New Harley-Davidson F-150 Ready To Hog The Spotlight

One of the industry’s most exciting partnerships is breaking barriers once again, with Ford recently debuting the 2012 Harley-Davidson F-150—A full-size pickup that offers a full-size dose of performance, style and power.

As is always the case when these two brands get together, the new H-D F-150 offers a bold and aggressive look, in this case highlighted by exterior details like a six-bar billet-style bright chrome grille with “Harley-Davidson” badging, 22-inch machined-aluminum wheels, deployable running boards, and a choice of two premium paint schemes: The traditional Tuxedo Black and, for the first time, White Platinum Tri-Coat. Especially eye-catching will be unique bodyside graphics that feature a snakeskin-like texture that echoes the real snakeskin inserts available on premium Harley motorcycles—and the snakeskin trim that adds a striking appearance to the truck’s interior.

The upscale cockpit of the Harley-Davidson F-150 also boasts standard technology that includes a 4.2-inch LCD productivity screen and a voice-activated navigation/climate/satellite audio system with an 8-inch touchscreen, as well as features such as ambient lighting, heated front- and second-row seats, handmade cloisonné badges, a rearview camera, power moonroof and more.

Of course, the truck wouldn’t be wearing the “Harley-Davidson” name on its sheet metal if it wasn’t wearing a potent powerplant beneath that sheet metal. In this case, the heart of the matter is Ford’s 6.2-liter V8—the same one found in the SVT Raptor. This high-performance engine makes a best-in-class 411 hp and 434 lb.-ft. of torque, courtesy of powertrain advances that include a single-overhead-cam valvetrain with roller-rocker shafts, dual-equal variable cam timing, two spark plugs per cylinder and dual knock sensors.

“This is a great pairing of two icons of the open road: Ford and Harley-Davidson. Both brands appeal to truck owners and motorcycle enthusiasts alike,” said Marc Lapine, Ford F-150 marketing manager. “For 2012 we worked with Harley-Davidson to continue to push the styling envelope while still delivering the durability and power that F-150 is known for and that our collective customers expect. It perfectly captures both brands.”

Source: Ford in the News