The 2015 Ford F-150’s On-Demand Sport Mode works like the tow-haul mode already present in all Ford F-150s. The 2015 Ford F-150’s On-Demand Sport mode is activated by pushing the tow/haul mode button two times. After the second push on the tow/haul button, an amber “S” appears in the lower-right corner of the tachometer stating that the On-Demand Sport mode is ready.
“Our team realized how well the new F-150 handled and responded to acceleration due to its reduced weight,” said Karl Jungbluth, Ford transmission calibration engineer. “So 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.”
The 2015 Ford F-150’s On-Demand Sport Mode works by changing the frequency of gearshifts. This keeps the F-150 in the meat of the powerband and holds lower gears longer. When you are cornering and have that perfect balance between torque, traction and entry speed, a system like this will hold that gear longer. This will allow better power on exits, quicker responses in acceleration and; probably, a more enjoyable drive. At least, that’s what Ford is hoping.
One additional nifty detail: the 2015 Ford F-150’s On-Demand Sport Mode’s transmission will rev match the gear when down-shifting.
“Sport mode keeps the engine operating in the desired power and torque ranges, or what we like to call the ‘sweet’ spot,” explained Jungbluth. “It makes Mustang come alive, and we feel it does the same thing in F-150.”
This will be welcome news for those who want a little more fun infused with their utilitarian trucks. Ford also notes, “Sport Mode is standard with every F-150 engine and can be activated in two-wheel drive, four-wheel-drive automatic and four-wheel-drive high settings.”
We’ll be playing with the 2015 Ford F-150’s On-Demand Sport Mode in the very near future – you can count on it.
Speaking of big Ford trucks…
worldwide.
