Gerry Mac
Well-Known Member
Ford F-150 named Motor Trend Truck of the Year
By Greg Gardner
Motor Trend magazine named Fords F-150 the Truck of the Year, edging out the Nissan NV commercial van, the Ram HD Laramie Longhorn and the Toyota Tacoma.
The magazines editors presented the award today to Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas at a ceremony at the companys Dearborn headquarters.
While Motor Trend tested versions of the pickup with a 5.0-liter V8 engine, it was Fords 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine that helped capture the award.
Ford officials now expect the EcoBoost V6 to be selected by 45% of F-150 buyers. Truck owners traditionally have expected their rigs to be outfitted with a V-8 engine, but Fords EcoBoost V6 is changing that perception.
Automakers are pushing for better fuel economy in the pickup segment where muscle has been measured in displacement until volatile gasoline prices and a shaky economy changed priorities for many consumers.
The EcoBoost equipped F-150s average 18 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving, according to federal government ratings, compared to 14 to 17 mpg for eight cylinder models.
The turbocharged V6 gives the truck more towing power than the larger 5.0-liter V8.
"It mastered every task we subjected it to, acing our instrumented tests at the proving grounds and swaying opinions during our real-world road evaluations," Motor Trend editor-in-chief Ed Loh said of the F-150 in an announcement.
Each year, the staff of Motor Trend assesses a field of contenders for the Truck of the Year Award. The week-long process. includes a full complement of performance tests, both with and without payload, on straight-aways and twisty mountain roads, as well as in day-to-day driving, trucks are evaluated against six judging criteria, resulting in a final winner:
By Greg Gardner
Motor Trend magazine named Fords F-150 the Truck of the Year, edging out the Nissan NV commercial van, the Ram HD Laramie Longhorn and the Toyota Tacoma.
The magazines editors presented the award today to Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas at a ceremony at the companys Dearborn headquarters.
While Motor Trend tested versions of the pickup with a 5.0-liter V8 engine, it was Fords 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine that helped capture the award.
Ford officials now expect the EcoBoost V6 to be selected by 45% of F-150 buyers. Truck owners traditionally have expected their rigs to be outfitted with a V-8 engine, but Fords EcoBoost V6 is changing that perception.
Automakers are pushing for better fuel economy in the pickup segment where muscle has been measured in displacement until volatile gasoline prices and a shaky economy changed priorities for many consumers.
The EcoBoost equipped F-150s average 18 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving, according to federal government ratings, compared to 14 to 17 mpg for eight cylinder models.
The turbocharged V6 gives the truck more towing power than the larger 5.0-liter V8.
"It mastered every task we subjected it to, acing our instrumented tests at the proving grounds and swaying opinions during our real-world road evaluations," Motor Trend editor-in-chief Ed Loh said of the F-150 in an announcement.
Each year, the staff of Motor Trend assesses a field of contenders for the Truck of the Year Award. The week-long process. includes a full complement of performance tests, both with and without payload, on straight-aways and twisty mountain roads, as well as in day-to-day driving, trucks are evaluated against six judging criteria, resulting in a final winner:
