2021 Ford F-150 Lariat
Ford
Ford Motor unveiled its new F-150 pickup truck Thursday night with some surprising new features designed for jobsites and tailgate parties.
Here are five unique things to know about the 2021 F-150:
Integrated generator
Ford offers the vehicle with an integrated power generator called “Pro Power Onboard”.
The generator will come standard on a new hybrid model of the vehicle. It will also be offered on other gasoline trucks.
The generator operates by drawing power from an onboard lithium ion battery. The vehicle’s engine may need to be running to help charge the battery. It can also be used to recharge things like tools while the vehicle is in motion.
Output power varies by generator, but here are some samples provided by Ford of what different systems will be able to power:
Hands free driving
The 2021 F-150 will be among the first vehicles alongside the Mustang Mach-E crossover to offer Ford’s new hands-free driving system for divided roads.
The “Active Drive Assist” system will be able to control the speed, braking, and direction of a vehicle through a system of cameras, radars, and other sensors on 100,000 miles of previously mapped divided highways in the United States and Canada.
Ford says its Active Drive Assist system will allow hands-free driving on more than 100,000 miles of divided highway in the United States and Canada.
Ford
Customers can purchase a pickup with system hardware later this year, but will have to wait until the third quarter of 2021 to use the technology.
Ford plans to release software at that time to enable the technology through a remote or wireless upgrade. It can also be installed at a dealer.
Easter eggs
Automotive companies, particularly Fiat Chrysler’s Jeep brand, are increasingly adding hidden design elements commonly known as “Easter eggs” to new vehicles.
The 2021 Ford F-150 has at least three. On all US customer vehicles, there is an American flag engraved on the inside of the instrument panels near the driver and passenger doors. It is a subtle blow to the trucks of its city rivals, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler, which produce some of its trucks in Mexico; Ford does not.
“You will see it every time you open a door,” said Ehab Kaoud, Ford’s chief truck designer in North America. “It is a reminder that each F-150 is assembled in the United States of A.”
An American flag is embossed on the interior of the instrument panels near the driver and passenger doors on all 2021 F-150 trucks.
Ford
Other special design elements on individual models include the F-150 King Ranch models that include an engraving of the first model on the instrument panel. XLT Sport models include a Detroit map on the door.
“It symbolizes a sense of pride where this vehicle was designed,” said Kaoud. “And the map also symbolizes an exploration of new places.”
New tie-downs on the vehicle’s tailgate also function as bottle owners.
Hybrids and VE
The 2021 F-150 features new interior and exterior designs, additional storage, and six available engine options, including a 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine and a 3.5-liter “PowerBoost” hybrid engine. All engines are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Ford said the new hybrid model aims to achieve approximately 700 miles on a single tank of gasoline and deliver at least 12,000 pounds of maximum available towing. That is in line or better than current models with V6 engines.
Ford expects the hybrid model, its “most premium powertrain,” to account for about 10% of sales. That compares with its V6 “EcoBoost” engines, which currently account for around 60% of sales.
An all-electric F-150 is expected sometime in the next two years, in line with, or a little later, than new electric pickups from GM, Tesla, and new manufacturer Rivian.
Ford Chief Operating Officer Jim Farley at CNBC’s “Squawk Box” promised on Friday that the next all-electric truck “is a spectacular product.”
Origami interior
Inside the Ford F-150 2021, it’s all about storage and space optimization.
One of the most exclusive features is a stowable gear stick that allows a flat surface between passenger and driver for laptops or other needs, such as signing documents.
The 2021 F-150 features an available shift lever that folds down into the center console to allow access to a flat interior work surface when parked.
Ford
According to Ford, about a third of trucking customers regularly use their laptops in their trucks.
Both front seats can also be folded down almost 180 degrees to allow for more comfortable sleeping arrangements, Ford said.
“We know that our customers spend much of their days, and sometimes their nights, in the vehicle,” said Craig Schmatz, chief engineer of the F-150. “We wanted to really increase functionality to make them more productive in the cabin and more comfortable.”
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