Ford F-150 2016 Specs & Features: Ford Releases a Sport Mode to Upgrade the F-150
Ford has just amped up its truck game with the unveiling of a "Sport" mode for the 2016 F-150. The American automotive manufacturer has recently announced that it has added the new feature to its popular truck to give its drivers a unique and different feel when driving the vehicle.
According to the press statement released by Ford, the engineers behind the latest version of the truck took a cue from the all-new Mustang and "borrowed" its sport mode feature to place it on the vehicle for an "engaged, dynamic driving experience."
Merging this mode from the Mustang to the F-150 would not have been possible if it weren't for the fact that both have the same automatic transmission technology.
According to Ford transmission calibration engineer Karl Jungbluth, since both vehicles were often test driven at the same time and it was noticeable that the truck has improved its acceleration because of its reduce weight, they thought it would be a good idea to try the sport feature on the vehicle.
"We decided we could adapt the sport mode capabilities of the six-speed automatic transmission from Mustang to F-150 to enhance the overall driving experience for truck customers," said Ford engineer.
To activate the sport feature, the tow button must be pushed twice in succession. A light red-colored "S" on the lower part of the dashboard will light up, indicating it has been activated.
The lighted "S" will enable the six-speed automatic transmission to "adjust the frequency of gearshifts," which will keep the truck moving at lower gears for a longer time, noted Motrolix.
The advantage is that drivers will shift gears less even when the road changes.
This happens when "the transmission holds a specific gear longer to make driving more responsive and spirited," described Ford.
Meanwhile, this feature also helps in fuel efficiency. The new sport mode helps decrease the usage of gasoline even as it reaches its peak torque.
"Sport mode keeps the engine operating in the desired power and torque ranges, or what we like to call the "sweet spot,'" said Jungbluth. He added, "It makes Mustang come alive, and we feel it does the same thing in F-150."
While the sport mode is quite similar to the previous F-150's tow/haul feature, its difference stems from the fact that the technology reduced the shift in transmission in curves and downhill roads as well as provide extra "engine-compression" brakes to slow down the vehicle while maintaining steady pace.
The sport mode will now be a standard feature of all F-150. It will be available in two-wheel, four-wheel high drive and automatic modes.
Subscribe to Latin Post!
Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage!