Ford F-150 Supercab

pickup receives new styling

a handling package,
heavy-duty battery, and an aux-

_ Popular F-series

Greg
Wilson

TEST DRIVE

WHAT’S THE most popu-
Yar vehicle in North
America? Believe it or not,
it’s a pickup, the Ford F-

Series.

In its many variations, the F-
Series has been the best-selling
vehicle in North America for the
better part of a decade. In 1990,
Ford sold over a half million F-
Series pickups, and despite a nag-
ging recession, has sold over
400,000 in 199i.

Chevrolet is very close behind
with their full-size C/K pickup,
GMC also offers a rebadged ver-
sion of the C/K pickup and
Dodge is having some success with
its Cummins Diesel-powered

pickup, but generally the full-size
pickuy-truck segment is dominat-
ed by Ford and Chevrolet.

The Japanese have not yet in-
troduced a full-size pickup, but
Toyota has one in the design
stage, and could have it on the
market in the next couple of
years. I'm sure that neither Ford
nor Chevrolet is looking forward
to having the Japanese compete in
this last bastion of North Ameri-
can dominance.

The Ford F-Series is not one
truck, but a variety of trucks with
variations in size, cab design, and
drivetrain. The F-Series is offered
with three types of cabs: regular,
Supercab (extended cab), and
four-door crew cab; two pickup
box lengths, 6% feet and eight
feet; and five series based on
weight and payload capacity: F-
150, 250, 250 HD (heavy-duty),
350, and F Super Duty. In addi-
tion, there are three trim levels,
Custom, XL, and XLT Lariat.

Most F-Series trucks are avail-
able with two-wheel-drive or
four-wheel-drive with a choice of
engine ranging from a 145-
horsepower inline six-cylinder to a
7.5-litre V8 diesel engine. In most
cases, a five-speed automatic,
four-speed automatic, or an elec-
tronically-controlled four-speed
automatic & optional.

For tae 1992 model year, all
F-Series pickups receive a new
front end, with more rounded
styling, aerodynamic one-piece
headlamp/turn signal lamps, and

new body mouldings. Tue new
styling is modern without being
trendy, and manages to look
tough and attractive at the same
time. :

The Flareside model, with tradi-
tional rear fenders, has been re-
introduced this year (most likely
in response to the success of
Chevrolet’s Sportside pickup). The
old-fashioned style pickup box is
still very popular despite the fact
that it is smaller in size than the
contemporary box. The Flareside
body style is available only on the
short wheelbase F-150 regular and
Supercab models.

Among the notable technical
changes for 1992 are standard
automatic hub locks on F-250 and
F-350 4X4 models (vith manual
hubs as an option). All-terrain
tires are also a new item on F-150
4X4’s.

My a 4X4 F-150

test truck,

chnical data.

“3

Price as tested $23,368. Base
price $16,795

Type two-door, five-passenger
extended cab pickup
Layout jongitudina}
engine/rear-wheel-drive
Engine 5.0 litre OHV V*, elec-
tronic fuel injection
Horscpower 185 @ 3,800 rpm

front

Supercab with a short (139-inch)
wheelbase, is a popular choice for
general utility and transportation
needs. The extended cab ac-
comodates an extra two, or even
three, rear passengers (the F-
Series is a wide truck). It has a
forward-facing, fold-down, split
rear bench seat which was com-
fortable for short journeys.

A new instrument panel with
multiple round gauges and a col-
or-coordinated and vinyl interior
give the F-Series an attractive,
car-like appearance.

F-Series pickups have many
uses, but they are particularly
popular with campers in British
Columbia because of their
payload and towing capacity. The
Camper Package, available as an
option, includes super engine
cooling, low-mount swingway
mirrors, trailer towing harness
(7-wire), heavy-duty turn signal

Torque 270 Ibs-ft @ 2,400 rpm
Transmission 4-speed auto,
electronically controlled (5-spd
manual)

Curb weight 1,698 kg/3,743 Ibs
GVWR/payload 2,744 kg
(6,050 Ibs.)/(830 kg) 1,830 Ibs.
Wheelbase 3,526 mni.’!38.8 in.
Length 5,565 mm/219.{ in.

flasher,

iliary automatic transmission
cooler. :

F Series trucks have a surpris
ingly good ride, both off-road
and on. Full-size pickups tend to
be more stable than smaller trucks
because of their extra width, and
the F-Serizs in particular takes to
rocky, rutted, potholed roads like
a duck to water.

If you’re considering purchasing
an F-Series, remember that op-
tions {and there are many of
them) can increase the price
significantly. My test truck, for
example, had a base price of
$16,795, but came to over $23,000
when ali the counting was done.
Buyers should treat the base truck
as exactly that, base, and expect
to pay extra for powertrain,
suspension, comfort, and conve-
nience items.

Width 2,007 mm/79.0 in.

Tires P235/75R-15 steel-belted
radials

Fuel economy City 16.9 1/100
km, 17 mpg Hwy 11.9 1/100
kms/24 mpg

Warranty Basic and Powertrain
3 yrs/60,000 kms