The all-new Ford F-150 was just revealed — here's a closer look at the market-leading pickup truck
Matthew DeBord
- Ford revealed the much-anticipated 2021 F-150 pickup truck on Thursday in Detroit.
- This is the 14th generation of the F-150, the bestselling vehicle in the US for 43 straight years.
- Ford didn't drastically revamp the design — the new F-150 is no Tesla Cybertruck — but it did add numerous new features, including an onboard generator.
- In addition to turbocharged V6 engines and both V8 and diesel motors, the new F-150 has available hybrid powertrain, dubbed "PowerBoost," that Ford said would be the most powerful in its class.
- The 3.5-liter V6 PowerBoost hybrid engine offers 12,000 lbs. of max towing capacity, equivalent to the gas-only truck, with what Ford called a "targeted EPA-estimated range of approximately 700 miles on a single tank of gas."
- Ford also emphasized the new F-150's updated SYNC4 infotainment system, as well as new connectivity features, including over-the-air software updates, and Ford ProPilot 360 driver-assist technology.
- The 2021 Ford F-150 goes on sale in the fall and will take on new full-size pickups from Chevy and RAM.
The wait is over. On Thursday, Ford pulled the cover off the all-new, 2021 F-150, at an event near Detroit that was beamed to the world via the internet.
The F-150 is America's longtime bestselling vehicle; in 2019, nearly 900,000 rolled off dealers lots. It represents a huge portion of Ford's revenue and profits, and has been the king of the pickup-truck hill for 43 consecutive years. Ford is counting on it to see it through both an ongoing $11-billion restructuring under CEO Jim Hackett and a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has cratered global auto sales and hammered Ford's stock price.
But competition in the segment in fierce. Ford's historical rivals, Chevy and RAM, have brought new pickups to market and chiseled a tiny bit of share from the F-150. The 13th generation of the truck hit the streets in 2014, and it embodied serious risk for the automaker, as Ford engineered more lightweight aluminum into its construction. Updated in 2016, the F-150 was ready for a revamp.
The 14th generation doesn't represent a radical reimagining of the franchise; the new F-150 is no Tesla Cybertruck. But it is the most high-tech F-150 ever, from its available onboard generator to its infotainment and connectivity systems to a new hybrid powertrain that could serve up 700 miles on a single tank of gas — an anticipates the eagerly anticipated electric F-150 that Ford's is expected to launch in the next two years.
Take a closer look at the 2021 Ford F-150, in all its trucky glory:
Behold, the all-new Ford F-150 pickup truck! Here we see it in upscale Limited trim and a "Smoked Quartz Tinted Clearcoat" paint job.
The F-150 was revealed online via a YouTube stream
The new F-150's design isn't a radical departure from the previous generation. There are, however, 11 different grilles available.
Ford said the truck is its "most aerodynamic ever," with "active grille shutters, a new automatically deploying active air dam, and new cab and tailgate geometry."
The exterior has a new headlamp design, a revamped hood and bumpers that wrap to the front flanks. Designers also raised the front fenders and broadened the truck's stance. There's an extending-and-retracting running board that stretches to the rear wheels and is kickswitch-operated.
The basic engineering and the trims levels mirror the outgoing F-150. The frame is steel, the body is military-grade, aluminum alloy. Trims start with the XL work truck and move up through XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited. There are Regular Cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew configurations.
The new F-150 has three box options: 5.5-foot, 6.5-foot, and 8-foot.
Ford didn't disclose maximum payload capacity, but it looks to be impressive.
Properly configured, the new F-150 can tow 12,000 lbs.
That's enough to handle a good-size boat ...
... Or a large trailer ...
... Giving F-150 owners access to wide range of outdoor lifestyles.
The new truck has been designed to appeal to a wide ranger of owners.
It's a robust machine for exploring nature ...
... But also a premium getaway vehicle, available with numerous creature comforts.
It can handle light-duty projects ...
... As well as more demanding assignments ...
... And all of its essential capabilities are top-of-class, the results of what Ford said was 1,000 hours of customer research.
In a statement, Ford said, "The all-new F-150 is the only light-duty full-size pickup to offer available Trailer Reverse Guidance and Pro Trailer Backup Assist."
"Trailer Reverse Guidance, made popular on Super Duty, uses the truck's high-resolution cameras to provide multiple views along with helpful graphics that tell drivers which way to turn the steering wheel while backing up," Ford added. "Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which makes backing up a trailer as easy as turning a dial, continues on F-150."
Inside, the F-150 offers everything from work-truck essentials to a near-luxury experience. Ford rethought the entire interior design for the pickup for every trim level.
According to Ford, "Class-exclusive Max Recline Seats available on King Ranch, Platinum and Limited models provide ultimate comfort during downtime."
"Max Recline Seats fold flat to nearly 180 degrees, with the bottom cushion rising to meet the back cushion ...
... And the upper back support rotating forward up to 10 degrees for maximum comfort," Ford added.
To make room for an interior work surface, something that many owners asked for, Ford developed a shifter that could fold away into a recessed area in the center console ...
... Enabling an "Interior Work Surface" to be unfolded. It can accommodate a 15-inch laptop.
The new F-150 is equipped with Ford's SYNC4 infotainment system, which runs on either an eight-inch ...
... Or 12-inch touchscreen, depending on trim level. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, and they can now wireless connect.
In the rear of the cab, there's an optional lockable, fold-flat storage vault ...
... Which can handle job-site gear along with recreational equipment.
The new F-150 can support active lifestyles, but it's also optimized as a working truck.
It has a range of features that should appeal to homebuilders ...
... And contractors. The focus is on the tailgate, the "working end" of the truck, as Ford termed it.
The marquee feature is an onboard generator, called "Pro Power."
The generator's capabilities are significant.
"Pro Power Onboard is available with a 2.0-kilowatt output on optional gas engines," Ford said. That increases to 2.4 kilowatts for the hybrid powertrain, scalable to 7.2 kilowatts. There are "four cargo bed-mounted 120-volt 20-amp outlets, with a 240-volt 30-amp outlet on the 7.2-kilowatt version," Ford said.
The carmaker added that "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 tailgate has clamp mounts ...
... And can be equipped with a work surface that has a ruler, as well as compartments for stuff like nails, pencils, and tablets.
The truck also has plenty of tie-down points and provides on-demand lighting for both the bed and the F-150's exterior, using interior controls of the FordPass smartphone app.
There are six engines available, all yoked to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The base motor is a 3.0-liter V6. Next up are 2.7-liter and and 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engines. The diesel is a 3.0-liter Power Stroke turbocharged V6.
The V8 is a 5.0-liter unit, while the new hybrid is a 3.5-liter, twin-turbo PowerBoost V6 that adds 47 horsepower thanks to the electric motor, making it the most powerful engine in the lineup.
"Since 1948, our hardworking F-Series customers have trusted Ford to help them get the job done," Jim Farley, Ford's COO, said in a statement. "F-150 is our flagship, it's 100 percent assembled in America, and we hold ourselves to the highest standard to make sure our customers can get the job done and continue to make a difference in their communities."
The all-new, 2021 Ford F-150 hits dealerships this fall. It's being built in Michigan and Missouri.
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