Ford F-150 Supercrew adds new dimension to trucks

Ford Motor Company continues its tradition of truck

leadership and innovation by adding another branch to its

best-selling F-Series family tree - the F-150 SuperCrew,

introduced in January at the North American International

Auto Show in Detroit.

The F-150 SuperCrew will be the first under-8,500-pound

gross vehicle weight (GVW) truck to offer four full-size

doors and a full rear passenger compartment.

Ford's new entry joins the over-8,500-pound GVW Super

Duty F-Series introduced for the 1999 model year as

another extension of the best-selling nameplate in

automotive history worldwide and the best-selling vehicle

- car or truck - in the U.S. for the past 17 years.

"We don't sit still when it comes to providing customers

with trucks that fit their needs," said Jim O'Connor,

Ford Motor Company vice president and Ford Division

president. "We think the new F-150 SuperCrew demonstrates

that. It is 100 percent 'Built Ford Tough' and is for

customers with businesses and growing families who need

additional interior space but also require the rugged

functionality and versatility of a pickup."

F-150 SuperCrew

Today, more than two-thirds of customers choose the

popular F-Series SuperCab model for carrying cargo and

for occasional rear-passenger use. Many also indicate a

desire for a larger rear cabin to accommodate up to six

adult passengers - without sacrificing the capability of

the pickup box.

The F-150 SuperCrew provides a truck with the same

overall length as the 139-inch wheelbase SuperCab model

-- which is important for maneuverability and parking in

garages -- but with extra interior space and the added

ease of ingress and egress for passengers.

Unlike the SuperCab, which has smaller hinged doors that

swing out from the C-pillar, the SuperCrew has four

full-size doors separated by a B-pillar on each side,

with inside and outside handles on each door. It is the

same type of system currently available on the Super Duty

F-Series Crew Cab trucks.

The rear-seat package of the F-150 SuperCrew is similar

to that of a Ford Expedition sport utility vehicle built

on the same platform. Overall, the SuperCrew boasts 12

inches more cab space than the current SuperCab model and

a 5 *-foot pickup box - vs. SuperCab's 6 *-foot box.

Strong Heritage

The F-150 SuperCrew has the same muscular, aerodynamic

stance and styling as the current F-150 Regular Cab and

SuperCab models. It is also common under the skin,

sharing the automatic transmission and two TritonÔ V-8

engines - a standard 4.6-liter and an optional 5.4-liter

V-8. The driveline, chassis and braking systems also are

adopted from current-model under-8,500-pound GVW F-Series

trucks.

The Truck Market

In the United States, truck sales continue to grow. In

calendar year 1998, trucks accounted for almost 50

percent of all new vehicle sales.

One reason is the trend toward personal use in

under-8,500-pound GVW pickup trucks. Five years ago, 70

percent of the trucks in this segment were regular cabs

used primarily as work vehicles. Today, largely because

of extra doors, better interior packages, and added

luxury and refinement, 70 percent of customers in this

segment use their vehicles for recreation on the weekends

and vacations.

The redesigned 1997 F-Series raised the stakes in the

personal-use segment, offering customers never-before

seen features in a newly styled tough truck.

Last year, Ford followed up with an all-new

over-8,500-pound GVW Super Duty F-Series lineup,

answering the increased demand from commercial and

heavy-duty recreational-use customers.

In calendar year 1998, F-Series sales exceeded 800,000 -

the most sales for any car or truck since 1978. The F-150

SuperCrew extends the F-Series range even further.

The F-150 SuperCrew models will be built at the Kansas

City Assembly Plant in Missouri and will be on sale in

early 2000.

For photos and prelimiary specifications, go here

BlueOvalNews.com