(August 17, 2011) DEARBORN, Mich. — The 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost has survived a series of torture tests — racing in the Baja 1000 and towing a maximum 11,300 pounds at high speeds around a NASCAR track for 24 hours straight — and this month, eight truck fans will put the truck to the test in their own communities.
 
Up for grabs: bragging rights tied to a week-long fuel-efficiency driving challenge, the satisfaction that comes from inspiring community members to give back and, ultimately, two free gasoline giveaway events for the winner’s city.
 
The challenge goes live today on the EcoBoost Challenge tab on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ford.
 
“This challenge is a great way to highlight the capacities of the F-150 EcoBoost – a truck specially engineered to deliver the capability people need and the fuel efficiency they really want,” said Raj Sarkar, F-150 marketing manager. “Plus, this challenge speaks to the spirit of our F-150 owners, who work hard for their families as well as their communities.”
 
Each driver will represent a city, driving an F-150 EcoBoost truck for one week. The first five days of the challenge involve a real-world fuel efficiency competition, with the average miles per gallon monitored via Ford’s Crew Chief system installed in each truck.
 
Challenge cities are Louisville, Ky.; Pittsburgh; Houston; San Diego; Orlando, Fla.; Denver; Kansas City, Mo.; and Raleigh-Durham, N.C. The EcoBoost Challenge drivers come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from a middle school biology teacher to a Twitter user with more than 40,000 followers.
 
The community service piece of the contest teams drivers up with their local communities to create a goodwill project on Aug. 27 that includes public support. Drivers will create their own community projects, using the F-150 EcoBoost trucks to carry materials to their project sites.
 
The winning driver will be determined through a blended score measuring the highest average miles per gallon achieved throughout the week, the most votes on the Ford Facebook page and how many volunteers participated in the community improvement project.
 
The winning driver receives a year’s supply of free Shell gas. Plus, Shell will provide free regular-grade gasoline (up to 15 gallons per vehicle) at two local stations in the winning driver’s hometown on Sept. 2 for two hours and 22 minutes — in honor of the 22 mpg the F-150 EcoBoost delivers on the highway.
 
“We are proud to be a part of the Ford F-150 EcoBoost Challenge because we understand that consumers are looking to stretch their fuel purchases without sacrificing the quality of their ride,” said Dan Little, North America fuels marketing manager for Shell Oil Products U.S. “That’s why all three grades of Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasoline help clean and protect critical engine parts, so the engine can perform at its best.”
 
The Ford F-150 is breaking new ground with its available EcoBoost engine, delivering a combination of fuel efficiency, performance and towing that beats all other trucks. The Ford F-150’s official 2011 EPA ratings certify that 4x2 models equipped with the 365-horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo engine and six-speed automatic transmission achieve 22 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg in the city.
 
“This truck uses advanced technology to deliver both power and efficiency,” said Sarkar. “The EcoBoost trucks are our most capable F-150s and the fact they also offer exceptional fuel efficiency means our customers don’t have to compromise.”