The 2021 Ford F-150.Ford
- Ford revealed its all-new, 2021 F-150 pickup truck last week, and it's packed with technology.
- The F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in the US for 43 straight years.
- The Tesla Cybertruck was unveiled last year and immediately captivated and polarized opinion with a radical, futuristic design.
- The F-150 hits the market later this year, while the Cybertruck won't start deliveries until late next year.
- Ford hasn't yet detailed pricing, but the top-spec F-150 and the best-equipped Cybertruck should both cost north of $70,000.
There was already a truck war raging in the US before the Tesla Cybertruck was unveiled last year.
The Ford F-150, the Chevy Silverado, and the RAM 1500 were going head-to-head, with Toyota's Tundra and Nissan's Titan also in the picture. The Silverado and RAM 1500 were relatively new, and the 14th generation F-150 was on the way.
The all-new 2021 F-150 arrived last week. The iconic pickup continues its legacy of being America's best-selling vehicle for 43 consecutive years. Last year, nearly 900,000 examples rolled off dealer lots.
The Cybertruck won't launch until late next year, at the earliest. It could signal a brave new all-electric future for pickups. And it could in fact beat the all-electric version of the new F-150 to market by a year.
But for now, the F-150 is headed to market, while wannabe Cybertruck buyers have to content themselves with a $100 deposit to secure a truck.
Here's how the two trucks stack up, on paper:
Let's start with the insanely futuristic, all-electric Cybertruck. It's all-aluminum and it signals a significant departure for Tesla as far as the company's design approach is concerned.
Tesla revealed the Cybertruck in late 2019 — and the debut was incredibly controversial. With Tesla's Full Self-Driving capability installed, the Cybertruck would price from between $47,000 to $77,000.
Tesla Cybertruck.
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
The Cybertruck has three configurations: a single-motor rear-wheel-drive, and dual motor all-wheel-drive, and a tri-motor AWD.
Tesla said the single-motor has over 250 miles of range and a 0-60 mph time of less than 6.5 seconds. The dual-motor serves up over 300 miles and a sub-4.5-second 0-60. The tri-motor has more than 500 miles of range and a sub-2.9-second 0-60.
The Cybertruck doesn't have a bed or box — it has a "vault," protected by a retractable cover. There's 3,500 lbs. of carrying capacity and 100 square feet of space. Being all-electric, the truck should also be able to power a lot of gear.
Tesla says that the top-spec Cybertruck can tow 14,000 lbs.
The Cybertruck can also be configured for outdoor lifestyles.
The typically minimalist Tesla interior seats six. Like all Teslas the center of the action is a large dashboard touchscreen — 17 inches for the Cybertruck. The Cybertruck should also join Tesla's fleet in enjoying frequent over-the-air software updates.
Full-self-driving capability isn't yet available on any Tesla vehicle. But the hardware comes standard, and when the Cybertruck launches, it should have Tesla's Autopilot semi-self-driving tech.
Some folks have already proposed that the Cybertruck could be used a law-enforcement vehicle.
New York Police Department Cybertruck.
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On to the all-new 2021 Ford F-150. This iconic pickup has been the best-selling vehicle the US for 43 straight years. The 14th-generation of the truck builds on the aluminum-body innovation that arrived with the 13th generation.
The 2021 Ford F-150
Ford
Last week, Ford unveiled the New F-150 via YouTube, amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
The 2021 Ford F-150
Ford
The F-150 has both rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive configurations.There's a total of six engine choices: a base V6, two turbocharged EcoBoost V6 motors, a V6 turbo diesel, a V8, and a new V6 hybrid.
The 2021 Ford F-150
Ford
The PowerBoost hybrid should be the most powerful F-150 in the lineup, serving up 700 miles of range on a tank of gas.
The 2021 Ford F-150
Ford
Ford really pulled out all the stops with the "working end" of the F-150: the liftgate. There are three boxes available: 5.5 feet, 6.5 feet, and 8 feet.
The 2021 Ford F-150
Ford
Ford said "Pro Power Onboard," an integrated generator, "means customers can leave the generator at home and free up cargo space; there's enough energy to power 28 average refrigerators, charge a bed full of electric dirt bikes or run an entire job site worth of tools."
The 2021 Ford F-150
Ford
Towing capacity for F-150s is critical. The new pickup can tow 12,000 lbs., if properly configured.
The 2021 Ford F-150
Ford
That supports work as well as play. Ford owners can use their F-150 at both the job site and the campsite.
The 2021 Ford F-150
Ford
The F-150 will also have available hands-free highway semi self-driving tech, through Ford's Co-Pilot360 system. Ford hasn't yet disclosed performance specs, but the hybrid could yield a sub-five-second 0-60 mph time.
The 2021 Ford F-150
Ford
Ford has a long history of supplying law-enforcement with vehicles. So look for the 14th generation to join its 13th-gen counterparts.
Ford