Ford has had some success -version pickup trucks, and the Tremor is the latest, together with the last created on the present F150 stage before the truck swaps to aluminum building for 2015. It signifies a deviation from preceding pick-ups created by Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) skunkworks (like the Raptor and Lightning), with a V6 engine supplying drive, in the place of a good ol' huge- American V-8 inch.

Seem somewhat heretical? Do not stress, this isn't your garden variety V6. It is the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 that is already dislodged many F150 loyalists from their longstanding V8 traditions.

There is an excellent reason behind this. It is quite a great prescription for hustle in a road truck that is popular.

Street cred is what the Tremor is about. Although there is the choice and adequate ground clearance of four-wheel drive (we analyzed both RWD and 4WD variants), the Tremor is not imagined as or equipped to be a desert racer. That is the state of the incredibly sinful Raptor (try saying that three times fast without seeming like Elmer Fudd).

On the road, cred goes to straight and demo -ahead performance. In the first class that is scoring, the Tremor measures up pretty well with its black 20-inch aluminum wheels better when joined with the graphics package. (Although many of us were not lovers.) The conventional-taxi body reduces the visual mass, as well of the truck as its curb weight. Inside that taxi, the black inside is silvery trimming and highlighted with red stitching that is nifty, and it is nothing if not. And the black bucket seats, with leather bolsters and faux-velour facilities, are encouraging in hard cornering and racy in look.

More. First, how popular can it be?

That is still quite lively, but loses somewhat of its luster compared to some larger, four door turbocharged F150s we have put on the clock. Yes, the Lightning had a desire for smoky burnouts, and with 380 horses and 450 lb-feet from a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 in a 4702-pound pick-up, a huge border in power-to-weight. But nevertheless, what does that say about this latterday street rod? The heat of the Tremor does not actually measure to the presentation.

The Tremor is not precisely Dancing with the Stars content, something that is true of just about any generation pick-up, as you'd expect. Although body movements are not excessive for a vehicle of this kind, transient results are unwilling, and grasp--provided by a set of all-season Pirelli Scorpions (275/55-20)--is so so at 0.75 g, with or without 4WD. Shove on the Tremor into a corner with excessive passion and you will end up heading directly for the bushes. The equilibrium control can be disabled, but this does not reduce the hesitation to rotate into a corner, and it is unclear why anyone would need to change it away anyhow.

The test track report sheet correctly qualifies the Tremor's lead as "epic." To be honest, abysmal braking is not unusual and the Tremor is in this regard far from the worst.

And the manual function, controlled by a thumb switch on the top left side of the transmission is difficult and careful to apply.

But the ride quality of the Tremor is astonishingly agreeable when there is nothing in the cargo bed to mitigate back spring rates designed to adapt loads, another mechanical component common. Another plus: the Tremor although traditionalists will miss the basso backbeat of a large V8 is relatively silent in the majority of operating styles, including wide open throttle.

For one, that is the only F150 standard cab that offers the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. Most conventional-cab pick-ups go to fleets, and a large proportion of those go out the door with Ford's naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6, the base engine for the line.

For another, MyFord Touch telematics and Ford's Sync, part of the Tremor bundle, contain audio system controls and some big HVAC, designed to adapt motorists. It is difficult to picture anyone getting this special bundle with a work that is real -truck program at heart, but we welcome the conventional knobs and buttons anyhow.

In addition, the EcoBoost six gets a marginally better EPA fuel economy rating in the back-drive Tremor--16 mpg city, 22 highway--than trucks propelled by V8 engines. The 5.0-liter V8 is rated 15/21. (The EPA edge goes away with 4WD, which can also be rated 15/21.) Nevertheless, an extremely disciplined right foot is required by achieving anything close to those highway numbers --crack is habit forming, in this or another turbo engine. We logged 15 mpg with both trucks, that was only 1 mpg more thrifty in relation to the considerably more rapid SVT Lightning V-8 we analyzed 13 years earlier.

Special pricing is entailed by special bundles.

Does that look a bit steep? If you are smitten with the fashion--and fashion is what the Tremor is all around--consider this: you are considering a collectible that is potential. When Ford's 2015 aluminum F150 wonder truck takes over, the dirt-devil Raptor will return, next year but the Tremor will not make the cut. And as we find so frequently, individuals will gather nearly anything (Pez dispensers, Shriner memorabilia, etc.), particularly small editions. A club may be forming as we talk.