will offer SUV customers a broad range of trim levels and customer convenience and connectivity technologies that will raise the eyebrows among even luxury SUV owners.

“Today’s SUV customers really aren’t interested in compromising,” said Amy Marentic, group marketing manager. “They want luxury, convenience and technology with their all-road capability. Until now, they had to choose a luxury SUV to get the features they want – a feature level that      Send through Y!M               E-mail this
2011 Ford Explorer 2011 Ford Explorer Photos
this all-new, industry-leading Explorer now exceeds.”

The 2011 Ford Explorer challenges the SUV status quo by offering luxury levels of convenience, connectivity and technology. From the highly equipped base model that includes MyFord driver connect technology through the volume-series XLT to the luxurious Limited series, Explorer provides SUV buyers unexpected technologies and conveniences normally found in premium SUVs.
    Blind spot monitoring, which looks out for the driver when backing from a parking spot with limited visibility, adaptive cruise control that safely monitors vehicles ahead, and active park assist that aids in finding and executing a parallel parking maneuver all represent technologies a buyer might expect to find when shopping premium SUVs. The 2011 Ford Explorer offers these and more.

Base is the new well-equipped

The base Explorer delivers a strong package of customer convenience and technology features, with the following items as standard equipment:

-Hill start assist
-Dual chrome exhaust tips
-Projector-style headlamps
-Power remote sideview mirror
-LED taillamps
-Air filtration system
-Media hub, including an auxiliary input jack
-Four 12-volt power points
-Second- and third-row dome/map lights
-Tilt/telescoping steering column
-Steering wheel-mounted five-way and secondary audio controls
-Cruise control
-Power windows with one-touch driver’s down
-Single CD/MP3-capable six-speaker audio system
-MyKey owner control feature
-Keyless entry remote

The base Explorer features cloth seats with first-row adjustable buckets, a 60/40 split fold-flat bench seat in the second row, and a 50/50 third-row split folding bench.

XLT volume series adds tasteful touches

The all-new 2011 Explorer XLT offers all the base model equipment with a higher level of harmonizing chrome and satin-finish accent trim, 18-inch aluminum wheels, unique cloth seating, leather covering for steering wheel and shift knob, SelectShift Automatic transmission, SecuriCode keyless entry keypad, fog lamps, SIRIUS Satellite Radio (including a prepaid six-month subscription in 48 contiguous states), perimeter alarm and reverse sensing system.

Customers specifying Explorer XLT models are offered broader option choices, including the following packages:

-Driver Connection Package includes MyFord Touch driver connect technology with two driver-configurable LCD cluster screens, an 8-inch color touch screen in the center stack, expanded media hub with USB ports, an SD card reader and RCA video input jacks, Ford SYNC and electrochromic interior rearview mirror

-Comfort Package includes leather-trimmed, heated seats with 10-way power adjustment for driver and six-way power adjustment for first-row passenger. Also includes four-way first-row head restraints

A premium audio system with eight speakers, rear view camera and dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control is also available.

Explorer XLT also offers a dual-panel moonroof, power-operated liftgate, BLIS with cross-traffic alert, inflatable second-row seat belts for outboard seating positions, 20-inch polished aluminum wheels, and premium paint colors – White Platinum Metallic Tri-Coat and Red Candy Tinted Clearcoat – as stand-alone options.

Range-topping Limited adds more luxury

SUV buyers seeking luxury with their capability will be impressed with the generous levels of convenience and connectivity technologies offered in the 2011 Ford Explorer Limited. From remote start through a 10-way leather-trimmed driver’s seat to adjustable pedals with memory settings, Limited takes Explorer luxury to a higher level.

Visual distinction is assured with a unique body-color grille, body-color PowerFold sideview mirrors with memory functionality, and 20-inch painted aluminum wheels.

Explorer Limited includes all of the feature content offered in the XLT, plus:

-Ambient lighting
-Adjustable pedals with memory
-Cargo net
-Dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control
-Leather-trimmed, heated seats
-10-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar and recline
-Six-way power first-row passenger seat with lumbar and recline
-Second-row 60/40 split bench seat with armrest and dual cupholders
-Electrochromic interior rearview mirror
-Sony Audio System with high-definition radio and 12 speakers
-Rear view camera
-Remote start
-110-volt outlet
- SYNC voice-activated communications and entertainment system
-Intelligent Access with push-button start
-Universal garage door opener

The most luxurious Explorer model also comes standard with MyFord Touchdriver connect technology. This includes a pair of cluster-mounted driver-configurable displays, an 8-inch LCD color touch screen in the center stack with compass and temperature display, media hub with a pair of USB ports, and an SD card reader and RCA video input jacks. Explorer Limited offers five-way supplemental controls on the steering wheel.

The 2011 Ford Explorer Limited can be further enhanced with a pair of series-specific option packages that add even more luxury, convenience and safety:

-Limited Package 1adds the voice-activated Navigation System, a single CD/MP3 player, SD card for map and point-of-interest storage, and integrated SIRIUS Travel Link. Also included are perforated leather-trimmed seats with heating and cooling functionality for driver and first-row passenger, PowerFoldthird-row seating, a 10-way power adjustable first-row passenger seat with power lumbar and a power-assisted liftgate

-Limited Package 2provides active park assist, adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, rain-sensing wipers, BLIS with cross-traffic alert and HID headlamps

Explorer Limited also offers second-row captain’s chairs and a second-row console for SUV buyers placing a higher priority on rear seat luxury and seating comfort.

“All these features help the all-2011 Ford Explorer challenge the notion of what SUVs can offer customers,” Marentic said. “This level of luxury, capability, convenience and connectivity, combined with jaw-dropping fuel efficiency, is the kind of leadership today’s SUV customers need and appreciate, coming from a nameplate they know and trust – Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle has been reinvented from the ground up to provide drivers with significantly improved on-road driving dynamics, new four-wheel-drive (4WD) capabilities and an intuitive-to-operate terrain management system.

“Explorer customers asked us to improve the on-road driving experience,” said Jim Holland, chief nameplate engineer. “Yet they want the ‘any road, anytime, anywhere, in all weather’ confidence and capability Explorer always has delivered. With its unique and intuitively operated terrain management system, the 4WD model offers easily accessed, selectable modes for maximum traction and control in a variety of off-the-beaten-track situations.”

Explorer road dynamics

The Explorer shift to a unibody platform has enabled significantly improved on-road dynamics. Fully independent front and rear suspension, EPAS, a robust front stabilizer bar, and careful suspension development and tuning provide confidence-building vehicle behavior and handling characteristics.

In front, Explorer features a short- and long-arm suspension configuration, with progressive springs designed to give a smooth ride across a variety of road surfaces and load conditions. Unique dampers are specified to enhance dynamic driving and handling, without wallow or jounce. A 32-millimeter front stabilizer bar helps keep Explorer stable in cornering situations.

EPAS enabled the Explorer dynamics team to tune steering for a variety of conditions. In low-speed parking maneuvers, the system adds boost for easy negotiation of tight spots, with a segment-competitive turning radius. Power assist is reduced at speed to provide increased communicative steering feedback. Variable assistance allows Explorer to optimize steering behavior to boost driver confidence across a wide variety of driving conditions.

EPAS – in addition to saving weight and helping increase fuel economy because of reduced parasitic drag on the engine – also enables optional active park assist functionality.

Explorer rear suspension consists of SR1 – so-named for its 1:1 shock absorber ratio. For each wheel movement, the dampers make the same motion in the same cadence. This harmony enables easier tuning for ride and handling by vehicle dynamics engineers, as a stable baseline is inherent to the configuration. SR1 eliminates undesirable ride motions from counter reactions.

Explorer on-road dynamics have been benchmarked against luxury SUVs such as the BMW X5 and Audi Q7.

Intelligent 4WD with terrain management system

The 2011 Ford Explorer democratizes 4WD technology, previously limited to luxury SUVs. Models equipped with intelligent 4WD with terrain management use technology to provide the driver with security and confidence in a variety of climate and surface conditions.

Terrain management gives the driver a choice between four settings on a center console-mounted knob. Each setting has a unique engine calibration, throttle command, transmission shift schedule, traction and stability control calibration – all optimized to a range of driving situations.

The four settings are normal, mud and ruts, sand, and snow.

In normal 4WD operation, torque is biased to the front wheels, sending power to the rear wheels as necessary as dictated by conditions and slip.

Mud and ruts mode allows cautious torque demand at the top end of the throttle, getting more aggressive as needed. The transmission holds lower gears longer to prevent unwanted transmission upshifts, while stability control is desensitized to help maintain vehicle momentum through rutted, soft or uneven surfaces.

Sand mode enables an aggressive throttle to immediately maximize wheel torque, while causing the transmission to hold lower gears for as long as possible. Traction control is desensitized in sand mode to allow wheel spin.

Snow mode allows less wheel spin, provides more cautious throttle control, enables earlier transmission upshifts, and allows a higher level of traction control sensitivity to limit wheel spin.

Intelligent 4WD with terrain management also includes Hill Descent Control. This stability control system feature is intended to control vehicle speed and acceleration during low-speed descents off the beaten path, or low-grip on-road situations. A technology shared with best-selling F-Series trucks, Hill Descent Control operates by recognizing downhill gradients and limits Explorer to a predetermined target speed.

Class III towing

Explorer V6 models can be equipped to tow up to 5,000 pounds. Trailer brake control wiring is included, in addition to trailer sway control – a feature borrowed from the Ford F-150. Trailer sway senses side-to-side trailer movement and uses stabilization controls to keep the vehicle/trailer combination in confident control.

A tow/haul mode, engaged by an instrument panel-mounted button, optimizes the shift schedule to help the vehicle in hilly situations. A rear view camera with zoom feature helps the Explorer driver to line up perfectly for every trailer hookup. Explorer offers competitive towing capability combined with a class-leading array of towing aid technologies.

Explorer continues the tradition of capability, with enhanced accessibility of 4WD empowerment and towing strength while taking on-road dynamics to a new level

The new 2011 Ford Explorer has been reinvented, raising the bar on SUV safety by combining technologies to help avoid crashes with those that set new standards of protection in the event of one. The comprehensive Explorer safety story adds new features plus an innovative new Ford safety technology – inflatable rear seat belts.

“The 2011 Ford Explorer combines – all at once – our best technologies to not only help prevent a crash, but to help prevent injuries to occupants when a crash is unavoidable,” said Erika Low, Ford safety supervisor. “The use of high-strength steels such as boron in the Explorer body structure also offers a greater level of protection, while meeting the most stringent roof crush standards.”

Explorer showcases Ford’s commitment to crash prevention by offering buyers an unprecedented array of crash avoidance technologies.

World’s first inflatable rear seat belts

The 2011 Ford Explorer offers a Ford technology unique in the automotive industry in the first-ever inflatable second-row seat belts. Rear seat passengers – often children or mature passengers – can be more vulnerable to head, chest and neck injuries.

Rear inflatable seat belts demonstrate Ford’s ongoing commitment to occupant safety. The Ford inflatable belts spread impact forces across five times more area than conventional seat belts. This reduces pressure on the chest while helping to control head and neck motion.

Belt comfort also should help increase usage rates. Studies show inflatable belts to be more comfortable for passengers due to padding.

Explorer reduces distraction, warns, intercedes The Ford SYNC hands-free, voice-activated integrated communications and entertainment system combines with MyFord Touch driver connect technology to keep drivers focused on driving with their eyes on the road and hands on the steering wheel.

The 2011 Ford Explorer also comes equipped with a host of technologies to help prevent crashes – from parking lot fender benders to high-speed collisions – by warning drivers of crash potential. These technologies include options such as:

-BLIS (Blind Spot Information System)
-Cross-traffic alert
-Adaptive cruise control
-Collision warning with brake support
-Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Dynamic avoidance technologies include AdvanceTrac electronic stability control with RSCand the world’s first application of Curve Control, a new Ford feature designed to enhance vehicle braking in instances of excessive speed in turning or curve conditions.

Collision warning with brake support and Curve Control actually apply the brakes when these systems sense situation irregularity, helping the driver to avoid an incident by bringing the vehicle back in safe control.

Ford-exclusive MyKeyallows parents to preset limits on vehicle speed and audio system volume levels. In addition, MyKey prevents deactivation of dynamic control systems such as AdvanceTrac and enables parents to set speed warnings. MyKey is a critical factor in minimization and prevention of young driver distraction and risk. Ford’s Belt-Minderprovides a persistent warning when drivers and front seat passengers fail to buckle seat belts.

Structural safety and crash protection

Explorer features a unibody configuration body structure. Nearly half of this stiff shell is comprised of high-strength steels, such as boron. A-pillars, rocker panels and front beams are boron, for both increased strength and reduced weight. In addition, this structure was designed and developed to exceed stringent rollover standards.

Explorer features Ford’s Trinity front crash structure, so-named for its three components designed to absorb crash forces in the event of an incident.

The initial component is the high-strength boron front beam that absorbs crash forces on impact. These forces then transfer to the shotgun rails, developed to divert impact to the A-pillars and the stiff roof structure. Shotgun rails constitute the second component within the Trinity structure. The third element is an engine cradle designed to break away and drop downward in the event of a frontal impact.

When a crash becomes unavoidable, Explorer relies on a class-leading complement of airbags to protect occupants. Two front and two side second-generation airbags are joined by a Safety Canopyconsisting of side curtain airbags for all three rows of passenger seating. Personal Safety System seat belts feature pretensioners and an energy management system with adjustable height in the first row.

Outboard second-row seat locations include the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system for attaching child safety seats. Explorer also features an SOS Post-Crash Alert System, while SYNC-equipped models offer 911 Assist functionality. In the event of an accident that results in airbag deployment or fuel system cutoff, the vehicle automatically dials the emergency operator. There is no subscription charge for this SYNC-based service

The 2011 Ford Explorer has been redesigned from bottom to top, inside and out, to reflect a contemporary vision of what customers today want in a modern SUV.

“Ford has changed everything about the 2011 Ford Explorer, yet it’s still instantly and instinctively recognizable as a Ford Explorer,” said Moray Callum, executive director of North America Design. “We believe that’s because it’s a contemporary interpretation of the same capabilities Explorer has always stood for, without compromise.”

“The 2011 Ford Explorer combines bold, evocative design language with a wind- and noise-cheating aerodynamic shape on a rigid unibody platform,” said Melvin Betancourt, design manager. “Explorer has the height, stance, ground clearance and SUV cues that clearly indicate its off-the-beaten-path capabilities.”

The Explorer design team was challenged with reinterpreting the segment-defining icon as a modern, contemporary SUV for the 21st century.

“The 2011 Ford Explorer starts with proportions and stance,” Betancourt said. “Its agile, fluid lines combine with the muscular toned sheet metal, delivering athletic good looks and unsurpassed aerodynamics. The liftgate spoiler lip and the flexible lower air dam – integrated into the fascia – harmonize to provide wind tunnel-proven fuel economy. Blackened rockers lift the eye, denoting Explorer’s rugged four-wheel-drive capability and driver empowerment.”

Strong, body-color C-pillars and blackened D-pillars are traditional Explorer cues, while the blackened A-pillars and B-pillars provide a fresh new wraparound daylight opening.

Explorer’s design is connected to Ford brand DNA through wheel flares inspired by the current Mustang and a body-side undercut that follows current Taurus design protocol, Betancourt explained. “Up front, Explorer has a new interpretation of the Ford signature three-bar grille. Below the bumper, the Ford DNA trapezoidal lower grille provides visual continuity across Ford vehicles on the showroom floor.”

Standard roof rack, rounded corners, shorter overhang, and aggressive wheels and tires provide the rugged cues that customers recognize in an SUV.

From the rear, LED stop lamps glow from the jewel-like taillamp cluster. The Explorer name projects from the rear liftgate appliqué.

Inside Explorer: Soft touches and upscale seating for seven

As with the exterior, the Explorer interior design brief was to modernize, making soft-touch surfaces and occupant comfort key priorities. A goal was to make the Explorer interior a three-row medium for the technology, convenience and connectivity it contains, while inspiring driver confidence in dynamic driving on any road, anytime, anywhere.

The feeling of the interior is one of an upscale, premium vehicle, from the choice of materials to the high levels of fit-and-finish.

“Make it look expensive: That was my goal for the 2011 Ford Explorer interior,” said Mike Arbaugh, interior studio manager. “This is a vehicle that challenges higher-end SUVs like BMW X5 and Audi Q7, so the interior design, craftsmanship and fit-and-finish should play in that league.”

The 2011 Ford Explorer interior package is a best-of-both-worlds approach, combining premium European design cues – imparting a sense of driving dynamics – with a sophisticated and uniquely American familiarity. The graceful, seamless flow from instrument panel into the doors and the forward-leaning center stack reflect the sporty, European theme while the command seating position bestows the sense of security so important to SUV buyers.

The Explorer interior package also reflects the latest iteration of Ford DNA storage thoughtfully arranged throughout the cabin, including clever spaces for everything active families like to take along.

“As a designer and an audiophile, I’m really excited about the metal speaker grilles in the door panels,” said Arbaugh. “They impart SUV ruggedness, they look technical and expensive, and they offer superior sound transparency.”

Instrument and door panels all reflect soft-touch surfaces, making the Explorer interior environment more pleasing from both aesthetic and tactile perspectives. Cloth interior surfaces – including the black headliner – are comprised of 25 percent recycled content. Seating foam from environmentally friendly soy-based content helps Explorer keep it green.

“The modern design, soft-touch surfaces and chrome accents harmonize to give the 2011 Ford Explorer an upscale aura we think customers will really appreciate in a three-row, fully capable SUV,” said Arbaugh. “The media hub and MyFord Touch driver connect technology not only reflects SUV buyer lifestyles, it enhances them.”

World-class craftsmanship

The 2011 Ford Explorer elevates the importance of SUV fit-and-finish, not just for North American customers but on a global stage. Explorer is the most exported North American nameplate in the Ford brand portfolio. To that end, the 2011 Explorer was designed and developed to exceed not only North American standards, but global standards for the execution of interior surfaces and the absence of protruding edges.

Meeting these global standards called for tighter surface margin gaps and tolerances, equal to or better than Audi. While this presented some challenges for the interior design team, it also served to underpin the advance in Explorer interior craftsmanship and quality.

A global internal Ford craftsmanship and quality process was instituted with Explorer development, providing metrics and benchmarks to include better quality materials, with enhanced focus on how well interior and exterior parts come together.

Taken to new heights

As part of Ford’s global product development system, Explorer was subject to extreme testing while still in the virtual computer-aided design phase. Issues identified and addressed in the virtual realm help deliver a higher quality vehicle when prototype build begins. Then these running prototypes are tested and validated to ensure that the attributes targeted at the outset are delivered for customers.

The Explorer vehicle engineering team took prototypes over Colorado’s 13,114-foot Imogene Pass, buried them in deep sand in the California desert, carved through snow in Minnesota and Northern Michigan, traversed a slippery red clay mud bog in Alabama, and logged countless development and validation miles at both Arizona and Michigan proving grounds.

The goal: Deliver a durable, high-quality, fully capable and fuel-efficient SUV for today’s customers in more than 90 countries around the world.

Quietly capable

The 2011 Explorer was designed and developed to deliver best-in-class levels of NVH control and to rival premium SUVs in quietness. Customer research told the Explorer development team that the interior of an SUV should be serene and soothing.

Explorer’s quiet ride began in the design phase. A unibody configuration with fewer parts means reduced opportunity for squeaks and rattles. The front bolster housing the radiator is one single component, whereas a key competitor requires 11 separate pieces to perform the identical function. In addition, Explorer features a hydroformed front structure to add strength, save weight and reduce NVH.

Explorer development employed NoiseVision technology and statistical modeling to optimize NVH balance. NoiseVision consists of a sphere with hundreds of tiny cameras and microphones that allow engineers to pinpoint individual sounds at various frequency bands. This enables isolation and correction of potential noises early in the process.

To provide a quiet ride, Explorer features acoustic-laminated glass, an acoustic headliner, a driver’s side hush panel, full-perimeter hood seal, underbelly pan, a lofted high-density hood insulator, mass-backed barrier carpet and mastic floor treatment. Inner-dash and tunnel insulators, a dash doubler, a spare tire carpet cover door, liftgate and pillar trim absorbers all contribute to interior quietness.

Statistical modeling was employed to tune Explorer sounds. Customers prefer some engine noise – upon acceleration, for example. This analytical measure helps engineers to balance eradication of unwanted sounds, yet accommodate for sounds that appeal to drivers

Ford’s iconic Explorer has been reinvented and redeveloped to create new expectations for SUV fuel efficiency and performance. It will be the new class leader in its segment with fuel economy improvements reaching more than 30 percent.

“This 2011 Ford Explorer adds class-leading fuel efficiency to a legendary portfolio of capability, performance and customer convenience,” said Jim Holland, chief nameplate engineer. “SUV customers in general – and Explorer customers specifically – told us they want the freedom and empowerment Explorer always has stood for, with improved performance and significantly increased fuel economy.”

Offering two new engines – the technologically advanced turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder that is the latest in the Ford Motor Company EcoBoost commitment and a responsive, fuel-efficient V6 – the 2011 Ford Explorer balances capability with environmental responsibility.

Explorer V6 sets new standard

The Explorer 3.5-liter V6 is offered as standard equipment across base, XLT and Limited models. Delivering an anticipated improvement in fuel economy of more than 20 percent versus the current Explorer, this smooth and powerful V6 enables intelligent four-wheel drive (4WD) with terrain management. The improvement in efficiency helps Explorer to surpass fuel economy figures for the 2010 Honda Pilot and other vehicles in the segment.

Using Ti-VCT for optimized fuel economy and reduced part-throttle emissions, this engine delivers an estimated 290 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of torque.

This V6 engine has been highly developed for the Explorer application, with multiple actions that enhance mechanical efficiency, increase fuel economy, lower emissions, reduce operating costs and bolster durability.

Mechanical efficiency, performance and fuel economy have been improved through Ti-VCT, a low-tension drive belt featuring a one-way clutch for the alternator, a direct-acting mechanical bucket (DAMB) valvetrain with polished buckets to reduce friction, piston-cooling jets, improved bay-to-bay breathing through the cylinder block and composite cam covers that reduce engine weight.

Ti-VCT allows precise, variable control of valve overlap, or the time when intake and exhaust valves are open concurrently. This enables increased mechanical efficiency for improved response and performance, while optimizing fuel economy. In part-throttle conditions, Ti-VCT helps reduce emissions.

The 3.5-liter V6 also features improved deceleration fuel shutoff technology to maximize fuel economy in closed-throttle situations.

The Explorer V6 has been engineered for durability with a chain-driven camshaft, high-strength forged powder metal connecting rods with floating pins, fully counterweighted forged steel crankshaft, a die-cast aluminum deep-sump oil pan and four-bolt main bearing caps with side bolts through the engine block.

Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics are controlled and reduced through a tuned composite upper and lower manifold, the silent-chain cam drive and an acoustic engine cover.

The Explorer 3.5-liter V6 delivers best-in-class fuel economy yet offers power to tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

EcoBoost 2.0-liter I-4 delivers normally aspirated V6 punch

For SUV drivers seeking maximum fuel efficiency, Ford introduces the 2011 Ford Explorer with an available EcoBoost2.0-liter I-4. Combining direct injection of gasoline and turbocharging, this advanced engine delivers performance comparable to normally aspirated competitive V6 engines. Developing up to 237 horsepower at 5,500 rpm, this I-4 delivers 250 lb.-ft. of torque.

Estimated fuel economy improves by more than 30 percent, putting the fuel efficiency of the Ford Explorer in line with sedans such as the 2010 Toyota Camry V6.

Like other Ford EcoBoost engines, peak torque is generated at a low 1,700 rpm across a broad band to 4,000 rpm. This torque plateau makes for flexible, efficient power delivery across a wide range of engine and vehicle speeds, while helping save fuel by making power at lower rpm levels. Ti-VCT, four valves per cylinder and DAMB valve lifters increase mechanical efficiency through improved engine breathing across the broad power and torque bands.

A relatively high compression ratio is enabled by the use of direct gasoline injection, operating at fuel pressures from 2,200 to 2,800 psi. The unique turbocharger is optimally matched to the EcoBoost I-4 engine and SUV vehicle performance behavior. Precise fuel pressure control allows the Explorer I-4 to deliver boosted power at low rpm, without annoying turbo lag.

The EcoBoost I-4 uses 5W30-GF4 oil to reduce friction and reduce cost of ownership through 10,000-mile oil change intervals.

Targeted durability is 10 years, or 150,000 miles. Durability actions include enhanced oil filtration and cleanliness, the addition of an aluminum oil cooler with improved heat dissipation and cast inter-bore cooling inside the aluminum engine block. This engine represents the initial U.S.-market application of the brick-style charge-air cooler, delivering increased thermal efficiency.

The new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine is being introduced globally by Ford Motor Company, with applications in various products in Europe, Asia and Australia, in addition to the 2011 Ford Explorer.

EcoBoost technology will serve as a key element in Ford’s global sustainability efforts, powering up to 1.3 million vehicles on an annual basis by 2013.

Six-speed transmissions help performance and economy

The unique six-speed transmission paired with each Explorer offers performance and economy advantages with the flexibility of optimum gearing for every situation. Lower gears provide the benefit of improved acceleration from a full stop, while higher gears help increase fuel economy by allowing the engine to operate at lower speeds when cruising.

Explorer XLT and Limited models offer a SelectShift Automatic transmission, allowing drivers to manually change gears using a shifter-mounted +/- toggle switch.

Explorer powertrains have been developed to provide SUV drivers with the power and capability they expect and deserve, coupled with the fuel economy they really want.

2011 Ford F-150
The 2011 Ford F-150 is almost certain to feature two – maybe three -- new engines. All are promising and one is positively radical for a mainstream truck. No other automaker has dared offered a full-size pickup with a twin-turbo V-6, but Ford’s new EcoBoost engine will likely be the premium powerplant in the 2011 F-150. And the company’s hot new “Coyote” V-8 will likely become the base engine for the F-150, America’s top-selling vehicle, car or truck.

Should you wait for the 2011 Ford F-150 or buy a 2010 F-150? Wait for the 2011 F-150 if you want to blaze a trail into a new age of half-ton pickup power and fuel efficiency. Buy a 2010 F-150 if you’re more comfortable trusting the three-V-8 lineup this truck has used since its model-year 2009 debut.
2011 Ford F-150 Changes

Styling: Any 2011 Ford F-150 styling alterations would take a backseat to big changes under the hood. Don’t expect styling to change beyond perhaps a tweak to the grille, altered trim details, maybe a new wheel design or two. That spells a repeat of the blunt nose, square-rigged body, and ribbed tailgate unveiled when the F-150 was redesigned for model year 2009. The 2011 F-150 will return with three cab styles: the three-passenger two-door regular-cab; the six-passenger four-door SuperCab with small, rear-hinged back doors; and the six-passenger SuperCrew crew cab with four conventional side doors. Cargo boxes should continue in 5.5-, 6.5-, and 8-foot lengths and will be available with a fold-away bed extender, movable dividers, and deployable bed and tailgate steps. Appearance, of course, will get fancier as you ascend the model ladder. Expect the 2011 line to mirror 2010’s, beginning with the workhorse XL model. Up next would be the volume-selling XLT models, with sporty STX and off-road-fortified FX4 editions available, as well. Luxury duties should again be handled by Lariat, King Ranch, and top-of-the-line Platinum models. The Platinum has a satin chrome grille with fine-mesh inserts, heated front and rear seats, and cabin accents of real wood and aluminum. Ford’s SVT high-performance division will again field the Raptor, a regular-cab F-150 modified in the fashion of an off-road-racing truck. F-150 interior décor spans cloth-upholstery Spartan to stitched-leather sybaritic. All models have slightly retro-style instrumentation and a monolithic central stack of climate and audio controls that also hosts the 6.5-inch screen for the available navigation system.

Mechanical: It’s a question of when, not if, Ford will introduce its EcoBoost V-6 to the F-150 lineup. This fully modern dual-overhead-cam 3.5-liter uses two turbochargers and direct fuel injection. It debuted for model-year 2010 in several Ford/Lincoln products, notably the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO and 2010 Lincoln MKS sedans and 2010 Ford Flex crossover SUV. In those applications it makes 355-365 horsepower with 350 pound-feet of torque at around 1500 rpm. Speculation is that it’ll pack 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet in the F-150. The idea is to furnish V-8 power with V-6 fuel economy. Ford sources say it the twin-turbo V-6 weigh something like 175 pounds less and be 15-20 percent more fuel efficient than the 2010 F-150’s top engine choice, a 320-horsepower 5.4-liter V-8. Ford maintains the EcoBoost V-6 is suitable for moderately heavy towing duty, too. High tech means high cost, however, so the EcoBoost is likely to be the uplevel 2011 F-150 engine. The base choice would be Ford’s new dual-overhead-cam 5.0-liter V-8. Dubbed “Coyote,” this naturally aspirated engine is also slated for duty in the Ford Mustang. In the F-150, look for power ratings similar the EcoBoost V-6, but with conventional V-8 torque characteristics. Some reports suggest the 2011 F-150 may also become available with Ford’s new 6.2-liter V-8. All these engines will likely use a six-speed automatic transmission. Introduction of the EcoBoost V-6 and the two new V-8s would represent a fully new engine lineup for the F-150. That roster for model-year 2010 consisted of three V-8s: a 248- and a 292-horsepower 4.6-liter and the 320-horsepower 5.4. Torque topped out at 320-pound feet on the 4.6s and 390 on the 5.4. Towing and payload ratings for 2011 should approximate 2010’s maximums of 11,300 pounds and 3,030 pounds, respectively. All 2011 F-150s will again come with anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes and Ford’s AdvanceTrac antiskid system. Two-wheel drive (2WD) will be the default setup, with all models available with a part-time four-wheel-drive system (4WD) that includes low-range gearing but is not intended for use on dry pavement.       

Features: The 2011 Ford F-150 can be outfitted to help you work and play. On-the-job conveniences include an in-dash computer with Internet access and a wireless mouse and printer. Ford’s optional Tool Link uses radio frequency identification (RDF) to inventory and track tools and equipment stored onboard. Optional metal steps slide from beneath the sides or rear of the truck for easier bed access and the tailgate can be fitted with a fold-up handle to assist entry. Towing is enhanced with available integrated trailer-brake control and with sway control that automatically applies selected brakes or modulates engine power to calm wayward truck/trailer motion. An available rearview camera helps the driver aim during trailer hitching. The available Ford/Microsoft Sync system provides hands-free control of cell phone and audio functions and can furnish turn-by-turn directions, sports scores, and movie times. The available voice-activated navigation system can display real-time weather maps and localized fuel prices. USB iPod connectivity and 5.1 surround-sound audio also are available. Standard on most F-150 models is MyKey, Ford’s teen-driver-safety programmable ignition key that limits top speed to 80 mph, audio volume to 44 percent of maximum, and sounds persistent reminders of unbuckled seat belts. All F-150s come with head-protecting side curtain airbags for all seating rows.
2011 Ford F-150 Prices

Prices for the 2011 Ford F-150 had not been released in time for this review but Ford will no doubt endeavor to hold the line. That won’t be easy, given the likelihood of an engine lineup that’s more expensive by virtue of being more advanced. The Coyote V-8, for example, has a dual-overhead-cam, four-valve-per-cylinder design versus the 2010 F-150’s simpler single-overhead-cam two- and three-valve V-8s. As uplevel powerplants, the EcoBoost V-6 and the 6.2-liter-V-8 would likely carry a premium of several thousand dollars.

Still, the 2011 Ford F-150 price spread should remain within reach of a wide audience. Expect 2011 F-150 pricing to begin around $22,000 for the entry-level LX regular-cab model. (Estimated prices in this review include the manufacturer’s destination fee; Ford’s fee for the 2010 F-150 was $975.)

Figure STX models to start around $25,120, and XLTs at about $26,000. The popular XLT SuperCab should be priced from around $30,000. Estimated base price for the Lariat models is $34,000 and for the off-road-oriented FX4 is $35,000. Figure the 2011 F-150 King Ranch and F-150 SVT Raptor to start around $40,000 and the Platinum edition to begin around $43,000.
2011 Ford F-150 Fuel Economy

Fuel-economy is a relative term when it comes to full-size pickups but it’s a growing consideration among buyers and a focus of much automaker engineering. For example, Ford imbued every 2010 F-150 with mileage-enhancing tweaks previously reserved for a special SFE (Super Fuel Economy) model. That boosted economy slightly, but the best any 2010 F-150 could do in EPA ratings was 15/21 mpg (city/highway) for a 2WD regular-cab with the base engine. With 4WD, most versions were rated at 14/18 mpg. Actually, those ratings put the 2010 F-150 among the most-fuel efficient gas-engine full-size pickups, but only by a mile or two per gallon city/highway.

EPA fuel-economy estimates for 2011 models had not been released in time for this review, but expect 2011 Ford F-150 fuel economy to equal and in some cases beat the 2010 F-150 numbers.

The highlight would be the EcoBoost V-6, which Ford sources suggest would earn a rating of 16/23 mpg (city/highway). No word on whether Ford would recommend or require 2011 F-150 EcoBoost owners to use higher-priced premium-grade gas. In its other applications, Ford says the EcoBoost will run fine on 87 octane but recommends premium-grade 91-octane or above to extract its full performance.
2011 Ford F-150 Release Date

The 2011 Ford F-150 should be in showrooms by autumn 2010.
What's next for the Ford F-150

Ford for a couple of years evidently was considering a smaller, lighter “baby F-150” tagged, appropriately enough, the F-100. That plan was scuttled, but its goal of a pickup that incorporates weight savings in the name of fuel economy lives on in the F-150 program.

That objective will likely become evident in any number of engineering efficiencies but the best opportunity for mileage gains remains in the area of powertrains. That’s where the EcoBoost V-6 comes in and it’ll quite likely lead to a future F-150 model (think model-year 2013) with a four-cylinder EcoBoost. With a displacement of under 3.0-liters, the F-150 EcoBoost four-cylinder would have performance akin to, say, the soon-to-be discontinued 248-horsepower 4.6-liter V-8 but use significantly less gas.

There’s an outside chance Ford could resurrect plans to offer a diesel V-8 in the F-150, an engine typically reserved for the heavier-duty three-quarter F-250 and one-ton F-350 models. Diesels beat equivalent gas V-8s for torque and mpg, but carry a hefty price premium.

The focus of fuel economy doesn’t mean ignoring high performance. It’s a virtual lock the Raptor, for example, will be available during calendar 2010 with the new 6.2-liter V-8. And the rumor mill says a future F-150 -- possibly the next F-150 Harley-Davidson model -- may feature a 500-horseower twin turbo 5.0-liter V-8 code-named “Road Runner” that’s been designed for high-performance Mustangs.

As for the next fully redesigned F-150, it probably won’t show up until after model-year 2014, though styling could see a facelift before that.
2011 Ford F-150 Competitors

Chevrolet Silverado 1500: This is the oldest of the F-150’s key rivals, last redesigned for model-year 2007. Its age comes across in relatively cramped crew-cab rear seating, but General Motors has done an admirable job keeping the Silverado and its GMC Sierra cousin feeling fresh and relevant. A range of smooth engines, including a 332-horsepower gas-electric hybrid V-8 (21/22 mpg), complements a chassis that remains entirely capable. The next-generation Silverado/Sierra will likely appear in model-year 2013 or 2014.

Dodge Ram 1500: Like the F-150, Dodge’s half-ton Ram was all-new for model-year 2009. It got fresh styling and became the only full-size pickup to adopt a rear coil-spring suspension instead of leaf springs. Dodge has scuttled diesel-engine plans and waffled on delivering a hybrid version of the Hemi V-8. But Ram’s gas Hemi can save fuel by shutting down half its eight cylinders in low-demand conditions. Refinement and ride quality are class-leading and Ram joins Silverado and Sierra as the only big pickup with available 4WD designed to be left engaged on dry pavement. No major changes are expected until after model-year 2013.

Toyota Tundra: Upsized for model-year 2007 and built in the U.S. to compete with the big Ford, Dodge, and GM pickups, Tundra is a worthy rival but a sales challenge for Toyota. It competes on size and power, but hasn’t compelled large numbers of commercial users to waiver in their domestic-brand brand loyalty. A model-year 2010 freshening included introduction of a fine new 310-horsepwer V-8 to compliment the top-line 381-horsepower engine, but don’t look for major changes before model-year 2014 or so.