Is Ford Redesigning the F-150 for 2021?

Each year, the American public is treated to fresh and new versions of their favorite automobiles. Roughly every 3-7 years, a complete overhaul is done, introducing a new generation of that particular car, truck, SUV, or minivan. Rumors have been swirling regarding the Ford F-150. With Ram’s complete redesign of its lineup, would Ford stand by idly, or have they been concealing a huge surprise for 2021? With a recent slew of press releases, Ford has cheerfully confirmed that yes, they are redesigning the F-150 for 2021, and it should be hitting new car dealerships near you very soon.

According to Ford’s website, the completely all-new, re-engineered 2021 Ford F150 is “purpose-built from the ground up––redesigned to be the toughest, most productive F-150 ever, and targeted to be the most powerful truck in its class.” While that seems to be a very bold statement for any truck manufacturer to make, the details that have been released thus far seem to back up that claim completely.

New Engine, New Outlook

Historically speaking, “hybrid” and “powerful” are not words that are usually joined together. The 2021 Ford F-150 is about to change that notion with an available 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6 engine. Early numbers indicate that this engine will not only have the ability to tow loads up to 12,000 pounds, but can travel an EPA-estimated 700 miles per full tank of gas. As a point of reference, fuel economy like that could take a driver from Albany, NY, to Raleigh, NC, without stopping for a fill-up.

While these are early estimates based on engineering targets, there’s no doubt that the engine that debuts in Fall 2020 will be very mighty with an admirable fuel economy. The PowerBoost formula combines existing EcoBoost technology, pairing the engine with a 35-kilowatt electric motor that is integrated into the 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. This combination of some of the most popular features of recent Ford trucks results in an impressive merging of power and efficiency.

The motor, which provides 47 horsepower on its own, features a 1.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, which draws power from regenerative braking. While many current hybrid models tuck their battery in the trunk or cramp up the back seat, the F-150 battery is tucked underneath the truck. While that may seem dangerous for a truck that sees a lot of action, rest assured that the engineers at Ford have already thought of that. The battery is neatly packaged in a way that is intended to withstand a variety of temperatures, as well as heavy loads created by massive cargo and towing large trailers.

All Work IS Play

The Ford F150 has been around since 1975, and since then, the folks at Ford have learned plenty about what people who drive trucks want and need. One obvious area where trucks could use some growth is in being driver-friendly.

Granted, most of us make a muddy mess out of our work trucks, tracking in bits and pieces from the worksite, or getting a little too involved with some off-roading. Still, we live in a technologically advanced age, and if the truck is at the worksite, the chances are good that the laptop and smartphone are there as well.

The 2021 Ford F-150 appreciates that your desk may be anywhere you happen to be sitting or standing, and two work surfaces have been built in as options for those who need a more practical space. The Interior Work Surface is available on trims from XL to Limited (more on those in a second). When in park the work surface can be accessed via the center console with just a push of a button. This flat space is optional regardless of whether you choose the captain’s chairs or bench seat cabin and provides a solid surface for setting up a laptop, eating lunch without making a mess, filling out paperwork legibly, and more.

The Tailgate Work Surface offers similar capabilities at the rear of the vehicle, making it simpler than ever to pop out a set of spec sheets or boot up some PDF plans. It also features built-in rulers, as well as a cupholder, pencil holder, and designated area for your smartphone, which is helpful if you’re the type to lose sight of small objects easily.

There’s also more secure storage on the 2021 F-150 than ever before. Not only do you have a full pickup bed to fill with stuff, but delicate or valuable items such as tools, blueprints, and more can be placed in the optional under-seat storage area. The rear storage vault runs the entire width of the rear seats and can be accessed by lifting a seat cushion. A divider helps keep smaller items from rattling around as you drive, too.

What We Know About Trims

As people who drive, work, and live by their trucks, one of the most popular questions from fans of the current F150 is “What are the new trims like?” Other than addressing some of the options and additions, Ford is keeping that one pretty close to the pocket for now, but some details have been released.

For example, we know that there will be at least the following trims: the XL, STX, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited. Ford has announced that the exterior of each is slightly different, and up to 11 different grille/exterior/interior color and theme combinations.

All trims will include at least an 8-inch touchscreen, with Lariat and higher trims featuring a 12-inch version. Also new and standard on all trims is the Ford SYNC4 system. This latest generation includes voice recognition, cloud-based connectivity, over-the-air safety updates, and a digital owner’s manual that can provide details and stream how-to videos to keep you aware of every detail of your brand new F-150’s functionality.

Safety is another area in which Ford is increasing its standard offerings. The Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0 system will be included on the 2021 F-150 and adds more safety features to the XL model, such as Pre-Collision Assist, which utilizes forward-facing sensors to detect vehicles, objects, and pedestrians that may be in the path of collision as you drive forward. Automatic Emergency Braking is part of this technology, applying the brakes when you don’t, keeping everyone safe and sound. Other standard safety features on all trims include a rearview camera with hitch assistance, automatic high-beams, and headlamps that automatically turn on and off, depending on the situation.

One major feature that has many drivers amped up for the new release is Active Drive Assist. Right now, the Ford F-150 is the only pickup slated to offer this technology. This advanced technology combines a driver-facing camera that follows the head position and eyes with over 100,000 miles of pre-mapped divided highways spanning all 50 states to allow for periods of hands-free driving––as long as the driver keeps their eyes on the road ahead.

Visit DePaula Ford Today!

Has Ford redesigned the F-150 pickup truck for 2021? You betcha, and we couldn’t be more excited. While it will still be the courageous, capable, reliable work partner we’ve come to know and love over the past forty-odd years, it’s now going to feature more livability, more functionality, and more efficiency than ever before. Whether you’re in the market for your next adventure buddy, or a work partner to take you where you need to be, the F-150 is about to experience a fantastic revival. So buckle up, and get ready to drive. If you’d like to talk to one of our team members about this exciting new model, or another model in the Ford lineup, call or visit us today in Albany, NY.