The new 2015 Ford F-150 has been the talk of the truck world since the first announcement hit the market. Consumers around the country have been waiting to see just how this new vehicle will fare in towing, horsepower and miles per gallon with its lighter body. As the release date inches closer (it is set to debut in December), more and more information has been released regarding this new specimen of truck. So what is so different about this new Ford F-150? That’s what we are here to tell you.
700 lb. Weight Loss
It isn’t uncommon for truck makers to try to get rid of a few pounds here and there, but dropping hundreds of pounds at one time isn’t the norm. A 700-pound weight loss was one of the first announcements for the new 2015 F-150, and consumers didn’t take it lightly. Ford was able to swing this weight reduction by creating much of the truck out of aluminum, another uncommon route for automakers. Since the announcement, potential buyers have been eagerly waiting to find out just how much this weight loss will affect the truck’s fuel economy. Ford is claiming an up to 20 percent improvement on miles per gallon, but the actual improvement will be announced some time this month.
Slight Price Increase
Although a lighter vehicle has the potential to save you money on gas, it likely won’t save you anything when it comes to making the vehicle purchase. Ford has estimated at least a $400 increase in pricing from previous F-150 due to the more expensive cost of an aluminum body. Depending on how long you plan to own the vehicle, it is likely that this cost will make up for itself through fuel economy improvement, but only time will tell. If you want the more luxury version of the truck, you can expect higher pricing depending on specific features.
One Up Technology
In today’s world, no new vehicles can hit the market without some kind of technology upgrade, and Ford doesn’t disappoint. The new F-150 includes an eight-inch touch screen where drivers can move around icons and buttons to their liking. The key fob also totes some new tricks with the ability to lock, unlock and release the tailgate from afar. To top it all off, the truck is equipped with a 360-degree camera that leaves nothing hidden.
Engine Options
Ford still wants to make sure its consumers get the necessary power for their wants and needs, so it plans to offer four different engine options in its latest F-150 model. Of these four options, two are EcoBoost, including the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. The other two engines customers can pick from are the 5.0-liter V8 and 3.5 liter V6. The variety in engines is a testament to the many other options potential truck buyers can choose from when purchasing a 2015 F-150 of their own.
In the end, the 2015 Ford F-150 is a bold move for Ford Motor Company. An aluminum truck is something unusual for the category, and it could go either way in terms of success. Although there have been a large number of people interested in this new vehicle, only time and money will tell whether their gamble was a success. Who knows, maybe aluminum bodied trucks will be the standard in a few years!
Writen by Chad VanNess of Fulton Ford, a Ford Dealership that carries the best line of Ford cars and trucks for sale Columbia MO has to offer, as well as a great selection of used cars and trucks.