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2011 Ford F150 Harley Davidson Review

August 2010
Filed under: FORD Car News | FORD Headlines

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The 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson F150 combines two rich traditions into an extraordinary package for customers who crave capability and long for the open road. With authentic styling, a new standard 6.2-liter V8 engine and plenty of technology upgrades, its the most powerful and capable Ford Harley-Davidson F150 yet.

“The new 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson F150 perfectly blends the flexibility and capability of F-Series trucks with the free spirit of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles, said Eric Kuehn, chief engineer. “Both companies have a passion for the road, which shines through in our specialized truck.

The successful collaboration between these two icons of the open road has produced nine F150 models, as well as six Super Duty F-250 and F-350 models, and in 2009, the first Harley-Davidson F-450 edition truck. The exterior of the 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson F150 offers a bold front fascia and six-bar-shaped billet-style satin chrome grille and boasts “Harley-Davidson satin chrome badging. The truck also has a lowered appearance because of a standard, fully integrated deployable running board.

Also standard are 22-inch Euroflange forged wheels with a polished center wheel cap and low-profile performance tires. The paint selection is classic Harley-Davidson " Tuxedo Black and Ingot Silver.

New graphics on the hood and body side of the truck are executed in an engine-turned finish and feature dimensional satin chrome “Harley-Davidson lettering. The graphics are reminiscent of the “speed scallops used on hot rods. Interior trim panels are covered in Tuxedo Black paint, while the door scuff plate and console lid also carry the engine-turned finish. All interior chrome surfaces feature a new satin finish. Premium leather-trimmed seats come with accent color inserts and a unique cloisonné badge.

New engine, more power

Ford tapped into a bit of its proud racing heritage to create the new 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine, which uses big-bore architecture to produce impressive horsepower and torque. The new gasoline engine delivers 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque and provides improved maximum trailer towing capacity of 9,300 pounds.

“This engine has tons of torque and already has been proven in the field with both the F150 SVT Raptor and Super Duty, said Mike Harrison, V8 engine program manager. “The exhaust for the Ford Harley-Davidson edition has been specially tuned to feature a throaty V8 rumble customers will love.

Benefits of the new 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine include:

-SOHC valvetrain with roller-rocker shafts: The single overhead camshaft (SOHC) per cylinder head design results in a stiff valvetrain that allows optimized camshaft lift profiles and results in great low-speed torque. The roller-rocker shafts allow valve angles to be splayed, resulting in optimized intake and exhaust port layout for better breathing.
-Dual-equal variable cam timing: Intake and exhaust valve opening and closing events are phased at the same time to optimize fuel economy and performance throughout the engine speed range and throttle positions.
-Two spark plugs per cylinder: Due to the large bore size, two spark plugs per cylinder are used to more efficiently burn the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber, enabling better fuel economy and increased engine torque. The twin plugs also help the engine maintain a smooth, stable idle.
-Dual knock sensors: A knock sensor on each bank of cylinders of the V8 engine allows the spark timing of each cylinder to be individually optimized real-time, throughout the engine speed range. The engine learns the optimum timing via an adaptive algorithm.

Taking convenience to the next level

The 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson F150 adds plenty of technology options to give customers what they are looking for. Key to helping customers take advantage of all the capability offered by the Harley-Davidson F150 is a standard 4.2-inch LCD (liquid crystal display) productivity screen.

This screen offers menu options, giving the customer important information related to fuel economy and towing performance. The menu is navigated through a five-way button on the steering wheel and is positioned between the tachometer and speedometer.

Additionally, the 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson F150 comes equipped with a standard voice-activated Navigation System that integrates several functions including voice-recognition destination entry, climate control and SIRIUS® Satellite Radio into one easy-to-use system, displaying them on an 8-inch touch screen.

For the customer who wants more control of transmission gear selection, SelectShift Automatic transmission functionality is available. A toggle switch located on the console shift lever engages the mode, where the transmission doesnt second-guess the driver, giving him or her total control over gear selection and performance feel.

Other standard features on the 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson F150 include:

-Power moonroof
-Rear view camera
-Second-row heated seats
-Ambient lighting
-Remote Start System

Customized Harley-Davidson appeal

The 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson F150 interior is customized to appeal to the truck buyer who appreciates the attention to detail for which both Ford and Harley-Davidson are renowned.

Examples are the seats and console lid, which feature handmade cloisonné badges that are produced by the same company that makes badges for Harley-Davidson® motorcycles; the console has a limited-edition serialization plate, which is numbered individually.

“We take creation of the Ford Harley-Davidson trucks very seriously, but its also something we have a lot of fun with along the way, said Design Manager Brad Richards. “We hope that comes through in each of the finished trucks.

“We ensure Ford Harley-Davidson trucks exude the same bold personality as the legendary motorcycles, Richards added. “We take two brands that are undeniably unique and forge a product that embodies the best qualities of both

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