Ford and Harley Davidson revealed the latest edition of Ford F-150 Harley Davidson Edition for 2011, and the first thing you need to know is that it comes as standard with the new 6.2-liter V8 engine. Ford and Harley have collaborating for long years, and have offered nine F150 models along with six Super Duty F-250 and F-350 models, and in 2009, the first Harley-Davidson F-450 edition truck.

“The new 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 perfectly blends the flexibility and capability of F-Series trucks with the free spirit of Harley-Davidson motorcycles,” said Eric Kuehn, chief engineer. “Both companies have a passion for the road, which shines through in our specialized truck.”

On the outside the F-150 Harley Davidson comes with a bold front fascia and six-bar-shaped billet-style satin chrome grille and “Harley-Davidson” satin chrome badging. It also comes with a factory-installed deployable running board. Other features include 22-inch Euroflange forged wheels with a polished center wheel cap and low-profile performance tires, and two distinctive colors – Tuxedo Black and Ingot Silver. Of course it has some unique graphics as well on the hood and body side.

The interior too has a Tuxedo Black theme, with the door scuff plate and console lid also carry the engine-turned finish. All interior chrome surfaces feature a new satin finish. Premium leather-trimmed seats come with accent color inserts and a unique cloisonné badge. But you may also customize it with some unique HD items.

The car is fitted as standard with Power moonroof, Rear view camera, Second-row heated seats, Ambient lighting, and Remote Start System, and also features a 4.2-inch LCD screen which offers menu options, giving the customer important information related to fuel economy and towing performance. The menu is navigated through a five-way button on the steering wheel and is positioned between the tachometer and speedometer.

Additionally, the 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 comes equipped with a standard voice-activated Navigation System that integrates several functions including voice-recognition destination entry, climate control and SIRIUS® Satellite Radio into one easy-to-use system, displaying them on an 8-inch touch screen.

The best part of it however should be the 6.2 liter petrol engine which has 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque and provides improved maximum trailer towing capacity of 9,300 pounds.

Engine details:

“This engine has tons of torque and already has been proven in the field with both the F-150 SVT Raptor and Super Duty,” said Mike Harrison, V8 engine program manager. “The exhaust for the Ford Harley-Davidson edition has been specially tuned to feature a throaty V8 rumble customers will love.”

Benefits of the new 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine include:

* SOHC valvetrain with roller-rocker shafts: The single overhead camshaft (SOHC) per cylinder head design results in a stiff valvetrain that allows optimized camshaft lift profiles and results in great low-speed torque. The roller-rocker shafts allow valve angles to be splayed, resulting in optimized intake and exhaust port layout for better breathing.
* Dual-equal variable cam timing: Intake and exhaust valve opening and closing events are phased at the same time to optimize fuel economy and performance throughout the engine speed range and throttle positions.
* Two spark plugs per cylinder: Due to the large bore size, two spark plugs per cylinder are used to more efficiently burn the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber, enabling better fuel economy and increased engine torque. The twin plugs also help the engine maintain a smooth, stable idle.
* Dual knock sensors: A knock sensor on each bank of cylinders of the V8 engine allows the spark timing of each cylinder to be individually optimized real-time, throughout the engine speed range. The engine learns the optimum timing via an adaptive algorithm.

“We take creation of the Ford Harley-Davidson trucks very seriously, but it’s also something we have a lot of fun with along the way,” said Design Manager Brad Richards. “We hope that comes through in each of the finished trucks.

“We ensure Ford Harley-Davidson trucks exude the same bold personality as the legendary motorcycles,” Richards added. “We take two brands that are undeniably unique and forge a product that embodies the best qualities of both.”