What’s New: 2012 Ford F-150
On the heels of all new powertrains in 2011 including the 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6, 3.7 liter V6 and the Mustang’s 5.0 V8 the 2012 Ford F-150 rolls into the new year with a number of new features.
Topping the list of exciting new things is a new FX appearance package and several driveline updates and new technologies to further improve and refine the driving experience.
The new FX appearance package is available on both FX4 and FX2 trucks and delivers a unique look with stealthy, flat-black accents. The look is set off with black fender and tailgate badges that feature red lettering, which is carried into the interior with a red-stitched steering wheel.
The FX’s interior also features black leather seating surfaces with red perforations and red piping. Unique interior touches include black-painted dash accents, brushed-metal surfaces, and satin shifter knob, door handles and air conditioning vent bezels. The package is available with all FX colors. Also new for 2012, the FX luxury package now offers cooled front seats, which combine with the previously available heated seats.
New 20-inch six-spoke wheels with a flat-black paint are just one of the specialized styling cues on the FX exterior. A unique bodyside decal is matte black with color read-through for a distinctive appearance. A chrome exhaust tip, black-finished grille, and blacked-out headlamps and taillamps round out the exterior upgrades.
Under the hood, upgrades on the 2012 F-150’s drivetrain include replacing last year’s electronic shift-on-the-fly with a two-speed automatic 4×4 system for Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trim levels. The system still offers four high and four low modes, but now also offers a 4×4 auto mode. If the truck senses a loss of traction, it immediately transfers torque to the front wheels, making the system more seamless for the customer.
A new feature, Hill Start Assist, helps keep the truck from rolling backward at a stop, making it easier to pull away when on a slope or hill, especially when towing. With the brake pedal pressed, if sensors detect the vehicle is on a slope, the system is automatically activated. Brake pressure is held in the braking system, and the truck remains stationary on the slope for up to two seconds after the driver releases the brake pedal.
The addition of neutral tow capability on all 4×4 trucks means customers can now flat-tow their F-150, making the truck even more usable. An available electronic locking rear axle replaces most of the limited-slip offerings on the 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 5.0-liter engines. It is now available in a range of axle ratios, and is even offered on 4×2 models, delivering a new level of traction capability across most of the F-150 lineup.
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“These changes are centered around making F-150 an even more useful tool for our customers,” said Jackie DiMarco, F-150 chief engineer. “We’re continuously raising the bar when it comes to capability, and these upgrades and new technologies push us even further.”
Additional updates include:
- Light-duty SuperCab 163-inch-wheelbase option on XL and XLT
- Heavy-duty payload CrewCab 157-inch-wheelbase option on XL, XLT and Lariat
- Electronic shift-on-the-fly 4×4 now standard on XL to FX4 trim levels
The F-150 retains the same powertrains as 2011 which are:
3.7-liter four-valve Ti-VCT V6
- Best-in-class 302 horsepower at 6,500 rpm vs. V6 competitors
- Unsurpassed 278 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm vs. V6 competitors
- Best-in-class 17 mpg city and best-in-class 23 mpg highway (4×2)
- Best-in-class 6,100 pounds maximum trailer tow vs. V6 competitors
5.0-liter four-valve dual-overhead-camshaft Ti-VCT V8
- Best-in-class 360 horsepower at 5,500 rpm vs. standard V8 competitors
- Best-in-class 380 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250 rpm vs. standard V8 competitors
-21 mpg highway, unsurpassed 15 mpg city (4×2)
- Best-in-class 10,000 pounds maximum trailer tow vs. standard V8 competitors
6.2-liter two-valve single-overhead-camshaft V8
- Best-in-class 411 horsepower at 5,500 rpm vs. all competitors
- Best-in-class 434 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm vs. all competitors
- 13 mpg city, 18 mpg highway (4×2)
- Best-in-class 11,300 pounds maximum trailer tow vs. all competitors
3.5-liter Ti-VCT EcoBoost
- 365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm on regular fuel
- Best-in-class 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,500 rpm vs. premium V8 competitors
- Up to 90 percent peak torque available from 1,700 rpm to 5,000 rpm
- Best-in-class 11,300 pounds maximum trailer tow vs. all competitors
- Best-in-class 3,060 pounds payload vs. all competitors