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| F-150 Lariat. (Photo: Ford Motor) |
But that's not to say it can't pull or haul. Just like its siblings the Lariat is no pushover. A standard 4.6-L Triton V8 produces 231-hp and 293 lb-ft of torque. Move up to the 5.4-L V8 and 330-hp is on tap with 365 lb-ft of torque. That's a 40-hp increase from the current top engine, thanks to its new three valve cylinder heads and variable valve timing. Each is offered with only a 4-speed automatic transmission, a negative for some. A 6-cylinder version with a standard 5-speed manual transmission is said to be coming for the 2005 model year. Also, the much anticipated baby-PowerStroke 4.5-L V6 diesel, which was initially planned for the 2002 model year, is still temporarily stalled.
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| F-150 Lariat. (Photo: Ford Motor) |
Like all full-size pickups the F-150 soldiers forward with a standard leaf sprung live rear axle, best for hauling and towing, while its front suspension gets a coil on shock, double wishbone setup with cast aluminum lower control arms, improving handling dynamics. Steering is rack-and-pinion while its brakes are discs all-round. The F-150's top tow rating is 4,309 kg (9,500 lbs) if a 4x2 Regular Cab is equipped with the 5.4-L engine - the 4.6-L truck can pull up to 2,948 kg (6,500 lbs). Either 4x2 or 4x4 Regular or SuperCab models can carry a payload of up to 8,200 lbs if optimized with a 5.4-L engine and a 2,438 mm (8.0 ft) box.