The standard equipment for the base XL trim for the 2011 Ford F-150 Super Cab includes 17 in steel wheels, an FM/FM radio, vinyl seating and air-conditioning. The XLT trim gets you chrome exterior trims, an advanced cloth interior, foglamps and complete power accessories.
That the F-150 is the best selling truck in America for 33-years running tells you Ford must be doing something right when it comes to their full-size pickup line. In what Ford bills as the most extensive powertrain overhaul in the 62-year history of the F-Series pickup, a total of four all-new engines and a new six-speed automatic transmission move the F-150 to the top of the horsepower and fuel economy charts.
There's also a new Lariat Limited trim level, revised feature availability and the adoption of electric-assist power steering. Well, the 2011 Ford F-150 suffers no such weakness. From here, there are three upgrades to replace last year's 320-hp 5.4-liter V8: a 360-hp 5.0-liter V8, a 365-hp twin-turbo V6 (dubbed "EcoBoost") and a 411-hp 6.2-liter V8 only seen late last year in the Raptor variant. For commercial-grade use, Ford offers the contractor-oriented lineup of "Work Solutions" options.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2011 Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck is available in three body styles: regular cab, extended cab ("SuperCab") and crew cab ("SuperCrew"). The SuperCrew can have either the 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed. Reverse-opening rear doors are standard on regular and SuperCabs for easier cab access, while SuperCrews have four full-size doors.
No fewer than 10 trim levels are offered: base XL, sporty STX, popularly equipped XLT, rugged FX2/FX4, luxurious Lariat, Lariat Limited, leather-saddle-inspired King Ranch, blinged-out Platinum, bad-boy Harley-Davidson and extreme off-roader SVT Raptor.
The volume leader XLT features chrome exterior trim, foglamps, an upgraded cloth interior and full power accessories.
The FX2 (2WD) and FX4 (4WD) feature a towing package, 18-inch wheels, black-framed headlights and taillights, front bucket seats, a six-way power driver seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, the Sync multifunction voice-command system (includes Bluetooth and an iPod/USB audio interface), a trip computer, a 110-volt power outlet and satellite radio. The Lariat offers upscale interior trim, leather upholstery, heated eight-way power driver and passenger seats with power-adjustable lumbar, power-adjustable pedals, a power-sliding rear window and dual-zone automatic climate control.
The off-road-ready SVT Raptor hits the trail with a 6.2-liter V8, special off-road tires, a revised suspension (with wider front and rear tracks, enhanced wheel travel and specialized shock absorbers), an electronically locking rear differential, sport seats and exclusive exterior and interior styling.
Aimed at those who work out of their trucks, Ford's Work Solutions options include an in-dash computer with Internet access, a Midbox storage system (a lockable compartment located between the cab and bed) and Tool Link (a system that keeps tabs on tools stored in the truck's box via radio-frequency tracking). Other option highlights include a sunroof, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, a cargo management system, a stowable bed extender, a trailer brake controller, premium Sony audio system, a hard-drive-based navigation system with Sirius Travel Link and a rear-seat entertainment system.
Powertrains and Performance
The base engine is now a 3.7-liter V6 that generates 302 hp and 278 pound-feet of torque. The 5.0-liter V8 comes standard on the FX2/FX4, XLT 4WD, the long-bed versions of SuperCrew XL and XLTs, the Lariats, the King Ranch and the Platinum. The 6.2-liter V8 comes standard in the Lariat Limited, Harley-Davidson and Raptor trims.
Interior Design and Special Features
Lower trims have a standard 40/20/40-split bench seat with a column shifter, while the upper trims feature captain's chairs and a console shifter. Special models like the SVT Raptor and Harley-Davidson feature unique interior design elements.