Ford F150 | Lamarque Ford

2015 F-150 Real-Life Testing | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

August 25, 2014 By Matthew Hritz

A few weeks ago we discussed the rigorous testing the 2105 F-150 has to endure at Ford facilities during the production phase. Today, the finished product is tested in real-life conditions by real people. After Ford asked customers to send in applications that outlined their jobs and how the F-150 would be tested, four extreme truck owners were selected as part of Ford’s real-life testing experience. The model tested is a 2015 Ford F-150 Lariat 3.5-liter EcoBoost 4×4 and customers were selected from all across the U.S.

The first test is in the unforgiving Arizona desert, where summer temperatures reach 115º and the terrain is rough and unpredictable. Defense contractor Brian Schober’s job is to destroy trucks, so to speak, as he pushes military trucks to their limits in an Arizona facility that closely resembles the battlefield. During the test, the F-150’s new aluminum body and suspension face a combination of hills, dips, holes, washboards, gravel, rocks, and turns, and they hold up just fine. Remember this course is designed to beat up military trucks, and the 2015 F-150 is doing great.

Vehicle Engineer Manager Peter Frantzeskakis explains the new F-150’s suspension has been designed to “eat up” the rough, off-road type of surface and how the high-strength steel fully-boxed frame helps with the stiffness and rigidity. The full test consists of 36 straight hours of heat and high stress to the truck’s vital parts, as a driver stops only to refuel when needed. The outcome? No broken parts and no failure at any given point, in a terrain Brian says has claimed the lives of 13 vehicles over the past year and a half.

The other three testers have similar if not worse conditions for the 2015 F-150. A cattle rancher in Montana loads to maximum towing capacity, then drives hundreds of miles day in and day out, 6% grade slopes included. An Oregon driver who hauls and loads thousands of pounds worth of rocks and needs a dependable workhorse. A truck owner who drives over the Dempster Highway, a 900-mile gravel road that crosses into the arctic circle.

As you can see, Ford has a capable winner in the all-new 2015 F-150, and wants customers to know these aren´t just numbers on paper, but actual meaningful improvements to real life applications. In addition, the new F-150 brings improved engines, like the 2.7 EcoBoost, which brings V8 power to a fuel efficient V6.

Stay tuned and visit Lamarque Ford’s Facebook page for the upcoming test videos and check out our current truck inventory.

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Lamarque Ford is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in New Orleans, LA. Located in Kenner, LA, Lamarque Ford is committed to providing you the best customer service and vehicle service for the life of your vehicle. Whether you’re on the market to purchase, finance, or service a new or used Ford vehicle, you’ve come to the right place.

Engine Fuel Economy Improvements | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner

May 5, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Ten years ago, the top selling trucks in the U.S. had an average combined EPA fuel economy of only 14 mpg. Today, that number is closer to 20. What has happened? Have we sacrificed performance for fuel efficiency? Not at all. Although car manufacturers have shrunk the engines significantly, new technologies allow for better performance AND better gas mileage. Let’s take a look at some of the improvements in truck engines.

Fuel efficiency depends on factors other than the engine, like aerodynamics, weight and rolling resistance. However, it is increasingly harder for pick-up trucks to improve in other aspects of fuel efficiency while at the same time adding new technological improvements. Remember, the job a truck is hired to do is not to consume as little fuel as possible, but to tow, carry and drag.

Turbochargers
This technology has been around for a while and has been used in high performance cars for decades. Manufacturers started implementing turbochargers in trucks as it allows for a smaller engine without losing torque. Ford’s Ecoboost engines are use turbocharging to compensate for their small size (3.5 V6 to power a 6000 lb vehicle).

Variable Displacement
Variable displacement is also known as cylinder deactivation. The system works by allowing some of the cylinders to stop moving while the throttle is closed or running at steady speeds, like highway speeds, without affecting its power. Before its modern implementation, variable displacement technology failed to reach mass market because of unsolved engineering challenges dating back to the early 80s. Today, this technology is widely used by Honda, GM and Mercedes-Benz.

Direct Fuel Injection
Direct Fuel injection allows for a better control of the amount of fuel that goes into the cylinders as it is delivered directly, thus reducing waste. Ecoboost engines by Ford rely heavily on this technology coupled with turbocharging.

Lighter Materials
New manufacturing techniques have made materials such as aluminum a viable option for many parts of a vehicle, engines included. This reduces the weight of engines by about half, compared to iron block engines. However, there were some problems with early aluminum engines as they couldn’t handle the high temperatures. That’s all in the past as most of today’s standard small engines are aluminum.

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Lamarque Ford is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in New Orleans, LA. Located in Kenner, LA, Lamarque Ford is committed to providing you the best customer service and vehicle service for the life of your vehicle. Whether you’re on the market to purchase, finance, or service a new or used Ford vehicle, you’ve come to the right place.

New York International Auto Show | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner

April 7, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

The 2014 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) opens its doors on April 18, and is going to be one of the biggest ever. Although the show has been running since 1900 (also the first car show in America), this year’s line-up and international attention seem to be off the charts. Virtually every brand selling cars in the U.S. will be part of the show, with manufacturers like Alfa Romeo, Mercedes Benz and Audi introducing new concept or production models. American automakers will be making some big splashes too, as Chevy is introducing a new Corvette and Ford is showing off the 2015 F-150. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most important announcements.

Alfa Romeo 4C

Alfa Romeo is returning to the U.S. in 2015 with the 4C, a two seater sport coupe. The Italian automaker is known for its refined and sporty sedans but this time will be competing against Porsches and Audis. Behind the two bucket seats hides a turbo-charged 1.7 four cylinder beast, producing up to 237 horsepower. When coupled with the 4C’s light carbon fiber frame, this Italian vehicle can go from 0–60 in just under 4.5 seconds. American publications are already praising the car’s performance and looks, though some are skeptical of its success because of the speculated price tag: $70,000.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Also known as the top of the line Corvette, Chevy is already calling the 2015 Z06 a super car, and rightly so. The new Corvette makes more than 600 horsepower thanks to its 6.2-liter V-8 supercharged engine. It is also the fastest Corvette ever. The Z06 also features oversized ceramic brakes, 625 lb. of torque and an optional all-new automatic transmission that promises fast shifts on par with Porsche’s Doppelkupplung gear box. Chevy is headed in the right direction with the 2015 Corvette Z06, as it becomes once again relevant in the performance sports cars arena.

Ford F-150

Ford has proven time after time (30 times, actually) that the F-150 is a winner. Ford’s four wheel workhorse has been the best selling vehicle in the U.S. for 30 years, and things keep getting better. For model year 2015 the American automaker is bringing a lightweight aluminum chassis, more improvements to its powerful yet efficient V6 and improved headlight technology. F-150 sales have skyrocketed in recent years and the V6 engine is now the most popular.

BMW i8

The BMW i8 is a rare beast that combines the best of a plug-in hybrid and a sports car. BMW is betting the future of the company with their “i” series, as they’re introducing a new platform, technology and design languages that will trickle down to the rest of the lineup in coming years. The BMW i8 can achieve compact car fuel efficiency without compromising performance or looks, and it’s geared to the high-end eco-friendly consumer.

Remember to stay on top of the new car announcements as the New York International Auto Show runs from April 18th through the 27th.

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F-150 Brings LED Tech to Trucks| Lamarque Ford | New Orleans, Kenner

March 21, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Headlights were first introduced in vehicles in the late 1880’s. The first generation of headlamps were acetylene or oil based, and they came as a response to the high number of accidents that occurred at night. In 1898, the first wave of electric lamps debuted, but proved to be a failure due to the short life of the filaments and lack of power to keep them on. However, in 1912, Cadillac introduced the first good enough electric lighting system, which served as the cornerstone of modern day headlights.

Today, all vehicles that operate in public roads are required to have headlights. Modern lamps generate light from different sources like tungsten, tungsten-halogen, HID (high intensity discharge) and LED (light emitting diode). Although LED technology has been around for some time (christmas lights, anyone?), it wasn’t until 2007 that their performance was on par with other technologies. The first production vehicle with factory installed LED headlamps was the 2007 Lexus LS 600h, one of Lexus flagship cars.

Seven years later, however, LED technology is still not widely adopted in the automotive industry. LED lights have proven to be brighter and more energy efficient than other lamps, but they are still cost prohibitive for non-luxury cars. That’s why in 2015, Ford is taking a leap forward and bringing that very technology to their 6,000 lb workhorse, the new 2015 Ford F-150. Let’s take a look at the reasons behind this decision.

While redesigning the F-150, Ford engineers realized traditional headlights have to be replaced very often, so it was a natural choice to go with the long lasting LED option. LED lights also offer superior light quality and range, which translates into better visibility. Ford is the first manufacturer to bring LED lights to a truck, leaving competitors (and halogen lamps) in the dust.

Remember that along with airbags and seat belts, headlights play an important role in your vehicle’s safety. Statistically, most auto accidents happen at night, and better headlamps can significantly improve your chances of avoiding one. Stop by your local dealership so you can see the difference for yourself, as other high end vehicles are already using LED technology.

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A Look at the Different Ford F150 Models | New Orleans

February 27, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

With February and March being Ford Truck Month, it’s as good a time as any to know about the many different types of F-150 trucks available. While we all wait excitedly for the new 2015 Ford F-150 to arrive, there are many great options for the 2014 F-150 that can meet the needs of any truck enthusiasts. But if you’ve ever set foot on a Ford car dealership, you know that with all the different types of F-150s available it can be difficult to know which one is for you. While the 2014 F-150 comes in 10 different model types, here’s a look at some of the more popular types of F-150 trucks available.

F-150 XL

The XL is the base model, and is also the most affordable. It comes with options for regular cab, super cab, or supercrew; 5.5in, 6.5in, or 8in box; and V6, V8, or Ford Ecoboost V6 engine. While it doesn’t come with many of the nice interior or exterior features that some of the more expensive models have, it has many optional add-ons such as a rear view camera or steering mounted controls. It’s simply a more stripped down, no-frills version of the F-150.

F-150 XLT

Similar to the F-150 XL, the XLT has all of the same options for cabs and boxes, but also has the additional option of the more powerful 6.2L V8 engine. The XLT also comes with its own optional convenience package or plus package, and comes standard with Ford’s Power Equipment Group. It also comes standard with SecuriCode keypad on the driver’s side, electronic 6-speed transmission with tow/haul mode, Ford SYNC, and chrome grille and chrome surround.

F-150 King Ranch

The King Ranch is a significant step up from the XL and XLT. While it is more expensive, it offers many additional features not found in more inexpensive models. The King Ranch comes only with the supercrew cab, and is available with the Ford Ecoboost engine or 5.0L V8. It also comes standard with the Trailer Tow package, leather bucket seats, and Dual Zone Electronic Automated Temperature Control. The 18”, all-season tires that come equipped on the King Ranch make it well suited for those who need a powerful truck for working hard.

F-150 SVT Raptor

The Raptor is among the more powerful F-150 trucks available. Equipped standard with a 6.2L V8 engine, the SVT features a smaller size truck with a 5.5in box and either the super cab or supercrew. The SVT Raptor highlights high performance with tow/haul mode, hill descent/off-road mode, and Fox Racing Shox. It also has the optional 801A Entertainment package which includes the Raptor luxury package and Navigation System, including Sirius XM radio and Travel Link.

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