Detroit Auo Show: 2004 Ford F-150 Reveal

CLICK4 Video Of Unveiling

DETROIT, Jan. 6, 2004; "Our vision was to forge a new direction for the market, building decisively on Ford's Tough Truck heritage and creating a product that would alter the expectations of pickup customers. The new F-150 does that with the courage of a leader, launching a new era of Built Ford Tough." - Chris Theodore, Vice President - North American Product Development, Ford Motor Company

WHAT'S NEW FOR 2004 * Even tougher - F-150's fully boxed frame is approximately nine times stiffer torsionally than its predecessor, providing the foundation for improved durability, driving dynamics, and ride refinement and quietness. With a maximum tow rating of 9,500 pounds and maximum payload capacity of 2,900 pounds, the new F-150 is the most capable full-size pickup under 8,500 pounds. * New interiors - Custom environments have been developed for each series. The initial "wow factor" is supported by substance that makes F-150 a pleasure over the long run. * More spaciousness - Regular Cab and SuperCab models have a passenger compartment that is 6 inches longer, providing more space inside for occupants and their gear. For SuperCab models, that extra length means increased rear- seat comfort for three adults in the rear seat. For Regular Cab, it means 13 inches of secure storage space behind the seat. * Easy access - Reflecting consumer demand for ease of access for people and cargo, Regular Cab models feature new, class-exclusive access doors that open up new stowage possibilities behind the seat. * New engine technology - Ford's new 5.4-liter, 3-valve Triton(TM)V-8 engine produces 300 peak horsepower, a 15-percent improvement over the previous award-winning 5.4-liter engine, along with improvements in low-speed and peak torque, as well as greater fuel efficiency. Smooth, quiet and refined, it also contributes to the quieter cab environment. * Stronger stance and style - The new F-150 features an all-new design, with a bold exterior shape that reflects Ford truck toughness and capability. The refined interiors take the full-size pickup to a new level of comfort and refinement. * Superb driving experience - Tremendous attention to detail and engineering advancements -- such as the new outboard rear shock absorbers and wider rear leaf springs -- have been applied to the chassis of the F-150 to deliver a confident, capable driving experience. * Safety - The new Occupant Position Sensing technology for the first-row passenger makes the 2004 F-150 a strong choice for safety. It exceeds rigorous new federal safety standards for air bag and offset crash performance. * Cargo capacity - The new F-150 cargo box is more than 2 inches deeper, with greater cargo volume. Plus, a class-exclusive new standard Tailgate Assist feature helps owners of all statures more easily open and close the gate. The dominant force in pickups has just upped the ante, launching a "Whole New Era of Built Ford Tough." Now, as it celebrates more than 85 years of truck experience and 55 years of legendary F-Series accomplishments, Ford is again redefining America's truck. The all-new 2004 Ford F-150 creates a bold first impression as it extends Ford's tradition as America's Tough Truck leader. It creates an even bigger lasting impression when the standard four doors are opened to reveal a revolutionary interior design with refinement, comfort and spaciousness unparalleled in a truck. The combination of Tough Truck capability and refinement sets a new standard for the industry. Toughness. Strength. Pulling Power. Fuel Economy. Safety. Interior spaciousness. Refinement. Driving dynamics. Stability. Functionality. Cargo capacity. Comfort. Style. Ford pioneered the pickup, gave it the first V-8 engine and Crew Cab and went on to create a brand that is synonymous with truck leadership. Tough, capable and powerful, the F-Series has been the best-selling full-size pickup for 26 years as of January 2003 and the nation's favorite vehicle for 21 years running. The Ford F-Series is America's truck.

Comprehensive 3-cab, 3-box, 5-series lineup F-150 now offers the industry's widest variety of body and trim configurations. Customers can specify the pickup box according to load length and box style, with more choices than ever before. Additionally, all cab configurations now feature four doors for ease of access. The lineup includes: * Three cab choices- - Regular Cab, a single row of occupant seating and rearward-swinging access doors that reveal a behind-seat stowage area up to 13 inches wide. - SuperCab, a two-door extended cab version featuring a second row of seating and two rearward-swinging doors. - SuperCrew, a crew cab that features two rows of seating and four forward-swinging full-size doors.

* Three box lengths and two box styles - - Eight-foot, 6 1/2-foot, and 5 1/2-foot box lengths are offered. In addition, the F-150 SuperCab 5 1/2-foot box is a new offering and a full-size pickup truck exclusive. - Two different box styles, Styleside and Flareside, are available.

* Five distinct series offerings - - From the workhorse F-150 XL to the refined F-150 Lariat, the 2004 F-150 lineup has the truck to meet a variety of customer wants and needs. The five series -- XL, STX, XLT, FX4 and Lariat -- each reflect insight into unique customer needs. "Ford's F-Series leadership is well documented," said Matt DeMars, executive director for Tough Trucks, Ford Motor Company. "We have a huge owner base and a reputation for toughness and durability that is unsurpassed in the industry. We used our customer insight to help us anticipate the 'next big thing' in the market, and we continue to give customers in this growing segment the most appealing products." In 2002, Ford dealers delivered more than 800,000 F-Series trucks to U.S. customers, making F-Series America's best-selling truck for the 26th consecutive year. The numbers tell why Ford is aggressively striving to maintain and extend its leadership as the best-selling full-size pickup. The F-Series is extremely important to Ford's bottom line. It accounts for nearly 28 percent of Ford Division's sales and 23 percent of Ford Motor Company's total U.S. sales.