DEARBORN, Oct. 20, 2006 (FCN) - How do you take the leading truck to a new level?

Start with a new 2007 Ford F-150 FX2 Sport package. Tell a group of Texas auto writers to customize it by raiding the Ford parts bins – no limits, including Ford racing parts. Build it, and then let the scribes drive their creation. The result is a 450-horsepower supercharged, head-turning F-150 that gives added meaning to the term "pickup." Some of the parts may be incorporated in future F-150 trucks.

"The vehicle is great. You definitely can use the 160-horsepower boost (from the supercharger)," said Alex Steele, freelance writer, Truck Trend magazine. "It rode real sporty -- a little too much to be passenger friendly. But I thought we added a lot of good stuff to the truck."

Terry Box, auto writer for the Dallas Morning News, figures he, Steele and three other colleagues spent about $15,000 customizing the F-150.

"You could have done it with less, but to be able to change the personality of something and make it more distinctive for you is a great option to have," he said.

The idea behind the project is to showcase the degree of personalization possible for the F-150 through available parts from Ford Racing and Genuine Ford Accessories. Market research indicates that 70 percent of new truck owners spend an average of nearly $1,500 on aftermarket accessories in the first year of ownership. Ford is expanding its offerings to grab a larger share of the market. The FX2 project serves as a rolling billboard and will make its public debut at the 2006 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) show Oct. 31–Nov. 3 in Las Vegas.

"The Texas journalists essentially created a do-it-yourself version of an F-150 Lightning -- a motorsports enthusiasts' dream vehicle -- with off-the-shelf parts," said Mark Birnhart, truck marketing strategy manager, Ford Vehicle Personalization. "Customers can build an F-150 their way with dealer-installed parts that carry factory warranties."

The Texas auto writers began with a new 2007 F-150 FX2 Sport package, developed by the Ford Vehicle Personalization team, and added parts from Ford Racing and Genuine Ford Accessories catalogs. Among them are a supercharger for the 5.4-liter V-8 engine, a recalibrated 4-speed automatic transmission and a modified suspension.

Appearance is enhanced with a custom tape stripe package. Amenities include a hard fiberglass tonneau cover and a sporty, washable bedliner. The interior features a hands-free phone system, rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a Harley-Davidson pedal package.

Chris Feuell, director, Ford Vehicle Personalization and Accessories, says the FX2 project addresses a sizeable market for vehicle accessories and functional features that enhance both appearance and performance.

"Our goal is to fill a niche between the base-vehicle offering and high performance offered by our SVT products – like the Shelby GT500. Many customers want sportier-looking vehicles that have improved performance over the base vehicle at an affordable price," explained Feuell. "The FX2 project showcases our wide variety of parts and where we might be headed."