Just in case you want your cargo entertained during transportation, Ford has given the F-150 pickup truck’s six-speed automatic transmission a Sport mode.
For the first time ever, the F-150 is offered with an on-demand Sport mode which is aimed at improving driving experience for truck customers.
Offered as standard with the six-speed automatic transmission in combination with any F-150 engine, the Sport mode operates in two-wheel drive, four-wheel-drive automatic and four-wheel-drive high settings.
Ford says the F-150 benefits from performance advantages from the Mustang, as the six-speed automatic gearbox was jointly created for the two models. “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 Karl Jungbluth, Ford transmission calibration engineer, adding that the F-150’s lower weight has inspired them to do so.
F-150 drivers can activate the Sport mode by pushing the tow/haul mode button twice. An amber S subsequently appears in the lower-right portion of the tachometer indicating sport mode is active.
Sport mode changes the frequency of gearshifts, keeping the engine in the ideal rev range for power delivery and holding lower gears longer to make driving more fun. That translates into less shifting on engaging drives, such as twisty roads with rolling hills. For example, instead of shifting gears up and down for peak efficiency, the transmission holds a specific gear longer to make driving more responsive.
Sport mode also reduces the frequency of having to step on the gas pedal to reach peak torque, resulting in quicker acceleration with less pedal travel.
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