Page 14 · Richmond Review
Friday, October 10, 2014
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Welcome to the driver’ss seat
Visit the 2015 F150 gallery at DrivewayCanada.ca
All new Ford F-150 leaner, meaner, tough and strong levels available now and this year, the popular FX4 off-road version becomes San Antonio, Texas – In 1948 Ford redea package that can be added to any of signed its pickup truck and introduced the trims. Cradling that luxury is a new the F1. cab that’s two-inches wider and has rear Marketing at the time ran ads shouting seats that get more legroom. Storage about the “Million-dollar bins have been added cab” emphasizing how and the 40/20/40 seats Ford’s claims will carry six adults comfortmuch money Ford had spent to redesign just the have to play out on ably. The SuperCab, the cab of the new half-ton. roads, across Canada, rear suicide doors now That first F-series truck was open flat along the box indeed all new – and so is in the coming years to 170 degrees, no more its great-great-great-great but from what I’ve getting trapped at the grandson, the 2015 F-150. seen in Texas, I’d say mall. But the big update Looks is all about electronics. A Giddy Up! After several generations new instrument cluster Howard J. Elmer of rounder, then-squarer is larger and all the front ends the 2015 draws gauges are video-proinspiration from the ’48. jected. Because of this The horse-collar grille is brought back you can configure the cluster however with a much more angular hood; in fact, you want – add info or subtract, it’s you’ll see many more lines in the metal up to you. The centre console screen is thanks to the all-aluminum body. These eight-inches wide and displays the views are design elements, but they’re also offered by the new 360-degree camera. needed for strength. On each side of the Four cameras around the truck stitch grille are distinctive new C-clamp headtogether a birds-eye view displayed on lamps while above the glass a cut-in the screen. Toggle through other screens shades the windshield. This truck is also for expanded views in front, behind and 2.5 centimetres lower than the old one, to the sides. Great for parking, not to perhaps signalling the end of the overmention hooking up trailers. For your active thyroid problem most trucks have gadgets, Ford offers 12V plug-ins but been experiencing for the past 20 years. also 110V power. A new inverter pumps Around the back, the looks encompass out 400 watts of power (plugs in the a laundry list of new features like a powfront and back). New and improved drivered tailgate, second-gen pullout step er assist features include BLIS (Blind that moves the grab-bar inside the gate, Spot Information System) that also in-bed lighting, new removable tie down sees cross-traffic; Adaptive cruise system and even built-in cargo ramps. control; Lane-Keeping system; Active park assist; rear view camera; reverse Inside sensing system; auto high beams and Luxury is becoming a key selling feature of the F-series. There are nine trim rain sensing wipers. By Howard J. Elmer
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Drive What you can’t see is the 317 kgs that the ‘15 F-series has lost, thanks to that aluminum body and the increased use of high-strength steel in the frame – but, you can certainly feel it while driving. The truck is nimbler, has less wash in the corners and simply handles better. The cab is virtually silent and for comfort, the HVAC is split side-toside, front and rear. The hood and side windows have dropped in profile for better visibility, while the size, colours and quality of the computer generated gauges and controls simplifies operation while driving. I towed with the new truck and its manners are good if not improved. In part, this is assisted by the long list of towing features like trailer sway control; tow/haul mode; Dynamic Hitch Assist, SelectShift transmission and better tow mirrors. Off-road an electronic manual rear
differential locker has been added. This truck churns mud better than ever. Verdict Payload is up (to 900 kgs) and so is towing (approx. 5.5 tonnes) yet overall body weight is down by 317 kgs. Ford offers four engines and even the smallest 2.7L EcoBoost will still tow up to 3.8 tonnes. The cab is quieter, yet larger. The floor is flat yet has more storage compartments. The dash is less cluttered yet offers more information. Do you sense a theme here? Consider that the design phase of this truck took four years and the testing was the most intense ever. The result? A list of improvements a hockey rink long – that’s a fact. Now, how will they all work together? Well Ford’s claims will have to play out on roads, across Canada, in the coming years. But from what I’ve seen in Texas, I’d say Giddy Up!
Question of the Week The all-new Ford F-150 graces the front of Driveway this week as it looks to maintain its constant premier position as the truck of choice. What do its rivals have to do to make a bigger mark in sales? Go to DrivewayCanada.ca to submit your answer. QUESTION
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OF THE WEEK!
Safety Tip: This weekend is one of the most dangerous on B.C. roads. The temperature can drop and road conditions can change quickly in the fall and winter months. If you’re driving out of town, check drivebc.ca for up-to-date road and weather conditions before you head out.
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The big update is all about electronics. A new instrument cluster is larger and all the gauges are video projected.
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