1997 Ford Powerforce - AllCarIndex

 Ford Powerforce -- a truck to be reckoned with

Ford flexes its muscle with the new Ford Powerforce, a Triton V-10-powered four-wheel-drive Super Duty concept truck that literally towers over other pickups and promises to change customer expectations of how work is performed.

"The mammoth exterior appearance of this Super Duty truck takes the 'Ford Tough' image to an even higher level," said Gary Haas, director, Truck Design. "Powerforce is a huge truck with a strong individual image -- it is the ultimate 'can do' pickup."

Powerforce is longer, taller, wider and has more interior space than any pickup on the road today. It responds to the trend in the commercial truck market toward carrying more load without trading off the comforts of light duty ride and handling. Its size and image of brute strength relate to its performance: tough and reliable in severe-duty applications, the most powerful truck for hauling and towing, and representing outstanding customer utility.

Ford's high-performance Triton 6.8-liter V-10 production engine drives Powerforce. It delivers 265 horsepower at 4,250 rpm and 410 foot-pounds of torque at 2,750 rpm.

Powerforce features an 8-foot cargo box and stands an impressive 81 inches tall on custom 19-inch, two-piece aluminum wheels and 35-inch off-road tires. Thanks to its size and equipment, Powerforce is ready to take on any kind of road surface or heavy-duty chore.

Power rotating running boards, a first for Ford vehicles, make entry and exit easy -- even at Powerforce's height. When the door latch or key fob is activated, the boards rotate down, forming a step. When not in use, the running boards fold and act as added lower bodyside protection.

An exercise in extremes, the Powerforce concept explores new directions in truck capabilities, exhibiting ideas that bring radical engineering and design possibilities to the pickup platform. The truck's versatility would allow Powerforce to serve as a workhorse for the fleet buyer, a work/play vehicle for the small business owner, or a luxurious and rugged recreation vehicle for the upscale personal-use buyer.

The front-end design features integral "bull bars" and heavy-duty tow hooks, giving the truck an aggressive attitude that emphasizes its rugged character and taskmaster demeanor.

The power lift in the tailgate aids in loading and unloading cargo. A remote key fob opens the tailgate and lowers it to ground level so large objects can be lifted to the bed. Ford borrows from its proud truck heritage by utilizing a solid oak floor in the cargo box accented with attractive high-tech aluminum diamond plate.

Powerforce features a drop belt window design with glass below the normal truck beltline to allow the driver greater visibility. The design also creates a feeling of openness in the cab.

The truck's bright red exterior is accented with touches of chrome and gray. Its black interior features leather seating surfaces, a bright red leather-trimmed steering wheel, and black-on-white instrument panel gauges.

Intimidating Presence, User-Friendly Features

A chrome grille, vents in the hood, and exterior grab handles on the sides of the cab contribute to its brawny appearance. Powerforce responds to commercial truck owners who want their trucks to look as daunting as the work they perform. The truck already is equipped for niche market applications.

For example, interchanging a snow plow or a winch is a simple operation. Modular attachment points allow accessories to be mounted directly to the frame.

Powerforce also is big on safety. For lighting, high-intensity projector beam headlamps, driving lamps and back-up lamps are used. The front and rear turn lamps are sequential LEDs -- they appear to sweep or gain intensity as they are activated, standing out from the brake lights for greater visibility and safety.

Two mirrors -- standard and wide angle -- are mounted in the exterior mirror housings to help the driver see around the truck and to reduce blind spots. Illuminated signals built into the lower mirror surface display turn, brake, hazard and reverse function indicators. Invisible to the driver, these signals can be seen by motorists traveling in adjacent lanes.

Powerforce is equipped with a sensor system that is activated when the truck is shifted into reverse.

As the truck approaches objects, the system recognizes them and warns the driver with a series of beeps.

A panel at the front of the bed serves as a load barrier and is integrated into Powerforce's cargo box.

It incorporates a high-mount stoplamp, running lights and fully functional dual vertical exhausts that add to the truck's aggressive character. The barrier also helps keep cargo from sliding forward into the rear of the cab.

The force under Powerforce's hood, Ford's modular V-10 Triton engine, is designed to run 100,000 miles between tune-ups under normal driving conditions with routine filter and fluid changes. The engine is equipped with a fail-safe cooling system to protect it from damage due to loss of coolant and allow the driver additional time to obtain service. In production vehicles, the Triton V-10 currently is available in the full-size Ford Econoline and Club Wagon vans.

SOURCE: Ford