|
Michael Wong Cambridge PR Group 617-500-2302 |
 |
AAA Picks the Fuel-Efficient Full-Size Truck for Tailgating Duty
Online PR News – 14-September-2011 –BEVERLY, Mass. – Ford’s powerful and fuel-efficient Ford F-150 EcoBoost has won over truck buyers with its towing and economy, but AAA Auto Buying experts say the truck is also meant to party at football stadiums. AAA chose six rides for its Top Vehicle Picks for Tailgating list, and the F-150 EcoBoost, a popular pick at Ford dealerships, is at the top of the list.
AAA notes that while some football fans have a dedicated tailgating vehicle, most simply bring their daily drives. Looking at vehicles that can perform on daily commutes as well as on any given Sunday, AAA Auto Buying experts chose the Ford F-150 EcoBoost as one of their top three traditional tailgating vehicles. The judges noted its strong mix of fuel economy and power, its cargo space and comfort, and the fact that, unlike some others on the list, it actually has a tailgate.
“Tailgating is a big part of going to see the Patriots, and the F-150 EcoBoost is a perfect companion for a trip to Foxboro with your friends,” said Jeff Klein, general sales manager of Massachusetts Ford dealership Thomas Ford. “Like any Ford F-150, the EcoBoost is spacious, comfortable and can haul just about anything you can think of, whether it’s a gigantic grill or enough chairs for an army of football fans. What the EcoBoost engine adds to the mix is fuel economy without the sacrifice of power.”
Like any vehicle that derives part of its name from its engine, the F-150 EcoBoost is characterized by what lies under its rugged hood. A twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with direct-injection allows the EcoBoost to tow like a large displacement V8, but sip fuel like a V6. The F-150 EcoBoost produces a best-in-class 420 pound-feet of torque and is rated at 22 mpg on the highway, but drivers are finding it easy to eke out even better fuel economy. In fact, Carlee Mallard of Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina averaged 28.3 mpg in her F-150 EcoBoost while recently competing in the Ford F-150 EcoBoost Challenge.
The EcoBoost Challenge gave eight truck fans, each representing a different city, an F-150 EcoBoost and asked them to get the best fuel mileage they could during a week while driving at least 25 miles a day. Fuel mileage was monitored remotely using Ford’s Crew Chief system, a GPS-based telematics system that is typically used to help businesses with vehicle fleets improve fuel efficiency and logistics. Contestants also had to plan and execute their own community-service event.
Mallard won the Challenge based on a blended score of highest average fuel mileage, most votes on the Ford Facebook page and the amount of volunteers that came out for the community-service event. With 56 volunteers, Mallard organized an event to collect water and non-perishables that were then donated to the Raleigh, North Carolina YMCA to help those affected by Hurricane Irene. Mallard won a year’s worth of free gasoline from Shell for her efforts.
“Drivers are often surprised at how easy it is to exceed EPA mileage estimates in the F-150 EcoBoost,” Klein noted. “Driven sensibly, you can easily match the fuel mileage of a full-size sedan, which is an incredible achievement considering that you can’t tow 11,000 pounds with a car.”
About Thomas Ford:
Thomas Ford, located in Beverly, has been a fixture in the North Shore of Massachusetts for over 40 years. They base their success on their dedicated sales and Ford service departments' commitment to customer satisfaction. It's never been a better time to be a Ford owner, and Thomas Ford encourages you to stop by their dealership to discover why. For more information, call them at 978-922-0059, visit their web site at www.thomasford.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ThomasFordAuto or stop by their dealership at 211 Rantoul Street, Beverly, Mass.
| Bookmarks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
