A company called Quantum Technologies, says it has developed a Plug-in Hybrid Drivetrain for America’s best-selling pickup; the Ford F-150.

According to a press release issued by Quantum, the system is compatible with both two and four-wheel drive versions and enables the truck to travel up to 35 miles on pure electric power alone, before switching to hybrid mode for a total range of more than 400 miles. The system also doesn’t infringe on passenger or cargo space, nor ground clearance, aspects that most truck buyers and drivers will likely appreciate.

The PHEV F-150 is designed to target fleet customers, where it’s believed substantial savings in fuel costs will likely provide the greatest benefits, especially in wake of current gas prices. Quantum says it plans to sell the trucks direct to fleet customers, though at present no specifics have been provided.

[Source:  Quantum Technologies Inc.]

In response to a growing number of complaints, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has expanded a probe regarding a staggering 2.7 million 1997-01 Ford F-150 Pickups, where fuel tank straps have rusted, failed and in some cases caused vehicle fires. This follows on from another NHTSA investigation, that became a recall, regarding faulty airbags on Ford’s best selling pickup truck, that ultimately included 1.2 million vehicles, albeit from the 2004-06 model years.

In regards to the fuel tank issue, NHTSA has said that over 300 complaints have been reviewed and of those, two actual incidents of the vehicles catching fire have been reported, though in both cases, no injuries or fatalities resulted.

Ford spokesman, Wes Sherwood, said the company was ” aware of the matter,” and  will “continue to cooperate [with NHTSA].”

The heart of the investigation relates to the fact that the steel straps are essentially the only thing holding the tank to the frame of the truck. If the straps corrode, they can snap, causing the tank to drop down and in some cases drag on the ground, which can cause perforation, fuel leakage and potentially a fire to result.

In fact, of those 300 or so investigations, 243 resulted in the tank dragging on the ground and 95 of those, fuel leakage. The agency also said that the weight of the dropped tank could also put significant strain on hoses and fittings, causing them to separate and fuel to leak from them. Combined with the presence of sparks as a result of being dragged along the ground, the results could be disastrous.

As part of the investigation, Ford has turned over emails, reports and photos, detailing corrosion on the affected F-150 models, much of which was labeled confidential. Although the green light hasn’t been given, the expansion of this investigation is a good indicator that a recall will shortly be issued for the affected trucks, which if that proves to be the case, will be one of the largest in recent memory.

[Source: Detroit News]

Despite Ford’s aggressive marketing campaign for its new, more ‘fuel efficient’ engines in the 2011 F-series, along with currently high fuel prices, GM has said it has no plans to move up the launch of its updated full-size twins, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra.

Speaking at a press conference, GM’s CEO Dan Akerson said “trucks would not be a program we move up in a mileage sensitive market.”

That said, the General does have plans to speed up the introduction of some passenger cars, notably the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, which is now planned for launch some four months ahead of the original schedule.

However, there are many who think GM would be wise to rethink its strategy on the next iterations of its 1/2 ton full-size pickups. The new trucks are said to not only employ new, more efficient six and eight-cylinder engines along with hybrid drivetrains, but are also rumored to boast significant weight savings over their current counterparts.

In fact, given that trucks are still a huge profit center for GM and that dealers are increasingly clamoring for new pickup offerings, on many levels, a speedier introduction of the new Silverado and Sierra makes sense.

Having said that, the General is still grappling with limited resources following its bankruptcy and re-structuring, which delayed many introductions, including the original introduction of the upcoming Silverado and Sierra.

Nevertheless, current market conditions could provide GM with the perfect opportunity to hit one out of the park in the pickup segment.

[Source: pickuptrucks.com]

There isn’t really a lot out there today in terms of hot street pickups. Sure you’ve got Ford’s Baja inspired SVT Raptor, but just about everything else needs to be built out of a parts catalog.

Not that it’s all bad though. For Chevy fans who want a bit more oomph than the stock Silverado provides, Reeves Callaway and his team now offer a supercharger package on the 5.3 and 6.2-liter Vortec V-8s. By adding a positive displacement Roots type supercharger, liquid-to-air intercooler, bigger flow intake and upgraded fuel system, Callaway says the package will result in 450 honest horsepower from the 5.3 and 540 ponies from its bigger brother.

In addition to the engine upgrades, Callaway will also throw in special exterior badging and embroidery on the headrests and floor mats, plus a three-year, 36,000 mile limited warranty.

However, for those that want to spend more than the $15,995 on top of a standard Silverado, stand alone options include chrome detailing, a sport tuned suspension package, special alloy rims and performance tires and upgraded brakes. As of yet, the Old Lyme, Connecticut based company has still to announce pricing on those individual options.

Nevertheless, if you want the fastest bowtie pickup on the block, or just plain and simply, tired of those smug 1999-04 F-150 Lightning owners, the Callaway Silverado might just be right up your alley.

[Source: Callaway Cars]

It seems that we’re bent on information overload; there’s virtually an app for everything when it comes to our smart phones and even in our vehicles, there seems to be a race to see which manufacturer can place the most amount of data and programming info at our finger tips.

Ford, thanks to features like MyTouch is aggressively pedaling down this avenue and now it’s gone and given F-150 owners their very own ‘Truck App.’

Essentially, it’s a more in-depth version of the truck’s standard information touch screen, adding towing and off-road specific features. For the towing screen the App gives drivers a checklist of questions to see if the trailer is properly connected, it will also record and accumulate data and mileage for a particular trailer – it can store specific information on up to 10 individual trailers, in order to help those operators with larger vehicle fleets.

In the off-road setting, the App, allows the driver to monitor steering angle, pitch and roll, ascent or descent angle, high or low range when 4WD is engaged, along with the E-locker differential and on the SVT Raptor,  Hill Descent Control.  The F-150 productivity screen is standard on FX/FX4; Lariat; King Ranch and Platinum F-150s, as well as XLT models equipped with the convenience package. Click on the link below to see how it works.

[Source: Ford Motor Company]

Fred Diaz, current President and CEO of Chrysler’s Ram truck division has gone on the record as saying that beyond government funded programs, Hybrids are not part of the brand’s strategy moving forward.

“Truckers don’t want to buy Hybrids,” he said. “We need to be an position to address higher fuel economy standards, just not with plug-in Hybrids.”

Chrysler originally announced that it would be working on a Hybrid Ram as far back as a decade ago and indeed, plans were put in place to offer one as part of the 2011 model year lineup. However last year, the company decided it was terminating said plans, though it will continue to pursue a government funded program for a plug-in version, thanks to a $48 million dollar grant it received from the Feds.

Said plug-in truck will use a 12 watt lithium-ion Super-Polymer battery system that will allow the vehicle to run a distance of up to 20 miles on electric propulsion, with a version of the ubiquitous 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 used as the gas engine to extend the truck’s range. As part of the program, Chrysler will deliver up to 140 Hybrid Rams for commercial use, beginning this summer.

However, beyond that, no further development on Hybrids will continue at Ram, though Diaz does expect data gleaned from the government program to prove useful down the road. The division expects to take away some “learning about technology,” from the program  he said.

[Source: Plug-In Cars]

Those with an interest in muscle cars will no doubt be aware of the Hurst Corporation’s famous shifters; some might even recall classic drag machines like the famous Hemi under Glass Baracuda.

More recently, as far as Mopar maniacs are concerned, the company, now known as Hurst Performance, has been working it’s magic on late-model Challengers and Vipers. Now the company is taking (literally) bigger steps, building a limited edition hot hauler, based on the current Ram 1500 shortbox pickup.

Hurst says it will only build 50 of these trucks per year, but each will incorporate a number of unique features. Most obvious are Hurst graphics on the fenders and doors, special Hurst emblems  on the grille and tailgate; while under the hood the Ram’s 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 gets an extra shot of oats via supercharging and a performance tuned exhaust with polished tips.

Inside will be special upholstery with red stitching; Hurst logos and of course, a Hurst ‘Pistol Grip’ style shifter for rowing the gears and smoking the tires; which likely shouldn’t be a problem, even with the Ram’s more than 5000 lb curb weight.

Hurst has yet to announce pricing, but expect the truck to sticker for between $50,000 and $100,000 when it does go on sale.

[Source: Autoblog]

General Motors’ T800 series of full-size pickup trucks and SUVs, with specific reference to 1999-03 models of Chevy Silverado, Avalance, Suburban and Tahoe, as well as their GMC counterparts, Sierra and Yukon, have been subjected to an investigation regarding rusted brake lines.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in a filling posted last week, has said it has upgraded its original investigation to an ‘engineering analysis’ covering the affected vehicles, following concerns regarding its preliminary findings.

Said findings included no fewer than 26 separate complaints of brake line corrosion which have resulted in vehicle accidents since the agency first began looking into the problem last year.

GM, in a statement last year, said that even if a brake line rusted through, one of these trucks should still be able to stop safely.

In the course of its investigation, NHTSA initially targeted 6 million vehicles, but later reduced this 1.8 million when it decided that only vehicles being driven in rust belt states (where the roads are salted in winter) are adversely affected.

Said states comprise Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia.

Considering NHTSA’s recent spate of recalls, we have to think an official recall notice is coming soon.

[Source: New York Times]

It seems that the desert racing  look is the next big thing when it comes to enthusiast trucks. Ford’s got the Raptor, now, Chrysler’s Ram truck brand is getting in the action with the Ram Runner package, which will become available from March on the brand’s 1500 1/2 ton pickups via Mopar (a display vehicle will be on hand at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit from January 15-23).

The package includes both exterior, suspension and driveline upgrades and comprises of the following hardware

Exterior

• Front Ram Runner bumper, Part# P5155663, $1,250
• Tubular tire carrier, Part# P5155664, $1,010
• Front Ram Runner fenders, Part# P5155665, $1,020
• Rear Ram Runner fenders, Part# P5155666, $1,350
• Sport performance hood, Part# 82211065AD, $978

Suspension

• Stage 1 Pre-Runner Suspension Kit, Part# P5155258, $3,129
• Stage 2 Ram Runner Suspension Kit, Part# P5155662, $13,270

Driveline

• Cold-air intake system, Part# 77070023, $466
• Cat-back exhaust system, Part# P5155280, $1,135

With the buyer opting for every single feature, the complete Ram Runner package will set you back $20,659, plus the donor vehicle, taxes and labor fees if a shop will be handling the work. However, unlike the Raptor which is a factory built vehicle, the Ram Runner will remain strictly a Mopar option package on a standard Ram pickup, at least for the foreseeable future.

After completing a top secret 220 day orbital space trial mission, the US Air Force’s Boeing X-37B unmanned space craft landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

And waiting to tow it off the flight-line and to the hangar was your everyday 1994 Chevrolet C3500 dualie pickup truck. Perhaps the landing should have taken place in Texas.

It goes to show that the humble pickup truck, even one that’s 17 years old can be used for just about anything, though there are likely few ‘94 C3500 rigs on the road today that can boast towing such a precious load as this one.

Naturally, the truck in question was powered by the most suitable engine for such a job, the old 454 cubic inch (7.4-liter) V-8. And judging from the photos, appears to have many years of use left in it. As ads declared when this truck was built – like a rock!

[Source: Pickup trucks.com]

Patrolling the southern U.S. border with Mexico is a dangerous job. Not only do agents have to content with (sometimes dangerous) people trying to cross it illegally, but also all manner of wildlife, as well as vast expanses of  remote and rugged terrain.

To patrol successfully requires a suitable vehicle and in the past, rugged 4×4 pickups and proper sport utilities have been the mounts of choice. Today, perhaps the most suitable vehicle of all is Ford‘s F-150 SVT Raptor, but until now, there’s been one small problem – leather seats.

Given the searing daytime temperatures in parts of Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, cow-hide seating surfaces aren’t exactly practical – especially for long shift work out in the desert. As a result, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was able to pull some strings and special order a fleet of Raptors for the Customs and Border Protection division down in Arizona, without leather seats. It sure is nice to have friends in high places.

[Source: Autoblog]

According to a recent press release from Ford Motor Company; the 2011 Super Duty is currently accounting for 50 percent of total heavy-duty pickup sales in the United States.

Given quality and reliability issues in the past, this represents a major gain, especially in a market segment that, despite doom and gloom over predicted high fuel prices, has grown by 17 percent since last year.

And a lot of that growth has apparently been due to the S-D’s 6.7-liter PowerStroke diesel engine. The first to be designed and engineered completely in-house by Ford, the PowerStroke churns out 400 horsepower and a stomping 800 ft-lbs of torque, making this rig one of the most capable in its class.

“As always, our goal is to better satisfy the needs of our customers,” said Doug Scott; current Group Marketing Manager for Ford Trucks. “Super Duty’s continued sales and share leadership is validation that whether those needs are capability, durability, quality, power, performance, fuel economy, technology or safety, we are succeeding.”

It’s also been interesting to note, that along with little brother F-150, the Super Duty enabled Ford’s entire F-series line to sell more than 400,000 units in 2010 – the first nameplate to top this ‘magic’ sales figure over the last 12 month period.

With Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards of 30 miles per gallon for light trucks looming ever closer, Ford is looking at ways to meet these targets without sacrificing performance on its bread winning F-series pickups.

One method, hinted by CEO Alan Mullaly is in shaving weight. The current F-150 uses a fully-boxed steel frame, which is strong, but heavy, so for the next generation truck an option being considered is a chassis made from magnesium alloy.

There’s a good deal of logic to this. Magnesium is currently one of the most abundant elements on earth and is 36 percent lighter than aluminum. It’s also being increasingly adopted by automakers, primarily on suspension components and engine blocks, but also body panels. In fact Ford managed to shave some 22 lbs off the Lincoln MKT crossover utility vehicle by using separate aluminum and magnesium panels for the rear lift gate instead of ordinary stamped steel.

Along with the frame, Ford is also exploring the possibilities of using aluminum body panels on the next F-150, though for strength and durability a steel skin will likely remain. As for powertrain options, there’s no official word on what might be offered down the road, though expect a next generation EcoBoost V6 and possibly an inline-five cylinder engine, maybe a turbo diesel.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

Built Ford tough is a slogan that’s been around since dinosaurs ruled the earth, but as somebody once said, if it works, why mess with it.

That’s probably a good thing if you’re Phil Marsella from Palm City, Florida. Phil spends a lot of time earning a living by transporting Greyhounds to race tracks and families across the United States.

That means a lot of driving. How much? Well put it this way, a Ford F-250 Super Duty (like the one above), which he purchased four years ago now has more than 1 million miles on the odometer. “Actually, when it reached 999,999 – the odometer stopped working,” he says, “but I still turn between 7,000 and 10,000 miles a week – so today, the total is more than 1,014,000 miles.”

Although Phil’s F-250 still has a long way to go to eclipse the record set for the highest mileage vehicle (it’s currently 2,800,000 recorded by a 1966 Volvo P1800), Marsella’s pickup has reached the same distance many big rigs do before requiring a major overhaul. What makes it even more remarkable, is that it’s powered by a Triton Gas V8 not a PowerStroke diesel. “I’ve never seen a truck with this many miles on it besides a semi-truck and never on a gas engine,” says Buddy Hawkins, a mechanic that works on Phil’s F-250.

And racking up such huge mileage, how much has Marsella actually spent on maintenance? Try $67,000 in four years, much of which revolves around near constant oil and tire changes. And he’s nowhere near done. The truck, affectionately named Betsy, plans to be around for quite some time and if Phil continues at his current pace, he should crest 3 million miles within the next six years. “She’ll last forever,” he says, “but  in the meantime I need to get that odometer fixed.”

[Source: NBC Miami]

It’s no secret that the Lone Star State is known as truck country. Texas accounts for 17 percent of total pickup sales in the U.S. and this year, after two grueling days of evaluating a total of 57 trucks and SUVs, the Texas Auto Writers Association, declared the 2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn as this year’s ‘Truck of Texas.’

And from looking at this truck, it probably isn’t difficult to see why. The Laramie Longhorn is loaded with gingerbread, from the two tone paint on the outside and plenty of chrome, to a luxurious leather interior that harks back to the days of the old west; plus it has a big Hemi V8 and that most Texas of features, chrome dual exhausts, which nearly every big pickup on the road in the Lone Star state seems to sport these days.

Besides winning this prestigious award, Chrysler products cleaned house in other categories too –  the Ram Power Wagon won Heavy-Duty pickup honors (for the second year in a row), while the full-size truck award went to the Ram Outdoorsman a model aimed at hunters, fisherman and campers, that incorporates such features such as a towing package and RamBox holster (we don’t need to tell you what that’s for). In the SUV category – top awards also went to Chrysler Group vehicles – Jeep’s new 2011 Grand Cherokee took the win in the full-size category, while the mid-size award went to the 2011 Jeep Wrangler.

GALLERY: 2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn

Given that it’s October and the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) expo is just days away, vehicle builders and parts manufacturers are gearing up to display their latest wares.

Ford‘s current F-150 pickup is hot and perhaps not surprisingly, at least seven customized versions of this and the bigger Super Duty will be taking center stage.

Among the highlights will be a 2011 F-150 by A.R.E accessories, a popular maker of toneau covers, caps and other truck aftermarket add-ons. The theme of the A.R.E. truck will be promoting the Pro Football Hall of Fame that serves to educate, honor and preserve the history of professional football. The truck will sport special ‘stadium sillhouette’ paint, with the box containing football memorabilia and the interior finished in pigskin leather.

Another cool truck is the Mickey Thompson TTC Baja F-150, which sports a Fabtech suspension with a 6-inch lift, 35-inch M/T TTC tires, Warn Industries recovery gear plenty of PIAA driving lights and a striking black/yellow/red finish.

In complete contrast, are a pair of slammed customized street F-150s powered by the new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine. One, built by Godfather customs, features a 2.5 inch cowl hood, custom two-tone paint, halo taillights and custom front and rear bumper assemblies. The other, created by the Custom Shop will sport more of an ‘eco’ theme, with lightweight wheels, tires with reduced rolling resistance, lighweight tonneau cover and custom, low emissions DuPont paint.

Other than the Mickey Thompson truck, we’re most eager to see the Pit Boss F-130 build by Cars by Kris and Airhead Kustoms (shown above). Designed to be a race car hauler and serve as a pit truck, it features a tire cage and numerous swing-case toolboxes

We’ll be sure to bring you plenty of photos of all seven trucks with live coverage of the 2010 SEMA Show starting November 2nd. Until then, check out Ford’s SEMA Fiestas and the rest of the Ford lineup here. Plus, check out our SEMA Preview here.

GALLERY: Ford F-Series SEMA Vehicles

Official release after the jump:

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If you own a 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 or HD; Chrysler is asking you to contact your nearest dealership for a recall. Now it’s not a mechanical defect this time, but rather incorrect warning labels, specifically relating to tire pressure information regarding vehicle weight loadings and capacities.

If the information on these labels is adhered to it could potentially cause safety issues or even accidents. As a result, authorized dealers are being instructed to remove and replace them with new ‘correct’ labels free of charge. The recall is scheduled to start this month.

Ford has finally announced pricing for the new EcoBoost V6-powered 2011 F-150, with the truck stickered at $25,740 before options and taxes – some $1,750 more than the new base truck equipped with the 3.7-liter V6.

However, although pricing has been released for the EcoBoost F-150, official fuel economy figures have not –  though in a recent test conducted by AutoGuide, we were able to report highway mileage in the mid to high 20s, so expect something along those lines when Ford finally decides to do so.

Power for the new engine is rated at 365-hp and 420 ft-lbs with the capability of towing an impressive 11,300 lbs.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Read AutoGuide’s 2011 Ford F-150 Review by Clicking Here

It’s been the talk of the town ever since it’s introduction. Now, for 2011; Ford‘s F-150 SVT Raptor, joined by a crew cab version and powered by Ford’s 6.2-liter V8 rated at 411 horsepower, is more tantalizing than ever.

And after what’s seemed like an eternity for truck enthusiasts, the Blue Oval has finally announced pricing for the 2011 Raptor. The Super Cab version starts at $41,550; while the new for ’11 Crew Cab version (shown) stickers at $44,315. Bear in mind these are MSRPs and don’t include freight fees and taxes, but at least we know how much we can expect to spend on one.

Since it’s introduction in 2007; the current generation Toyota Tundra has had its fair share of issues, but one of the most prominent was a notably bouncy ride, particularly with an unladen bed on rough roads. Although this characteristic is common among all pickup trucks, the Tundra seems to have received more complaints than most. In fact it’s become such an issue that aftermarket companies have offered solutions to address the problem, ballast being the most common, while the complaints from Tundra owners went largely ignored by Toyota.

Now the automaker has issued a Technical Service Bulletin to deal with the problem, which involves replacing the rear body mount bushings, but interestingly this only applies to 2007-2010 Double Cab Tundras (Toyota cites that the longer wheelbase of these trucks makes them more prone to rear end bounce). In an official press release Toyota said that the TSB will reduce vibrations but not eliminate them entirely.

Americans still love their trucks. At least it appears that way when General Motors posted September sales figures for all core brands. Overall retail demand for GM vehicles rose by 39 percent and according to GM Vice President of US sales operations, Don Johnson “big pickups contributed significantly to overall sales improvements.”

Focusing on full-size trucks only, Chevrolet Silverado saw a 66 percent increase in demand for September  compared with the previous year – selling 32,185 units, while corporate cousin GMC Sierra witnessed a 53 percent sales increase during the same period.

However, part of the increase in pickup sales, also reflects demand for GM’s substantially revised 2011 Heavy Duty pickups, which are proving particularly popular. As a result, GM’s assembly plant in Flint, Michigan, which builds the Silverado and Sierra is currently running at maximum overtime on two shifts. This has also enabled the plant to reach an important milestone, when the 13th million vehicle to be built there since 1947 – a GMC Sierra HD Denali, rolled off the line on September 30th.

Dana Rouse, shop chairman of UAW Local 598 that represents workers at Flint, said that the ‘overtime is needed to fill the pipeline of hot selling heavy-duty trucks.”

Because of demand, there’s also talk of possibly adding a third shift to production at Flint, though as of yet ,neither GM or the UAW has confirmed whether it will actually happen.

[Source: Automotive News]

In today’s landscape automakers are constantly looking at new and innovative ways of reaching their customers. Given that Ford‘s F-150 remains the best selling full-size pickup in the world, keeping those customers is of paramount of importance.

With the 2011 model, one way is allowing folks from across America to experience the trucks before they even arrive in stores. As a result, Ford has rolled out it’s Drive F-150 tour, which will be stopping off at various U.S. cities between now and the end of the year. At post time the list included Dallas, Texas (September 25th); Houston, Texas (October 2nd); Aberdeen, Maryland (October 23rd); Atlanta, Georgia (October 30th); Orlando, Florida (November 6th) and finally; Los Angeles, California (November 13).

The F-150 has received a number of significant improvements for 2011; including an all-new powertrain lineup that includes a more efficient 3.7-liter base V6 engine; the hallowed 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost; plus new 5.0-liter and 6.2-liter V8s.

Those who sign up for the Drive F-150 tour will be able to see cutaways of the new trucks, with Ford representatives on hand to answer questions. Other activities include a power test driving competition on an acceleration and handling course; a towing contest in trucks equipped with the EcoBoost engine; a refinement drive with said trucks in a street environment and a dyno power comparison between the ’11 F-150 and its nearest rivals.

To participate in the program, you must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license. For more information; click on the link below.

[Source: Ford Motor Company]

Back in the 1970s, matte black hoods were all the rage. You found them on muscle cars and increasingly on trucks. In fact, as far as Ford was concerned, motorsports legend Bill Stroppe, who prepped the original Baja Ford Broncos back in the day, added matte black to the hoods to reduce glare while pounding along the rocky trails at sizable speeds. The look caught on with the street crowd and Stroppe’s California shop ended up turning out some 650 Broncos with matte black hoods for customers.

Now, 35 years later, with Ford back into Baja in a big way with the Raptor, the matte black hood makes a return. Though according to Raptor designer Bruce Williams, this time around, things are a little different. Rather than paint, “it’s a protective graphic,” he says. The hood blackout treatment incorporates a F-150 SVT Raptor logo across it and there are cut outs for the twin hood vents.

The hood graphic will be optional on all 2011 Raptors and complements the “digital mud” graphics found on the side of the doors and pickup box, that help accentuate the Raptor’s hardcore, off-road aura.

Besides new powertrains, including a 3.5-liter twin-turbo Ecoboost V6 and 5.0-liter V8; the 2011 Ford F-150 will also receive another update in the shape of electrically assisted steering. Truck manufacturers have already been experimenting with electric power steering systems as they seek to reduce parasitic loss and improve fuel economy.

However, until very recently, the only vehicles to be actually fitted with EPS systems on the market were small cars and crossovers. Besides reducing energy losses caused by driving a hydraulic steering system off the engine’s crankshaft, electric steering systems also allow for an infinite amount of tuning to suit optimal road conditions. Furthermore, by using an electro-mechanical motor to drive the steering system instead of a hydraulic pump, EPS is only needed when the vehicle is actually turning, as opposed to hydraulic systems which are constantly drawing power from the engine when it’s running. The result is  an average four percent gain in fuel economy and with the ominous cloud of tighter Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards on the horizon for light trucks as well as cars, the automakers are currently looking at any way they can to improve fuel consumption.

According to order guides released by Ford, electric power steering will be standard fitment on all 2011 F-150s equipped with the 3.7-liter V6; the Ecoboost twin-turbo and 5.0 V8; but specialty rigs, like the SVT Raptor and recently introduced Harley Davidson (both powered by the larger 6.2-liter V8), will continue to use hydraulic power steering.

[Source: Pickup trucks.com]