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Budd Stanley photos
2015 Ford F-150 Review
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Budd Stanley photos
2015 Ford F-150 Review
The 2015 F-150 is a nice design mix between the outgoing generation and the Atlas concept.
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Budd Stanley photos
2015 Ford F-150 Review
Despite an aluminum body, Ford confirms any damage can be easily repaired.
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Budd Stanley photos
2015 Ford F-150 Review
A more refined interior is covered with modern conveniences such as four USB ports and a 110-volt outlet.
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Budd Stanley photos
2015 Ford F-150 Review
360-degree cameras are great, but Ford even put washer nozzles on them to ensure vision even in muddy terrain.
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Budd Stanley photos
2015 Ford F-150 Review
Fords BoxLink system stows cargo ramps away on the bedsides.
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Budd Stanley photos
2015 Ford F-150 Review
Even in off-road conditions, the 2.7L EcoBoost shined.
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Budd Stanley photos
2015 Ford F-150 Review
Despite repeated attempts, that darn air dam just wouldn’t come off.
Story & photos by Budd Stanley
The Replacement for Displacement - 2015 Ford F-150 punches well above its weight class
They say that the human race makes massive technological advancements in times of conflict. The pressure of survival pushes those who develop to think outside the box and push boundaries. Nowhere is this better exemplified than the full-size truck market, which has been amidst a furious battle of development and one-upmanship for the last half-decade. The domestic truck makers are working feverishly to keep the full-size truck the go-to vehicle for consumers and even keep the entire segment alive under threat of heavy emissions regulations that are continuously ramping up. Manufacturers are investing more heavily than ever before to make their trucks much more efficient, incredibly capable and more advanced. The latest to fire a heavy volley in the war for full-size dominance has been Ford with their all-new 2015 F-150.
There has been a lot of rumour and speculation about the upcoming F-150, and even after having the chance to drive some preproduction samples (production just began in early Nov), it has already entangled me into several debates with dedicated truck guys and loyal Ford followers. It is a controversial move, taking a big risk with what is the highest selling vehicle on the planet. At issue, will aluminum work and does a little 2.7L engine have any place mounted in a full-size truck?
The new 2.7L turbo is a thing of brilliance. I'll be honest, coming into this launch I figured putting such a small engine, only 400cc bigger than what powers my wife’s Mazda3, into a full-size truck was laughable. That was until I got behind the wheel. But more on this later, because to understand what makes this little 2.7L turbo so good, you must know what is going on behind the scenes. Let’s start with the basics of this all-new F-150.
The Skin
It’s no great secret that this new F-150 will be wrapped in an aluminum skin. Every part of the body, other than the firewall, will be constructed from what Ford call “military grade aluminum,” marketing hype for “really strong 6,000-series grade aluminum.” Extrude honed construction makes the structure of the body incredibly strong while saving a great deal of weight.
A common debate will be ease and expense of repairing damaged bodywork. Ford claim that 80% of repairs will be the same as steel bodied vehicles and that all Ford dealerships are certified to work on the aluminum F-150. In reality, it’s nothing new, as several other vehicles have already introduced aluminum bodies, and Land Rovers have been aluminum since the 40’s.
Under the Skin
Lets start with the F-150’s bones, its frame. This keeps its high tensile steel construction, however it utilizes thinner steel, more gusseting and eight cross members to not only create a stronger structure, but it cuts weight by 27 kg (60 lb) over the last generation. Ford engineers have also lowered the rear rails and cross member to trailer hitch level, offering increased strength and ease of installation of trailer hitches.
It’s all about the Features
The name of the F-150's game is features. Ramming a new truck full of as much tech and gadgets is easy, however Ford have fitted the F-150 with real-world usable features. A fully interactive digital gauge cluster, 8-in colour touchscreen in the dash that handles all of Fords onboard infotainment, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi that will keep the Gen Y’ers happily distracted.
The new F-150 features 360-degree cameras, but they also knew that these cameras get dirty, and so have equipped several with washer nozzles. In higher trim levels, there is not one incandescent bulb fitted, every light source is LED. These are also designed to last the lifetime of the truck. The tailgate step has been completely redesigned to increase its stealth, but more importantly, operate easier without fear of pinching fingers such as the last generation. The tailgate can be lowered and locked by the key fob and the entire bed is lit by a string of LED’s that line the underside of the bed rails. Side lamps on the mirrors light up the ground for tire repairs and also the terrain for navigating or finding campsites.
My favourite is the use of Fords new BoxLink system that makes use of solid cleats mounted midway up the bedsides that can be configured in dozens of different attachments. These are easy to mount, create several different methods of attachment, are lockable, and are plenty strong to handle heavy loads. Cargo ramps lock into the tailgate ridding us of the stress of loose fitting ramps, then are easily lifted out and attached to the BoxLink system along the bedsides, keeping them secure and tucked out of the way. I’ve seen a lot of different cargo carrying devices and this system legitimately gets me excited.
The Interior
The F-150's interior takes another step forward in its level of refinement and styling. Interior materials are still rather hard plastics, but they feel a little better put together and you will find more soft touch materials with upper trim levels. I really liked the layout, some of the screens and buttons can get a bit clustered and confusing with the advanced tech option, but there is a ton of space. Doorsills have been lowered to make resting your arm a little more anatomically correct and the lack of a B-pillar allows entry and exit of the rear seats simple.
The Engines
As I mentioned before, I did not expect much from the little 2.7L baby EcoBoost. With all the development in the frame, the body and the chassis, all of a sudden a smaller engine starts to make sense. With the 2.7L equipped, Ford has lopped 318 kg (700 lb) of fat off the last generation F-150 equipped with the 3.7L. Thinking I was under-gunned while accelerating onto a freeway, I put my foot to the floor, some witchcraft took place in the engine department and I was thrust onto the freeway at an incredible speed. It launched me so hard I had to brake just to keep from plowing into traffic that was moving along at 110 kmh.
My whole perception of the full-size truck was just tossed out the window. Gone are the days of a useful truck needing a V-8. Fords baby EcoBoost is capable of meeting the towing or hauling needs of 90% of truck owners, while the senior EcoBoost will deal with anything south of a heavy duty.
Off-Road
Ford had a rather decent off-road course set up for us to thrash around on. Like all the other brands, the F150 has a low front skirt to aid in aerodynamics that hinders approach angles, however it doesn’t unbolt as easily. Ford engineers told me to push on through, as the skirt is both strong and flexible. However this doesn't stop the skirt from getting gouged up, yup, it's a dragger. Push on through is just what I did, crawling over some easy elephant steps, through a deep riverbed and launching it into a mud bog. We literally had the truck airborne going into the bog and true to Fords word, the skirt held in place with no sign of damage.
Crawling up rough terrain was fairly easy as long as you did not exceed the rather low ground clearances. 4-Low did its job nicely and the truck was able to exit obstacles with only two wheels in contact with the ground. I would like to see an off-road edition feature ride height adjustable suspension and some meatier tires, and a front air dam that is a little easier to disconnect for those who really do need to test limits. However, we’re pretty certain that a next generation Raptor is just around the corner, even if Ford has nothing to say on the subject.
While we just had a short time in preproduction trucks, there is still much more to learn about the upcoming F-150, and what teething issues may result from such massive changes. Regardless, the F-150 is going to be a shoe-in for truck of the year, hands down, but what Ford is doing with small displacement turbo engines is changing the entire game completely. Will it be welcomed in the type-A personality rich segment that wants their manly V-8s? I think it will, both the little 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost engines just make too much sense not to tick off on the options list. But for those who must display their manliness, the 5.0L V-8 still emits a truly frightening growl.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- MSRP: Starting at $21,399
- Engines: 3.5L V-6; 2.7L V-6 Turbo; 3.5L V-6 Turbo; 5.0L V-8
- Power: 283 hp, 255 lb-ft (3.5L); 325 hp, 375 lb-ft (2.7L Turbo); 365 hp, 420 lb-ft (3.5L Turbo); 385 hp, 387 lb-ft (5.0L)
- Transmission: 6-speed Automatic
- Curb Weight kg (lb): TBA
- Wheelbase mm (in): 3,099 (122) – 3,988 (157)
- Ground Clearance mm (in): TBA
- Approach Angle Deg: TBA
- Departure Angle Deg: TBA
- Ramp Breakover Angle: TBA
- Wading Depth mm (in): TBA
- Tow Capacity kg (lb): 3,447 (7,600) - 5,534 (12,200)
- Fuel Efficiency (L/100km): TBA