2016 Ford F-150 adds a new Sport mode

Intent on raising the fun-to-drive aspect of its 2016 Ford F-150, the engineering team has borrowed technology from the Mustang to add a Sport mode to the F-150’s 6-speed automatic that will keep the engine operating at optimum power and torque ranges. By letting it remain in the proverbial "sweet spot," driver’s will enjoy better responsiveness under more challenging conditions like negotiating twisty roads or uphill/downhill stretches. Activated by a double tap of the tow/haul button that illuminates an amber-colored "S" in the tach, the Sport mode changes the shift programming to allow the transmission to hold any given gear longer period before upshifting or downshifting.

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"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 6-speed automatic transmission from Mustang to F-150 to enhance the overall driving experience for truck customers. Sport mode keeps the engine operating in the desired power and torque ranges. It makes Mustang come alive, and we feel it does the same thing in F-150." Fitted to every 2016 F-150 regardless of engine, this new on-demand Sport mode can be activated in rear-drive as well as both 4WD automatic and 4WD high settings.