The Ford F-150 offers three six-cylinder based gas engines one V-8, and for the first time Ford will offer a new 3.0-liter Power Stroke V-6 turbodiesel engine. The base engine is smaller, down from 3.7-liters to 3.5-liters and now to 3.3-liters (290hp, 265 lb. ft. torque). In recent years a second EcoBoost engine has been added in the form of a turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 that generates 325hp and 400 lb. ft. of torque. The remaining two engine choices are the EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6 (450hp/510 lb. ft. torque) and the 5.0-liter V-8 (395hp/400 lb. ft. torque). While the base V-6 is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, the other engines are paired with Ford’s new 10-speed SelectShift automatic gearbox with selectable drive modes.
Buyers can choose 4×2 or 4×4 running gear in Regular, SuperCab, and SuperCrew cab configurations in XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, Limited, and Raptor trim levels. My favorite is the King Ranch edition. A minor point is that Ford offers some of its trucks with two- or three-occupant seating up front. I like the fact that three can still fit across the front in comfort or you can use the middle seat to slide your sweetie over closer to you. That center seatback can fold down to reveal a console with cupholders and storage and the center seat bottom lifts to reveal “concealed” storage for valuables and other items and offers a cupholder that pulls forward.
While my biggest surprise of the F-150 in recent years was how well the EcoBoost 2.7 performed, my favorite feature had to be the massage function of the front seats in the King Ranch. Oh. My. Gosh. Tushie rub, back massage…it doesn’t get much better than this, and that is just one of the cool technologies found in the F-150. Others include 360-degree camera view with washer for front camera lens, LED headlamps, taillamps, and side spotlights, active park assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, collision warning with brake support, pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection, curve control, smart trailer tow module, blind spot monitor (now with trailer tow technology) with cross traffic alert, integrated loading ramps, BoxLink cargo box storage system, Pro Trailer Backup Assist (backing a trailer with the turn of a knob on the dash), trailer hitch assist, and remote tailgate with lock, unlock and release from the keyfob.
The new 2018 Ford F-150 is touted as being even tougher, smarter, and more capable than before. F-150 is one tough cookie, despite what the competitors say in their commercials. It has led the company and the country in sales and will most likely continue to do so in the future. Ford boasts best-in-class towing of 13,200 pounds and payload of 3,270 pounds.
“What’s made the F-Series so successful is the Ford truck team’s ability to anticipate the needs of our customers better than anyone else – how those needs change, what’s most important, and what they need to move forward,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “Their insights help us design, engineer, and build America’s best-selling trucks.”
