By Derek Price
Automotive Writer
Ford’s all-new F-150 pickup is getting lots of attention for its pioneering aluminum body structure — and rightfully so.
But before we get to what makes this truck so innovative, let’s get one thing out of the way first: it’s just a great truck.
Even without the exotic metal, Ford has managed to pack enough technology and performance into this truck to set a new industry standard. You can get it with a 360-degree camera view to help you when parking and maneuvering in tight spots, for example, along with integrated loading ramps in back and LED headlamps up front.
One of my favorite features is a camera in the rear that lets you back up to hitch a trailer without the help of a spotter. It shows the steering wheel angle on a digital display to help you line up the truck and trailer by yourself.
And then there’s the remote-controlled tailgate, a feature that, personally, I don’t see tons of practical value for — but it sure is cool to show off in a parking lot when you press a button on the remote and watch the tailgate slowly lower itself down.
The 2015 Ford F-150 makes extensive use of aluminum body panels to shave 700 pounds from its weight.
Then again, a great truck isn’t about packing in the most gadgets. It’s about doing a job, and the new F-150 is rated to do tougher work than ever before.
It raises the bar for both towing and payload capability, with 12,200 and 3,300 pounds respectively, and handles better than any other full-size truck on the market today. The way it changes direction so crisply in corners is remarkable for a full-size truck, and its fuel efficiency ratings are anywhere from 5 to 20 percent better than the outgoing F-150, depending on the exact model you pick.
Of course, the handling and fuel economy are directly related to the most amazing thing about this truck: the fact that it’s using aluminum construction on a scale never before attempted in the history of automobiles.
Aluminum isn’t new to the car world. It’s been around since the early days of motor racing, where weight savings made the difference between winning and losing. And it’s been used on exotic sports cars and a few high-end luxury cars for years.
But aluminum is very new to the truck world, especially on the kind of scale required for the F-150, one of the best-selling vehicles on Planet Earth. Ford is seriously, bravely breaking new ground with this truck by using aluminum to shave its weight by an incredible 700 pounds.
Don’t think for a second that an aluminum truck is a flimsy truck, though. You can knock on any of the panels, and they feel solid and strong, nothing like a Coke can or the sheet of metal foil covering potato salad in your fridge.
Ford worked with Alcoa to develop a special aluminum alloy for the F-150, sort of like what the U.S. armed forces use to armor-plate their vehicles. It feels just as tough and strong as you would expect in a truck designed to do dirty jobs.
So, my hat’s off to the folks at Ford. They’ve built an amazing truck that just happens to show the globe what it means to be truly innovative in the auto industry.
At a Glance
What was tested?
2015 Ford F-150 4×4 Supercab ($37,005). Options: Equipment group 301A ($2,150), 2.7-liter V6 EcoBoost engine ($795), remote start ($195), LED side mirror spotlights ($175), tailgate step ($375), integrated trailer brake control ($275), LED box lighting ($125), XLT chrome appearance package ($1,695), cloth 40 console 40 ($125), spray-in bedliner ($475). Price as tested (including $1,195 destination charge): $44,585
Wheelbase: 145 in.
Length: 231.9 in.
Width: 96.8 in.
Height: 75.5 in.
Engine: 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 (325 hp, 375 lbs.-ft. torque)
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Estimated Mileage: 18 city, 23 highway
RATINGS
Style: 9
Performance: 9
Price: 8
Handling: 9
Ride: 8
Comfort: 8
Quality: 8
Overall: 9
Video Review:
2015 Ford F-150
bit.ly/newf-150
Why buy it?
It’s a huge improvement in terms of handling, fuel economy and technology. It makes Ford an industry leader once again.