If dreaming; dream BIG. When gaming, bet smart. In the rough and tumble world of full-size pickup truck sales, the stakes remain staggeringly high. Ford Motor Company bet the farm its best-selling vehicle will remain so after shedding a few pounds.
Ford was the top-selling U.S. brand in 2014, thanks to full-size F Series pickup trucks once again taking top individual honors with 753,851 units sold, out distancing second-place finisher, Chevrolet's Silverado pickup, by more than 225,000 units. In fact, for 33 straight years, F Series ranked as undisputed sales champ in the states. Time will tell if the 13th generation turns out lucky for the all-new, light-duty F-150.
After extensive assembly plant retoolings and thousands of test miles, Ford's 2015 F-150 has shed old skin for new, not unlike an iguana. While underpinnings continue with a fully boxed ladder frame constructed from high-strength steel, the outer hull now employees high-strength aluminum alloys, allowing huge weight savings of approximately 700 pounds. Less weight translates into improved fuel economy, no matter what engine churns under hood. A bold bet indeed as Ford is the first automaker rolling out an aluminum intensive body of this scale; and on a hugely important vehicle. Ford's F150's aluminum body already stands as a top story from the 2015 model year.
Another latent benefit of alloy aluminum: better resistance to everyday dings and dents.
The previous 12th generation (2009-2014) saw many interior cabin upgrades added including soft-touch dash boards and an efficient, almost office-like atmosphere. Gone are the days of a hollowed out, hard-shell echo chambers. As in the past, many engines, bed lengths, cab configurations, trim levels and options await F-150 buyers.
Five trim levels (XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum) mix and match with three bed lengths (5.5 feet, 6.5 feet and 8 feet), three cab sizes (regular, mid-size extended cab and full-size crew cab) and four engine selections.
Not long ago, V-8 engines primarily powered full-sized light-duty pickups. In 2015, F-150 offers only one V-8, a 5.0-liter cranking 385 horsepower and three V-6 variants: a naturally-aspirated 282 horsepower 3.5-liter, an all-new 325 horsepower 2.7-liter turbo-inspired EcoBoost and our tester, a 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 with 365 horses. Of all four, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost generates the best low-end, tow-enhancing torque at 420 pound-feet, topping the V-8's 387 pound-feet. In practical laymen's terms, this engine tows a class-leading 12,200 pounds with a payload capacity (total weight of items tucked in the bed) of approximately 3,200 pounds.
Our tester, a King Ranch 4 x 4 crew cab and 3.5-liter twin turbo EcoBoost engine checked in at $52,220. After adding a $3,190 option group (tailgate step, highly recommended blind-spot monitors, segment-first inflatable rear outboard safety belts and power-deployed running boards) and an assortment of stand-alone goodies, the bottom line added up to $63,710 including a $1,195 destination charge. Starting price starts around $26,600 for a rear-drive regular cab, XL.
The King Ranch offers a southwestern theme not dissimilar to Toyota's full-size Tundra's 1794 edition. A saddle-brown dashboard ponies up with faux, leather brown seats and light-brown stitching. A cursive "W' logo gets embossed below on floor mats inside skid plates, seat backs and atop the rear-hinged storage bin, with enough girth to swallow laptops, purses and a small Banana Republic. Sturdy wood-like accents adorn doors and retracting cover.
While tooling around Chicago's suburbs and expressways, the EcoBoost V-6 engine remained surprisingly quiet. Turbo lag, a pause sometimes felt when aggressively summoning accelerator pedals was tamed in part thanks to the twin turbo design. Although truck-like when parking and maneuvering inside small strip mall lots, braking and steering when open roading remained car-like and graceful.
Optional, power-sliding side running boards make boarding F-150 that much easier. New for 2015, an optional power rear gate dropping down with a slow gliding grace, not a panic 'thud' thanks to dampening efforts. This graceful effect may be viewed from afar with the push of a key-fob button, although closing still requires a human touch.
Also optional, a crafty foot step accessible and stored within the downed tailgate. Once manually pulled out and positioned in place, even those on the graying-side of 50 may gain bed entry, without overtly shocking knees or hips, while looking confident in the process. Also part of the King Ranch tester, manually deployable underbody side steps, ideal for quick, extended reaches into the bed.
The bold, newly-designed tri-bar grille features Ford's prominent Blue Oval front and center. Updated vertical head housings sport an uppercase facing "E" theme. Both head and tail lamps include LED technology offering enhanced visibility Thick strap-like door handles remain grab-able if wearing oversized workman-type gloves.
Large side view mirrors could benefit from concaved or beveled sections to better illuminate blind spots in the larger crew cab body style.
A super-sized gas tank (23 gallons) is standard. All four engines utilize regular, 87-octane fuel. Naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 and 5.0-liter V-8 engines also accept E-85. Fuel economy varies depending on drivetrain choice and engine size, with the all-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 topping the pack at 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway (4 x 2), F-150's highest achiever to date.
The two EcoBoost engines come standard with a front grille design automatically opening and shutting to better cool the engine and reduce drag potential.The arena-sized second row found in full-size crew cabs boasts Texas-size leg room with ample head clearance, easily accommodating three cowpoke. If cargo needs inside TLC, seat bottoms fold up against the backs, opening up a nice-sized dance floor.
Front A and second-row B-pillar grab handles assist the entry process. The center dash top, hallowed out squarely, is one of many locations to store small items. Below a multi-function color touch screen resides a 3 x 3 tic-tac-toe like matrix of radio pre-set buttons accessible by both front seat riders. Presets may also operate via steering wheel face presets or through the multi-function screen. A second 3 x 3 matrix below contains fan direction buttons along with rear-window defrost and other commands. A line of buttons below tackles fan speed. Two large twist knobs flank this line, commanding dual front temperature settings.
Doors also contain hubs of storage opportunities. Left of dual beverage holders between front buckets is a long, narrow inlet for keys, business card, loose change and thin portable electronics. The dash also includes three-prong 110-volt for recharging heavy-duty work tools and an outlet suited for dainty portable electronics.
An electronic dashboard dial near the steering column switches the drivetrain from two-wheel rear drive to 4-high, 4-low and 4-automatic. Electronic push-button start is also nearby.
Thirty-three years of sales supremacy remains unprecedented, and a key marketing tool. Pickup truck brand loyalty supersedes all other segments. Nissan debuted a 2016 full-size Titan redesign at the Detroit Auto Show in January with Toyota's Tundra refreshed last year. Yet these relative newcomers have found the road a bit rocky when positioned against domestic stallworths Ram, Silverado and the ultra-new 2015 F-150.
Assembly of F-150s takes place at Ford's historic, long-serving Dearborn Michigan facility and in Kansas City, Missouri.
2015 Ford F-150 King Ranch
Price as tested: $63,710
Base engine: 3.5-liter V-6
Horsepower: 365
Wheelbase: 156.8 inches
Overall Width: 96.8 inches
Overall Height: 77.3 inches
Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
Fuel economy: 17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway
Assembly: Dearborn, Michigan