Having the 2008 Ford F-150 in The Garage this week is a bit of a double edged sword. On the positive side, we are in the midst of moving my step father and I have some lumber to pick up this weekend for a new deck. On the slightly frightening side, gas is $1.09 a liter (roughly $4.36 a gallon) this week here in the Toronto area.

As many readers may be aware, the 08 F-150 is nearing the end of it’s production run, with the all new 09 model waiting in the wings. This late model test will serve us well when we test the replacement in the next few months. So far, it is a great looking truck that has tons of seating room. The kids even commented on how wide the rear seat is. Out back, our tester has the full complement of cargo aids, from lockable storage bins to cross rails and a cool divider to keep stuff from sliding around.

Check back over the next couple of weeks as we let you know what life is like with Ford’s bread and butter hauler.

Strange happenings on the advertising front over at Ford. Some moronic ad agency genius though that a commercial showing a bulldozer crushing an F-150 would be a good thing.Instead of calling the creator in on the carpet and pulling the plug on the deal, Ford thought it would be better to spend a wad of cash to get ad agency JWT to do a study to make sure such a violent scene would definitely upset viewers.
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Many internet outlets are reporting today on the demise of the Ford Ranger. Not totally confirmed, but if true, a shame for those who wanted the alternative of a reliable compact pick-up.

As the story is currently being told, Ford has on its list of 2009 closings the Twin Cities Plant in Minnesota that makes the Ranger as well as the Cleveland plant that cast the engine blocks. It appears that whether or not the guillotine drops will be formally announced by Ford head honcho Alan Mulally at the Detroit Auto Show.
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This summer, Ford and Harley Davidson are kicking things up a notch with their new truck. The new 2007 F-150 Harley Davidson can be optioned with a twin screw Saleen supercharger, the same as the GT500 uses. A dual stage water to air intercooler keeps things cool and a free flowing exhaust adds the prerequisite growl. All this adds up to a whopping 450 hp and 500 pounds-feet of torque from the 5.4 liter V8.

Of course the styling includes 22 inch wheels, special striping and lots of chrome to create the Harley image. This is the ninth version of the Harley-Ford truck since the first one in 1999 and may well become the most sought after.

Full details after the break
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Shelby GT500 KR

Yesterday, Ford hit the ground running prior to the New York Auto Show, with the release of 3 special new models. The most powerful Mustang and Pick Up ever, along with the Funkiest Expedition ever.

Firstly, there is the 2008 Mustang Shelby GT500 KR, with a whopping 540 ponies under the hood. Joining the KR is the Chip Foose influenced 2008 Ford F-150 Foose Edition with 450 horsepower. Coming along for the ride might just be the ultimate bling-mobile. That’s right, Ford has teamed up with FunkMaster Flex to create the 2008 Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition, featuring a tonne of in your face cosmetics and a killer sound system.

Ford press release and more photos after the break
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TV host Mike Rowe, creator of the Discovery Channel’s hit show Dirty Jobs is now getting dirty Ford style with the 2007 Ford F-150. Beginning with a series of Dirty Job ad spots this weekend, the Ford & Dirty Jobs team will be taking their promo to the streets.

Ford press release after the break
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