Ford F-150 Raises the Roof on Rollover Protection

LONDONDERRY, N.H. (06/06/2011)(readMedia)-- With their higher center of gravity from added ground clearance and heavy duty suspensions, pickup trucks are more likely to roll over onto their roof than regular passenger cars. Yet, only two full-size crew cab pickups, the Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra, received top marks this year in a new roof strength evaluation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Known for its class-leading performance, the 2011 Ford F-150 earned a 2011 IIHS Top Safety Pick by acing the organization's frontal, side and rear impact tests and performing the best in its segment in the new roof test.

The roof strength evaluation from the IIHS requires that vehicles be able to withstand four times their weight before five inches of crush is detected on their roof. While the IIHS found that the Toyota Tundra could handle 4.5 times its weight, the Ford F-150 came out on top with its 4.7 strength-to-weight ratio. The remaining crew cab pickups in the test failed to reach the top rating of good, with the Nissan Titan rated acceptable and the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Dodge Ram all rated marginal.

"Ford is as serious about the safety of their F-150 models as they are about their power and durability, and that means being the first to meet the latest safety criteria," said Jim McGovern, general manager of Ford of Londonderry, a New Hampshire Ford dealer. "The truck is packed with features that help prevent the accident scenarios tested by the IIHS from ever happening in the first place, but customers can take comfort in knowing that Ford literally has every angle covered."

As the eighth 2011 Top Safety Pick model currently available at Ford dealers, the F-150's latest accolade covers any crew cab model built after February 2011, when Ford incorporated a strengthened roof structure. The 2011 Ford F-150 also features a new shoulder belt for the front middle seat and an added head restraint for the middle seat in the second row. These new safety features compliment the F-150's comprehensive list of standard safeguards, including a frame built with high-strength steel and six airbags.

Of course, the best accident is the one avoided, which is why the Ford F-150 comes standard with AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control (RSC). The technology uses gyroscopic sensors to sense when a driver is in danger of losing control, and then uses a combination of reduced engine power and selective wheel braking to help avoid rollovers.

Beyond its added safety features, the 2011 Ford F-150 offers the option of four new powertrains, including two powerful V6 engines that have brought fuel efficiency to customers as gas prices remained high. The 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine gets up to 21 mpg on the highway while delivering 365 horsepower, 420 pound-feet of torque and a best-in-class towing capability of 11,300 pounds.

"Americans have bought more F-150s than any other vehicle during each of the past 29 years, but you know that Ford isn't resting on their laurels when you see their latest innovations," McGovern added. "Whether it's saving lives with a stronger roof, or saving fuel with an EcoBoost engine that offers V8 power in a V6, Ford is giving customers plenty of new reasons to keep the F-150 number one in the United States."

About Ford of Londonderry:

Ford of Londonderry is the premier New Hampshire Ford dealer, serving those in nearby Derry, Concord, Nashua and Manchester. Ford of Londonderry has the extensive new and used Ford inventory New Hampshire drivers desire, with amazing prices and specials on all the latest models. You can preview their wide selection of Fords at www.fordoflondonderry.com, call them at 888-871-1155, Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FordofLondonderry, or visit their Ford dealership at 33 Nashua Road in Londonderry, N.H.