2015 Ford F-150 Aluminum body

[Blue_Eyed_Devil]

This should be interesting. It is funny how some are concerned that aluminum is too weak. I just paid huge money to have the rust remove from my truck, I can’t wait to see aluminum used.

2015 Ford F-150 makes radical jump to aluminum body

[cretinx]

700 lbs is nothing to sneeze at

[POOPRA]

No rust for the cab, box & tailgate

[yamba6]

@Blue Eyed Devil"

I just paid huge money to have the rust remove from my truck, I can’t wait to see aluminum used.

This… Anyone living in a salt filled area should love this idea.

[focusinprogress]

This isn’t the first time Ford has used aluminum body panels…the hoods on rangers, explorers, and expeditions in the late 90’s early 00’s were aluminum…and while aluminum doesn’t “rust” it certainly oxidizes/bubbles and sheds paint the same way steel does…hopefully they’ve found a better paint-adhesion process than previously used…

I’d be much more impressed to hear them offering the 5cyl diesel that’s available in the Transit in an f-150…

[ubengineering]

The New F-150 Is Not So Tough If You Drive Through Lava

Apparently Aluminum can’t drive thru lava, looks like I won’t be buying a Ford.

[superfan99]

A few more photos and other details.

The 2015 Ford F-150 Looks Even Better Live

[LXIFLYBY]

@focusinprogress

This isn’t the first time Ford has used aluminum body panels…the hoods on rangers, explorers, and expeditions in the late 90’s early 00’s were aluminum…and while aluminum doesn’t “rust” it certainly oxidizes/bubbles and sheds paint the same way steel does…hopefully they’ve found a better paint-adhesion process than previously used…

This. You might not get rot holes like an all steel vehicle but salt and moisture will still make it corrode and bubble comparable to steel, soo it’s not perfect solution. Plus it might have problems with galvanic action anywhere it’s bolted to steel etc…

[bamfapotamus]

this is why all older land rovers look so nice even 40 years later! <3 aluminum bodies and rotted frames

[superfan99]

Meh, I’ll take pitted aluminum over rotted steel any day.

[Blue_Eyed_Devil]

I wouldn’t say it rusts the same way as steel. Yes it gets “white rust” but it is more resistant than steel. Leave a piece of steel outside and leave a piece of aluminum outside…

[BREETIME]

It’s about time. Now if they would paint the frames before selling the truck. Like actual paint. That doesn’t rust before you get it home.

[bing]

Aluminum is a good business to be in: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/11/autoshow-aluminum-idUSL2N0KK11Q20140111

they say aluminum demand will multiply 5x in the next 10+ years driven largely by US automakers trying to meet EPA standards by reducing weight.

this is just the start.

[Blue_Eyed_Devil]

I was going to mention that aluminum pricing will greatly increase and it will kill my business. Maybe if F150s are made of aluminum my customers will finally understand a price increase.

[TrueBlue]

Very stoked for this truck, might be on my list late this year. Kept it fairly true to the Atlas concept as well.

[honda4life]

@focusinprogress

I’d be much more impressed to hear them offering the 5cyl diesel that’s available in the Transit in an f-150…

This

[articzap]

…

@Big Boss"

2015 Ford F-150 Aluminum Body, Smaller Engines: Details Emerge

The 2015 Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck won’t be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show until tomorrow morning, but some details of its innovations to boost gas mileage have emerged already.

Ford apparently gave exclusive details to The New York Times, which reports that the new truck will use an aluminum body and pickup bed, cutting 450 pounds or more from their weight.

The aluminum body components will ride on a traditional steel ladder frame, though its weight too is reduced by approximately 80 pounds through more use of high-strength steel.

Cutting 750 pounds

The lightest all-steel F-150 this year has a curb weight of more than 5,000 pounds; according to the article, Ford engineers feel they can cut about 15 percent from that total, or roughly 750 pounds.

With a 10-percent cut in weight translating to a boost in fuel efficiency of 6 to 7 percent, according to a widely used rule of thumb, that reduction could take Ford’s new pickups from their current 18-mpg best combined rating to 20 mpg and above.

Add to that the use of a smaller engine, in this case a 2.7-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V-6, and the gas mileage will rise again.

Ford hopes to achieve a highway fuel-economy rating of “close to” 30 mpg, which would be the highest of any gasoline-engined full-size pickup to date.

That rating, in fact, could equal or better the highway mileage of 28 mpg obtained by a 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, the only light-duty pickup sold with a diesel engine this year, in a recent road test.

Calculated risk

Building the body and bed out of aluminum in a full-sized pickup represents a huge risk for Ford, one that is likely costing it $1 billion or more in new tooling.

Total use of aluminum in the new 2015 F-150, beyond the body and bed alone, could total much as 1,000 pounds of the metal.

While engine and transmission components and smaller structural parts have long been made of aluminum, only a handful of passenger vehicles have fully aluminum structures.

Those include the Audi A8, Jaguar XJ, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, and the Tesla Model S–all of them at prices above $50,000.

SUVs to follow

But Ford has ambitious plans over the next three years to use aluminum not only for the F-150 line, but also the Heavy Duty F-Series trucks–and also the sport-utility vehicles derived from the F-150, the Ford Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator.

All three vehicles share some underpinnings, designs, and manufacturing processes.

And given the importance of the F-150 to Ford–it’s the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. and contributes an outsize portion of Ford’s profits–it’s a bold gamble that will pay off only as fuel-economy standards continue to tighten over the course of the truck’s life.

It will likely run from the 2015 model year through 2020 or thereabouts, only five years from the year when corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) levels are slated to reach 54.5 mpg (which translates to about 42 mpg on the EPA window sticker).

@Big Boss"

(Motor Trend)

First Look: 2015 Ford F-150
Can Aluminum Beat Chevy and Ram Attempts at Pickup One-Upsmanship

The veil has been lifted, and the questions about the 2015 Ford F-150, debuting at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, have been answered: Yes, the next F-150’s cab and pickup box will be almost entirely made of various grades of aluminum. Yes, magnets will still stick to the steel chassis frame. So yes, towing and hauling capacities (not yet announced) can be expected to increase by roughly the body-mass savings, which are only quantified as “up to 700 pounds.”

Let’s start right there. Because it’s the switch from steel to aluminum in the body that accounts for 70 percent of the weight savings, the bigger the bodywork, the bigger the savings. Hence: short-cab/short box, probably 500 or fewer pounds saved. SuperCrew long-box—maybe a bit more than 700. The big volume SuperCrew short box should come in around the 700-pound mark. The only major piece of the body sheet metal that is not aluminum is the Quiet Steel laminated sound-absorbing firewall – aluminum just can’t match its performance for hushing engine noise.

While Ford is being coy about defining the alloys used, we’re told they’re the same as used in military HMMWVs and aerospace applications. The engineering team learned about aluminum when assisting with the development of the original aluminum Jaguar XJ. We’re assured that it will resist dents and dings better than steel, and that it will not be substantially more expensive to repair (and hence to insure).

Roughly 70 pounds were saved in the chassis, by increasing the percentage of high and ultra-high-strength steel alloys (up to 70,000-psi tensile strength) from 23 to 77 percent. These alloys reportedly outperform aluminum in terms of overall rigidity and other factors. The rest of the weight savings come from things like a lighter transfer case. There isn’t much “cascade effect” light-weighting of other components due to the lighter bodywork, as you typically get in a passenger car, because there’s little or no downscaling of the gross vehicle weight or gross combined weight ratings. So brakes still need to be able to stop the same mass, for example. The idea is, you can save fuel when the truck is empty, or you haul more weight.

There’s more big news under the hood, where four engines are still offered. The entry 3.7-liter TiVCT V-6, which accounts for 15% of current sales, gets downsized to 3.5 liters while outperforming its predecessor in every way. Next up the ladder is a brand new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 that is reportedly unrelated to the 3.5. It features a light-but-tough compacted-graphite iron block and is optimized for high fuel economy for customers who do not need to tow 8000 pounds. The familiar 5.0-liter V-8 occupies the third rung of the ladder, and the top engine is now the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, as the 6.2-liter gets put out to pasture. No output ratings have been announced as yet, and six-speed automatic transmissions will back all engines. Oh, and speaking of tow ratings, Ford says it will rate its trucks according to the recently revised SAE J2807 standard, after which we can expect GM and Ram to follow suit, putting an end to the difficult-to-compare ratings we’ve heretofore enjoyed.

Fun fact about that 2.7-liter: It received a trial-by-fire durability test by running incognito in the 2013 Baja 1000 desert race, mounted in a prototype body running the 2015 frame and all aluminum bodywork stamped to look like the 2013 truck. The truck reportedly survived the race without incident, after which the team installed a Plexiglas windshield and drove home.

Styling-wise, the new truck is a pretty faithful production of the Atlas concept from last year’s NAIAS. The basic grille and headlamp shapes are retained, and top models will indeed get innovative (segment first) LED headlamps that employ a single LED and advanced “ice cube” optics for each of the low and high beam lamps. LED signature light pipes will identify upper-series F-150s from the front and rear. The “double-bubble” roof is gone, but the “roof tongue” of sheetmetal extending down above the rear-view mirror remains, with outboard sections of the windshield extending farther up for better visibility. The base of the windshield is moved forward to provide several degrees more rake, in the name of aerodynamics. Also on the visibility front, the lower side window beltline has been lowered an inch, the drop-down in the front window beltline plunges 2 inches lower, and the front edge of the front side window is extended almost 4 inches forward. Similarly, the rear glass is now flush mounted. Other aero tricks include grille shutters on all models, a deeper front airdam, and a 6-inch plateau on the top of the tailgate to aid in airflow separation.

That wide spot at the top of the tailgate also enabled some handy upgrades of the optional tailgate step, which now deploys with one hand in one motion, no second-stage unfolding of the step necessary. And the assist railing now stows inside the tailgate, telescoping out and pivoting up instead of remaining visible on the tailgate, making it uncomfortable to sit on the tailgate and fussy to shovel mulch out of. Oh, and that tailgate can now be opened by pressing a key-fob button (another segment first). You’re on your own to hoist it closed, though.

There’s loads more innovation in the bed. A BoxLink system of four mounting points can accept tie-down cleats midway up the bed wall – often a more convenient location for tying down than the floor corners. These cleats can be removed, and a set of (segment first) telescoping motorcycle or ATV ramps can attach there. The upper lip of the bed is about an inch lower, making it easier to reach into the bed, and bed-side steps are now available even on the shortest boxes. LED spotlights illuminate the bed, though these seem inferior to GM’s under-rail rope lighting. And of course, just being constructed of aluminum means the entire box is considerably more dent-resistant.

Inside, the front seats are moved 0.8 inches outboard, so the console can be 1.6 inches wider and more versatile. It boasts slots for two USB and one SD-card plus a 400-watt 110-volt plug. All F-150s get lovely high-def color screens in the instrument cluster and infotainment center, small 4-inch ones on the cheaper models, and big ones twice that size on top models. Cameras all around provide 360-degree around-view monitoring and 180-degree forward visibility for poking out of alleys, there’s forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring radar, and (two more segment firsts: ) self-parking and a panoramic sunroof. Another nice touch: SuperCab model rear “suicide” doors now open 170 degrees (up from 90), offering some prayer of exiting the vehicle in a tight-ish parking lot.

In keeping with the Lexus-like level of standard and optional equipment, the interior trim, materials, and craftsmanship on the top-flight Platinum model on display were exquisite. There are soft-touch materials everywhere, stitching, knurled aluminum knobs on the radio and climate controls, reasonable looking fake or genuine wood trim, depending on model series, and a nice palette of available. Even the base XL looks fairly dressy in basic black. Exterior color choices number a lucky 13: Tuxedo Black, Oxford White, Ingot Silver, Magnetic (think charcoal gray), Race Red, Ruby Red, Blue Jeans, Blue Flame, Green Gem, Caribou, Guard (gray/green), Bronze Fire, and White Platinum tri-coat.

That roster of newly added standard, optional, and segment first equipment almost sounds like 700 pounds’ worth, so we’re dying to roll an alloy F-150 onto our scales and see what the real-world weight savings are. We applaud Ford for taking such a bold and technically challenging step forward, and we can’t wait to see how the competition responds. Maybe a carbon-fiber Silverado?

[05OrangeSS]

Bump up the thread

[articzap]

…

@Big Boss"

(Press Release)

All-New Ford F-150 Redefines Full-Size Trucks as the Toughest, Smartest, Most Capable F-150 Ever

Tougher: All-new high-strength steel frame, high-strength aluminum-alloy body, more than 10 million miles of testing and Baja 1000-proven 2.7-liter EcoBoost® engine

Smarter: 11 new class-exclusive features, including 360-degree camera view, integrated loading ramps stowed in the pickup bed, 400-watt power outlets inside the cab, LED headlights and sideview mirror spotlights, and remote tailgate release

More capable: Up to 700 pounds less weight plus four engine choices for an impressive combination of power, capability and efficiency

DETROIT, Jan. 13, 2014 – Ford today introduces the all-new Ford F-150, the reinvention of America’s favorite truck. It is the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever – setting the standard for the future of trucks.

The all-new F-150 delivers an impressive combination of power, capability and efficiency – from advanced materials that improve durability and inhibit corrosion, to faster processors that enhance driving performance, to breakthrough cargo management and towing solutions.

“F-150 is well-known for being Built Ford Tough. Now, it is both tough and smart,” said Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company chief operating officer. “The all-new F-150 redefines the future of trucks, and it is yet another example of our One Ford plan producing vehicles that serve customers with a commitment to the very best quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value.”

F-150 is part of the Ford F-Series truck lineup, America’s best-selling truck for 37 consecutive years and America’s best-selling vehicle for 32 years.

“We have a unique connection with our customers,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford executive vice president and president of The Americas. “Time and again, F-150 has delivered the tougher, smarter features they want along with the capabilities they need for work or play. We build our trucks to their high standards.”

In designing the backbone of the F-150, Ford engineers improved the truck’s signature fully boxed ladder frame. It is all-new with more high-strength steel than ever – making it stronger and lighter. High-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloys – already used in aerospace, commercial transportation, energy and many other rugged industries – are used throughout the F-150 body for the first time, improving dent and ding resistance and also saving weight. Overall, up to 700 pounds of weight have been saved, helping the F-150 tow more, haul more, accelerate quicker and stop shorter, and contributing to efficiency.

“More than ever before, customers want a truck that is a dependable partner, mobile office and a go-anywhere workshop,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “To meet the needs of our truck customers, we created smart new features and a whole new approach to using advanced materials and engines to improve capability and efficiency.”

Even tougher
The 2015 Ford F-150 is the strongest and most durable F-150 ever. Before it goes on sale, it will have been torture-tested in labs, at Ford proving grounds and in the hands of some of Ford’s most demanding truck customers for more than 10 million miles.

The grueling testing simulated the demands Ford’s customers will subject the truck to throughout its average lifetime. The tests include crisscrossing the country pulling heavy trailers and hefty loads through desert valleys and over high-altitude mountain passes – in temperatures from 20 degrees below zero to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Customers using the F-150 for construction, mining and utilities have tested and helped prove out its high-strength aluminum-alloy cargo box.

A disguised new Ford F-150 even raced in the Baja 1000, where it earned the distinction of completing all 883 grueling miles while some other purpose-built race vehicles could not.

To perform in these challenging conditions, the frame uses high-strength steel rated up to 70,000 psi – stronger than the steel found in some competitors’ heavy-duty pickup truck frames. Eight through-welded crossmembers provide increased stiffness, while staggered rear outboard shocks provide greater stability.

Even smarter
Several groundbreaking new productivity features debut in the all-new F-150, including many class-exclusives. They include:

• 360-degree camera view, using exterior cameras to create a bird’s-eye view of the truck to help the driver park, maneuver in tight spots and navigate down narrow roads and trails
• Integrated loading ramps, which enable easy loading of ATVs, motorcycles and mowers
• BoxLink™, which is a combination of metal brackets and custom cleats used to secure a variety of accessories in the cargo box, from ramps to storage bins to bed dividers
• LED headlamps and taillamps, which provide excellent nighttime visibility
• Trailer hitch assist, a new rear view camera feature that adds a dynamic line based on steering wheel angle in the display to help customers line up truck and trailer without requiring a spotter or having to get out of the vehicle
• Smart trailer tow module, using an all-new smart trailer tow wiring harness that helps identify and inform the driver of potential trailer connectivity issues, burned or unlit trailer marker lamps, and brake light and trailer battery faults
• Remote tailgate, allowing for the tailgate to be locked, unlocked and released with the key fob – eliminating manual locking and increasing convenience and security. The tailgate also is damped, dropping down, hands-free, to a flat position when opened
• High-wattage power outlets (400 watts, 110 volts) in the cab, allowing drivers to easily charge corded tools, battery chargers or mobile devices on-site or while driving
• LED spotlights on sideview mirrors, which provide powerful, durable and bright lighting around the truck exterior
• Latest EcoBoost® technology in an all-new, even more efficient 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine that features extremely high output and lightweight design
• Next-generation tailgate step, which is now fully integrated inside the tailgate and virtually invisible when not in use

Other smart innovations include:

• New 8-inch LCD productivity screen in the instrument panel, which includes updated truck apps – from fuel economy to towing tips – and the ability to create a customized home screen for customers to access their most frequently used apps in one place
• LED lighting embedded in the walls of the cargo box, which brightly illuminates the box interior to help customers quickly find tools or other items
• Rear under-seat storage in F-150 Super and Crew cabs, providing hidden storage for valuables. Two storage bins also are located underneath the rear seats
• Boxside step, now available for the short 5.5-foot box

They join available driver aids, including SYNC® with MyFord Touch®, hill start assist, MyKey®, rear view camera, reverse sensing, trailer brake controller and extendable tailgate step.

More capable
In addition to helping customers work smarter, F-150 features segment-first technologies that automatically assist drivers. They include:

• Second-row inflatable safety belts, which work like a traditional belt but include a tubular airbag that inflates in the event of a crash and distributes the force of the impact across a wider area of the passenger’s chest
• Curve Control, which automatically provides more aggressive four-wheel braking when the truck is going into a corner too fast
• Adaptive cruise control, allowing drivers to set a cruising speed and use radar technology to monitor traffic ahead and maintain a safe distance between vehicles
• Lane-Keeping System, which is designed to help avert unintentional drifting of the vehicle outside the intended driving lane by automatically detecting the left- or right-hand road lane markings using a camera mounted between the windshield and interior rearview mirror
• Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert, which uses radar hidden in the taillamps to detect a vehicle entering a driver’s blind spot while driving or backing up

A range of four engines provides more power to meet almost any customer need.

A new 2.7-liter EcoBoost with standard Auto Start-Stop and a 3.5-liter V6 engine with twin independent variable camshaft timing join the proven 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8. The 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine features a lightweight, compact design to deliver the same power as some mid-range V8s.

Auto Start-Stop technology helps save fuel. Unlike start-stop solutions in other vehicles, this technology – specially tuned for truck customers – shuts off the engine to save fuel when the vehicle is stopped, except when towing or in four-wheel drive. The engine restarts in milliseconds when the brake is released.

Ford F-150 trucks equipped with EcoBoost engines also will benefit from standard Active Grille Shutters. Active Grille Shutters stay open when extra engine cooling is needed, such as during low-speed stop-and-go driving or while working in hot weather. They automatically close to reduce aerodynamic drag at cruising speed.

@Big Boss"

(Continued)

On sale late this year
When it goes on sale late this year, the all-new Ford F-150 will continue the tradition of offering the broadest selection of trim levels in the full-size pickup segment. Five primary trims are available: XL, XLT, Lariat, Platinum and King Ranch. Chrome appearance packages are available with XL, XLT, Lariat and King Ranch. Monochromatic sport appearance packages are available with XL, XLT and Lariat.

The FX4 off-road package can be added to most four-wheel-drive models, improving trail capability with an electronic locking rear axle, skid plates and off-road-tuned shocks.

Both the exterior and interior design of Ford F-150 reflect decades of listening to customers and understanding their occupational and recreational needs. The exterior is characterized by a new shape that suggests capability, with a wider Built Ford Tough stance, prominent wheel arches and chiseled grille.

Comfort, utility and refinement define the truck’s interior. Ergonomically optimized seating for the front row positions enhances comfort, while extending legroom for rear passengers. Buttons and controls are optimized so they can be operated while wearing work gloves.

Storage options include laptop stowage in the center console, as well as quick storage solutions for cellphones, drinks, pens and business cards.

“Once again, the Ford F-150 establishes new standards in durability, capability, technology and efficiency to help F-150 owners be more productive 24/7 – whether for work or weekend fun,” said Nair.

The F-150 will continue to be manufactured at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Mich., and Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo.

@Big Boss"

https://youtu.be/PzcIHQDI7lQ

@Big Boss"

(Motor Trend)

2015 Ford F-150 to Shine Bright All Year Long

The 2015 Ford F-150 is going to have the competition saying a whole different F word.

The Ram 1500 may soon offer an available diesel engine and the Chevrolet Silverado may have cylinder deactivation and more USB ports onboard than most laptops, but it’s the 2015 Ford F-150 people will be talking about this year.

And it’s not just about the fat-shaming Ford can now bully Ram and Chevrolet. It’s all of the improvements that come with this new F-150 from the cab having more technology than a booth at the Consumer Electronics Show to the two new engines under the high-strength aluminum hood. This truck is the real dent-resistant deal.

All that shiny aluminum will garner an enormous amount of attention from the media and potential customers seeing it for the first time at the 2014 Detroit auto show. It should. No matter whether a customer buys a King Ranch or a work truck, the structural changes and new metallurgy will dramatically change every half-ton pickup Ford makes.

Ford, which sold 763,402 F-Series pickups last year (that’s one truck every 41 seconds during 2013), will debut a new pickup that is lighter than before. By using high-strength aluminum alloy for most of the body and more high-strength steel for the frame, Ford has cut as much as 700 pounds from the pickup’s weight. He ain’t heavy, he’s my pickup.

Truth be told, the time has finally arrived for more aluminum vehicles. Ford is just the first to cut so much weight between generations of pickups. We expect lots more to come in the future. This truck is the product of years of research and manufacturing advances that finally have created an atmosphere where high-strength aluminum panels can be created effectively and cheaply. (Ford says it has been working and studying this for more than 25 years.)

A confluence of ideas and technology converged to make this pickup possible, including stamping advances, dramatic increases in computer assisted design, and testing.

But Doug Scott, the marketing head for F-Series, said the devil might be in the details for manufacturers but not for consumers.

“Customers don’t care what kind of material we use to build the F-150,” he said. “They just want a great truck.”

Indeed. And that’s what Ford is giving them. Ford has been able to bottle all of these new technologies and debut a pickup with two new engines – the 3.5-liter V-6 (downsized from the previous-gen’s 3.7-liter engine) and the 2.7-liter turbocharged V-6 as part of a new Ecoboost family. There will also be a 5.0-liter V-8 and the 3.5-liter Ecoboost V-6.)

The 2.7-liter V-6 will be the fuel economy leader that Ford says will be aimed at people whose lifestyle demands a pickup but they don’t necessarily need to tow much. It is refreshing to hear a truck maker take this approach and admit that not every truck needs to pull tree stumps and tow a gazillion pounds. If anyone wants to see a fullsize pickup top 30 mpg on the highway, sacrifices must be made. Physics demands it. Also, full-size pickup owners should seriously evaluate how much capability they really need. If you’re towing more than 8000 pounds regularly, perhaps a heavy-duty pickup is something you should consider in the first place. This new F-150 is going to surprise many people when its mileage numbers are announced. If I were to place an over-under bet on a 30 mpg F-150 for the highway, I’d take the over.

However, if you do tow a lot, you’ll appreciate the new trailer hitch assist, which uses a camera to line up the trailer hitch as you back up the truck. There’s also a smart trailer tow module to monitor the trailer’s lights and notifies the driver if a light is out or if there are other problems.

Many of the features inside the cab are not so much innovative, as Ford has had the technology; it’s just that the automaker has never put it on a pickup. Now the 2015 F-150 rivals many luxury cars in available technology and features. The new F-150 will offer blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control, park assist, and LED headlights. Ford counts 11 class exclusive features such as a 400-watt power outlet, 360-degree camera visibility, and LED spotlights integrated into the side mirrors among them. Then there’s the new bed.

“Since we were rebuilding the bed with aluminum alloy, we took the opportunity to add some new features,” said Pete Reyes, the F-150’s chief engineer.

Ford added a button on the key fob so owners can drop the tailgate remotely. There are integrated loading ramps that attach to the tailgate to make loading an ATV easy. (Instead of looking for a nearby ditch to back the truck into.) Ford added two LED bed lights in the back of the bed and created a new BoxLink system that uses detachable cleats to adjust tie downs and potentially other accessories.

“We hope the aftermarket companies take advantage of this system and create even more uses for them,” Reyes said.

They will. Every year, there are another 700,000 potential customers ready to spend on their truck. Imagine bike racks, ladder holders and attachable storage systems that clip into place with ease.

Ford also introduced a new tailgate step that pulls out of the tailgate and lowers easily. The hand rail that used to be mounted in the back of the tailgate now pulls out from inside of it, meaning the tailgate, when lowered is now flat. Perhaps a minor change, but nonetheless an important one meaning people can sit on the tailgate and things like mulch no longer get caught up in it.

In the past, the pickup wars have included big towing numbers, higher horsepower and more torque but that seems to be changing. Pickups owners have always relished the little things about their trucks as much as they like the big numbers. Pickups need to make work easier and play more fun. The 2015 Ford F-150 does all that and a whole lot more.

[JDMSIR]

Strip the body paint a and polish that bitch.