AutoGuide.com
10-03-2014, 11:57 AM
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The Ford F-150 has been totally redesigned for 2015, riding atop a brand-new frame. In addition to this upgrade it also features some powertrain enhancements and a passel of segment-exclusive features. But these items are not this truck’s signature innovation. Engineers and product planners bet the farm on a new material.
Competitors (Aluminum) Foiled
Their wager was a lot more than just throwing a few bucks at a slot machine. In a move that’s akin to plunking all of your retirement savings on red at a Vegas roulette table, engineers divorced steel and wed themselves to lightweight aluminum, using it for the truck’s cab and bed. Depending on the model this decision resulted in a maximum weight savings of some 700 pounds, a handsome payout.
Additionally the F-150’s fully boxed, ladder-style frame is now comprised of about 77 percent high-strength steel, up from around 23 percent in today’s model. This makes it stronger, more rigid and helps it shed up to 60 pounds.
But how will contractors, plumbers, linemen and loggers take to this new reduced-fat F-150? Would the vehicle’s core buyers still embrace a truck that’s built out of aerospace-grade materials and not tired-and-true ferrous metal?
Tested Tough
Ford wasn’t going to leave anything to chance. Ensuring the 2015 model would not crumple like a gum wrapper the first time you put a few bags of mulch in the bed they rigorously evaluated it in the laboratory, the real world and even the deserts of Mexico during the grueling Baja 1000 off-road race. Throughout development it endured some 10 million miles of testing, more than any other F-150 in history.
Beyond this the company keeps reiterating things like “high strength” and “military grade” when referring to the truck’s cab and bed. It was a recurring theme at the media drive. They really want to make certain everyone knows the new F-150 is still a tough workhorse even though it’s gone on a diet.
Additionally the aluminum engineers used in this truck is thicker than comparable steel. In fact the bed floor is 65 percent thicker. This helps the truck resist denting. Beyond this the various panels and sections the pickup is constructed of are riveted and bonded together, not just spot welded, which makes the new F-150 even stronger.
Power to Spare
Four different engines are available. The base unit is a 3.5-liter, naturally aspirated V6. It’s slightly smaller than the entry-level offering in today’s model since the truck is so much lighter; it doesn’t need as much displacement to get the job done. It puts out 283 hp with 255 lb-ft of torque yet still provides a 5 percent better power-to-weight ratio than a similarly equipped 2014 model.
Once again the range-topping engine is a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, which is just as thunderously capable as before. It puts out 365 ponies and a stout 420 lb-ft of torque.
In between these two extremes you can get either a tried-and-true 5.0-liter V8 engine with 385 hp and 387 lb-ft of torque or a brand-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6.
And that latter option is the most interesting powertrain available in the 2015 F-150 since it’s loaded with high-tech features and promises to be an efficiency champ. Slashing consumption it’s armed with Auto Start-Stop, a variable-displacement oil pump, direct fuel injection and more. Unfortunately Ford has not shared ANY economy numbers at this time.
But horsepower and torque figures are something they have made public. The 2.7 delivers 325 ponies and 375 lb-ft of torque; GIANT numbers from a TINY engine. It can even tow a maximum of 8,500 pounds and carry up to 2,250 pounds of cargo.
What a Haul!
When it comes to getting work done, product planners didn’t forget about the business-end of the 2015 F-150. For easier access they made the bed sides slightly shorter than today’s version, though the box is still plenty deep.
Engineers redesigned this truck’s signature rear step, integrating right into the tailgate, meaning it’s no longer on the inside surface. This keeps it out of the way and makes it easier to slide cargo into and out of the bed when the tailgate is down. It’s also simpler to deploy the step. Additionally the tailgate can be dropped with the push of a button on the truck’s key fob, if so equipped.
The bed can also be outfitted with Ford’s Boxlink system, which provides removable cleats and other E-Track-friendly accessories. This allows you to have integrated ramps, cargo dividers and all kinds of other items. It’s a clever feature and one that makes this pickup even more versatile.To read this complete review of the 2015 Ford F-150 (http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/ford/2015-ford-f150-review-4156.html) and to watch the accompanying video please visit AutoGuide.com.
The Ford F-150 has been totally redesigned for 2015, riding atop a brand-new frame. In addition to this upgrade it also features some powertrain enhancements and a passel of segment-exclusive features. But these items are not this truck’s signature innovation. Engineers and product planners bet the farm on a new material.
Competitors (Aluminum) Foiled
Their wager was a lot more than just throwing a few bucks at a slot machine. In a move that’s akin to plunking all of your retirement savings on red at a Vegas roulette table, engineers divorced steel and wed themselves to lightweight aluminum, using it for the truck’s cab and bed. Depending on the model this decision resulted in a maximum weight savings of some 700 pounds, a handsome payout.
Additionally the F-150’s fully boxed, ladder-style frame is now comprised of about 77 percent high-strength steel, up from around 23 percent in today’s model. This makes it stronger, more rigid and helps it shed up to 60 pounds.
But how will contractors, plumbers, linemen and loggers take to this new reduced-fat F-150? Would the vehicle’s core buyers still embrace a truck that’s built out of aerospace-grade materials and not tired-and-true ferrous metal?
Tested Tough
Ford wasn’t going to leave anything to chance. Ensuring the 2015 model would not crumple like a gum wrapper the first time you put a few bags of mulch in the bed they rigorously evaluated it in the laboratory, the real world and even the deserts of Mexico during the grueling Baja 1000 off-road race. Throughout development it endured some 10 million miles of testing, more than any other F-150 in history.
Beyond this the company keeps reiterating things like “high strength” and “military grade” when referring to the truck’s cab and bed. It was a recurring theme at the media drive. They really want to make certain everyone knows the new F-150 is still a tough workhorse even though it’s gone on a diet.
Additionally the aluminum engineers used in this truck is thicker than comparable steel. In fact the bed floor is 65 percent thicker. This helps the truck resist denting. Beyond this the various panels and sections the pickup is constructed of are riveted and bonded together, not just spot welded, which makes the new F-150 even stronger.
Power to Spare
Four different engines are available. The base unit is a 3.5-liter, naturally aspirated V6. It’s slightly smaller than the entry-level offering in today’s model since the truck is so much lighter; it doesn’t need as much displacement to get the job done. It puts out 283 hp with 255 lb-ft of torque yet still provides a 5 percent better power-to-weight ratio than a similarly equipped 2014 model.
Once again the range-topping engine is a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, which is just as thunderously capable as before. It puts out 365 ponies and a stout 420 lb-ft of torque.
In between these two extremes you can get either a tried-and-true 5.0-liter V8 engine with 385 hp and 387 lb-ft of torque or a brand-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6.
And that latter option is the most interesting powertrain available in the 2015 F-150 since it’s loaded with high-tech features and promises to be an efficiency champ. Slashing consumption it’s armed with Auto Start-Stop, a variable-displacement oil pump, direct fuel injection and more. Unfortunately Ford has not shared ANY economy numbers at this time.
But horsepower and torque figures are something they have made public. The 2.7 delivers 325 ponies and 375 lb-ft of torque; GIANT numbers from a TINY engine. It can even tow a maximum of 8,500 pounds and carry up to 2,250 pounds of cargo.
What a Haul!
When it comes to getting work done, product planners didn’t forget about the business-end of the 2015 F-150. For easier access they made the bed sides slightly shorter than today’s version, though the box is still plenty deep.
Engineers redesigned this truck’s signature rear step, integrating right into the tailgate, meaning it’s no longer on the inside surface. This keeps it out of the way and makes it easier to slide cargo into and out of the bed when the tailgate is down. It’s also simpler to deploy the step. Additionally the tailgate can be dropped with the push of a button on the truck’s key fob, if so equipped.
The bed can also be outfitted with Ford’s Boxlink system, which provides removable cleats and other E-Track-friendly accessories. This allows you to have integrated ramps, cargo dividers and all kinds of other items. It’s a clever feature and one that makes this pickup even more versatile.To read this complete review of the 2015 Ford F-150 (http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/ford/2015-ford-f150-review-4156.html) and to watch the accompanying video please visit AutoGuide.com.