Sport Mode.

[Samson16]

Ford nixes EV mode in Sport Mode for whatever reason.

I noticed it downshifted to maximize regen without me having to baby it as much to get 100%. It also showed the "Blue" HVB quite often even while using cruise control meaning it was providing power to the traction motor. The strategy seems to favor performance over fuel economy, but I still achieved 22mpg avg. during my normal commute of 22 miles.

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[Snakebitten]

I noticed it downshifted to maximize regen without me having to baby it as much to get 100%. It also showed the "Blue" HVB quite often even while using cruise control meaning it was providing power to the traction motor. The strategy seems to favor performance over fuel economy, but I still achieved 22mpg avg. during my normal commute of 22 miles.

It does use Hybrid battery as a source for meeting the torque request. Absolutely.
But if you are in the so-called Sport Mode, which is just another transmission shifting strategy, there's no logical reason for nixing EV cruising during low torque required cruising circumstances.

Cruise control at 45mph is cruise control at 45mph. No reason to bar EV completely.

I'm just guilty of wanting my cake and eat it too. ?
It's such a great shift strategy for the 3.5 Ecoboost. Especially for driving normal.

 

[Samson16]

But if you are in the so-called Sport Mode, which is just another transmission shifting strategy, there's no logical reason for nixing EV cruising during low torque required cruising circumstances.

It feels like Sport Mode also changes throttle response sensitivity. I think Sport Mode changes the "readiness level" if you will. In other words, by commanding Sport Mode I am telling the vehicle to "be ready" for spirited driving at all times. That is why it doesn't lay back and maximize EV cruising. I've told it to be ready.

 

[JExpedition07]

It definitely is a bit faster for the 5.0, especially for highway passing. It’s more than a transmission shift strategy. Sport mode deactivates the variable displacement and keeps it in V8 mode at all times. There is no delay from V4-V8 on a cruise in sport as there can be with normal, and it also keeps you in a lower gear so it’s eager to pass with slight pedal input. The pedal sensitivity is also changed, it is eager to downshift and rev even with slight throttle input. There is no delay or thinking like what sometimes happens in normal mode.

 

[HammaMan]

Sport Mode with usual relaxed driving style. I think Sport Mode utilizes the HVB in lieu of turbos when cruise control is active. Sure is an enjoyable driving experience to calmly use Sport Mode while commuting.

Sport / eco / normal modes all use the e-motor the same. It's always the first thing to bring in the power. Buy your truck a cheap phone to mount in it as a screen to show your favorite variables. Backmarket.com is my go-to for such things. You'll be surprised at just how much phone you can get for cheap. It's also another reason the in-car wifi rocks. I'm working on a little PC build for the truck that gets its own 15" touch screen.

 

[Samson16]

Sport / eco / normal modes all use the e-motor the same. It's always the first thing to bring in the power.

So perhaps I just didn't have the power flow screen up previously when using cruise control in normal mode to see the HVB turn blue and then the boost psi increase with load.

 

[HammaMan]

So perhaps I just didn't have the power flow screen up previously when using cruise control in normal mode to see the HVB turn blue and then the boost psi increase with load.

You need to watch the PIDs to see what's going on. Sport holds gears and won't turn off the ICE unless stopped which keeps the HVB at a higher SOC than normal mode. Get you a ~$100 phone to dedicate to the truck with the monitoring setups like you see users regularly posting. It doesn't need to be activated, you're just using it as a small tablet of sorts so buy a size that makes sense to keep mounted in a manner you'd prefer.

 

[Snakebitten]

When I say that Sport Mode is really just a specific shifting strategy, I am not saying that it doesn't also have increased throttle tip-in. (throttle mapping)
It does indeed.
I'm just emphasizing what each mode fundamentally is. It's a 10r80 shifting strategy.

There's no "tuning" change, in respect to additional power torque capabilities.

Again, I prefer everything about the so called Sport strategy regarding drivability experience. The ICE pids reveal a happy motor and combustion chamber too.

I drove the first leg of the day this morning, which was from rural south of Houston, into the Galleria area.

Mixed driving for sure.
Normal Mode

My second leg was shorter, but similar mix of 65mph and then several miles of 35-45

Sport Mode (4A turned off for comparison)

Everything about "Sport Mode" is a better driving experience to me. It's just such a nice use of the 10r80.

But there's no getting around that fuel economy hit that I argue is absolutely unnecessary.

I'm OK if EV mode is narrowed considerably in Sport Mode. But not so narrow that it's unavailable with cruise control engaged.

 

[Snakebitten]

I forgot to mention one other big improvement of Sport over Normal is if you have CCD suspension.

Unlike the Raptor, where Ford keeps Driver Select Mode & CCD suspension mode independent of each other, they bundled CCD to the driver mode on the CCD equipped F150.

So irritating!

In Normal mode you are stuck with the softest underdamped suspension map. In Sport Mode they significantly handle the chassis better.

 

[Eskram]

@Snakebitten - I can't find the post ATM, but I agree with your idea of a 'Normal+' mode.

Tow mode, is a great compromise of gearing/power, but zero EV mode. Sport keeps the RPM's a bit higher and crisper gear changes, but it's sometimes too much in traffic, and obviously takes a hit on mpg until you're at a stop.

Normal+ would keep the higher RPM's to keep it in the powerband and crisp shifting, but retain EV mode during the right circumstances.

hmm. Now that I think about it, maybe I do have that with the Livernois Eboost tune? Normal mode with that tune is kinda nice. From the factory would be even better.

 

[Snakebitten]

@Snakebitten - I can't find the post ATM, but I agree with your idea of a 'Normal+' mode.

Tow mode, is a great compromise of gearing/power, but zero EV mode. Sport keeps the RPM's a bit higher and crisper gear changes, but it's sometimes too much in traffic, and obviously takes a hit on mpg until you're at a stop.

Normal+ would keep the higher RPM's to keep it in the powerband and crisp shifting, but retain EV mode during the right circumstances.

hmm. Now that I think about it, maybe I do have that with the Livernois Eboost tune? Normal mode with that tune is kinda nice. From the factory would be even better.

I know it's a truck, but there are so many vehicles now that DO have multiple Sport modes, and so I like your idea of Sport & Sport+ ?
(or Normal & normal+)

Plain Sport being perhaps a tad less of everything that the current Sport has. Even 2WD by default.
But WITH EV still on the table.

Then Sport+ being pretty much what Sport is now.

I like it!

Honestly, I just want a mode, call it ANYTHING you want to, but use the 10r80 as a 10 speed transmission, and don't be so hell bent to get to overdrive. (8th)

 

[Pelican]

My preferred drive mode would be able to create a single drive mode with the already available shift patterns, suspension dampening etc.

 

[dogboye]

I know it's a truck, but there are so many vehicles now that DO have multiple Sport modes, and so I like your idea of Sport & Sport+ ?
(or Normal & normal+)

Plain Sport being perhaps a tad less of everything that the current Sport has. Even 2WD by default.
But WITH EV still on the table.

Then Sport+ being pretty much what Sport is now.

I like it!

Honestly, I just want a mode, call it ANYTHING you want to, but use the 10r80 as a 10 speed transmission, and don't be so hell bent to get to overdrive. (8th)

Our Powerboost is on the XLT, with the Sport package. It doesn't have 4A, so Sport is always in 2WD by default.

i didn't realize, or had forgotten, that even 8th gear is an overdrive ratio. When I've been driving my wife's, I usually downshift/deselect/lockout (using the "-" button on the shifter) 9 and 10, whether in Eco or Normal mode. I don't use Sport much. It would take too much getting used to, gets worse gas mileage... and I just don't drive the Powerboost that much.

 

[Samson16]

Our Powerboost is on the XLT, with the Sport package. It doesn't have 4A, so Sport is always in 2WD by default.

i didn't realize, or had forgotten, that even 8th gear is an overdrive ratio. When I've been driving my wife's, I usually downshift/deselect/lockout (using the "-" button on the shifter) 9 and 10, whether in Eco or Normal mode. I don't use Sport much. It would take too much getting used to, gets worse gas mileage... and I just don't drive the Powerboost that much.

So you drive in eco mode but lock out 9 and 10? I don't see any benefit there. Poor drive quality, and bonus your mileage is worse than just leaving 9 and 10 alone. Perhaps I should try it before judging, but I have tried to stomach eco mode and just can't for any extended period of time. Normal is my eco.

 

[SomebodyInGNV]

... I think Sport Mode utilizes the HVB in lieu of turbos ...

HVB?

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