When Ford inaugurated its F-150 truck line in 1948 they believed they had developed a truck that would be competitive in the marketplace, but it is doubtful that they envisioned creating a pick-up that would become “America’s Truck” for more than three decades. They created a vehicle that was destined to be the top-selling line in the United States for more than a quarter-century.
Last year’s F-150 led Ford’s F-Series lineup to a 32nd straight year of truck sales leadership in 2008, and for the 27th year in a row, F-Series was America’s best-selling vehicle of any type and more than 33 million have been sold since the nameplate was launched.
The 1948 version, known as the Ford Bonus-Built or F-1, supplanted the company's previous car-based pickup line. Now in its 12th generation, and fine-tuned for ruggedness, versatility, the ability to perform as a work truck and family vehicle, Ford has added rich luxury to the mix with several trims including the King Ranch, Platinum and Lariat.
Ford executives understand that while only one in five F-150 buyers will ever use it as a hard-core work tool, it's still important for it to look truck tough on the outside and perform truck tough when called upon. That rugged appearance and sturdy-under-the skin demeanor are real, but so is the attention to luxury that makes Lariat 4x4 a luxury truck that can talk the talk, walk the walk and strut the strut as well.
On the outside, F-150 Lariat is a truckin’ delight. Measuring 243.7 inches long, 78.9 inches wide and 76.4 inches high, my test Lariat was bathed in Dark Blue Pearl Clearcoat paint accented by Tan lower flanks, and the stance is aggressive, athletic and bold. Its new three-bar grille is bordered by large vertical rectangles and impressive jeweled headlamps. A sculpted power dome hood raises the truck two inches adding to its presence.
The exterior is enhanced by a 3.55 ratio limited slip axle and 7200-lb. rated tow package, a $300 option; 20-inch chrome clad aluminum wheels, a $995 option; the Lariat Chrome Package of chrome step bar and signal mirrors for $1295 and lower two-tone paint for $250.
From a power perspective, the standard 5.4-liter V-8 coupled with a reliable 6-speed automatic transmission is rated at 310 horsepower and 365 lbs.-ft. of torque. The set-up works well in the response and performance departments, though the system is EPA rated at only 14mpg in the city and 18mpg on the highway. During roughly 500 miles of tests in the mid-Atlantic region, my test F-150 Lariat 4x4, dialed in at 2-wheel drive for most road tests, averaged 16.4mpg.
On the track, F-150 showed its brawn with a zero-to-60mph sprint in 8.8 seconds and a quarter-mile hop in 16.8. Remember, this is a wide, heavy -- 5,683 lbs. – truck with luxury inside and out, so those times are excellent, and the response when called upon make F-150 a champion on the highway, with the ability to flatten potholes and mudholes, go off-road with alacrity and accelerate decently at speed. There’s even more than enough low-end torque for the F-150 to successfully uproot that tree stump or push snow (with snow plow blade attached – though that covers up the handsome, signature grille and front end).
True to its luxury guise, the F-150 Lariat exhibited a smooth and quiet ride, responsive handling, a center of gravity that is lower than most in its class and noticeable power when needed. Pedal-jamming acceleration could have been a tad less hesitant and parking, even with the rear camera, is a bit of a sight problem area, but driving it is a genuine truck lover’s experience.
Inside, the cabin is as roomy as, well, a cabin. Front legroom is 41.4 inches, headroom measures 41.0 and shoulder room is a whopping 65.9. In the supercrew cab, passengers stretch out with 43.5 inches of legroom, 40.3 inches of headroom and 65.6 inches of shoulder room.
The tan leather cabin is decked out as a luxury vehicle should be, with heated and cooled captain’s chairs up front, leather wrap steering wheel, memory driver seat, voice activated audio and information systems and a plethora of interior upgrades including Sony Navigation radio ($2430), power moonroof ($995), power sliding rear window ($250), remote start system ($345), rear view camera and reverse sensing system ($795) and leather trimmed captain’s chairs ($595).
The F-150 Lariat is based at $37,990 and my vehicle as tested stickered at $47,745. For $47,000 it could have used power folding mirrors – it is an inconvenience, at that price, get out to fold the mirrors manually in order to park in your garage. Additionally, the driver seat memory and re-set buttons were difficult to get to and the fuel consumption and miles-to-empty read-out was balky, which are all inexcusable in a luxury truck. But those inconveniences aside, Lariat serves as a perfect upscale offering in Ford’s No. 1 vehicle line, providing an additional reason for the Blue Oval to make it 33 years as the No.1 truck manufacturer and 28 straight as the top U.S vehicle buy.
Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.
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