With every other automobile company striving to revamp their offerings in pickup truck segment, can Ford sit idle? The company is preparing the 2018 Ford F-150 pickup truck. While design changes may be minimal for the upcoming version, it is the under the hood modifications that matter. Ford is upbeat about a revamped and more powerful engine and the features are also decent. The design changes will be minimal. However, the new drive train is what Ford is upbeat about. It is both powerful and fuel efficient.
2018 Ford F-150 – Stylish Design:
The exterior of 2018 Ford F 150 will not be altered much. This means you will get a same boxy design with slight alterations in the grille and headlamps. The body styles will be- regular cab, super cab and super crew. Most likely Ford will retain the existing trim levels. These are- XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum and top end Limited. The models will still be made with military-grade, aluminum alloy. The cabin is not likely to be changed much either. Sync 3 infotainment, satellite radio are expected and the cabin is also going to have plenty of storage spaces. The cabin is likely to get wood trims and some sort of noise insulation mechanism may also be used.
The 2018 Ford F-150 is expected to be loaded with safety and infotainment features. From blind spot monitoring to lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and a rearview camera all the expected safety features are there.
2018 Ford F-150 – Engine Specs:
The Ford F-150 2018 is going to be equipped with a new drive train that will help it beat the competitors by a large margin. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine is assisted by a 10-speed automatic transmission unit. This is the 2nd generation EcoBoost. It now generates 365 hp, a tad better than the predecessor. Ford also packs in a standard Stop/Start system to enhance fuel economy. There will be a beefier version of this 3.5-liter EcoBoost that will be used in the 2017 F-150 Raptor. Interestingly, the 6-speed automatic transmission unit is a result of an alliance between Ford and GM.
The truck’s towing capacity remains 12,200 pounds which are more or less decent. The payload varies from 1600 pounds to 3300 pounds, based on trim and build style.
2018 Ford F-150 – Price and Release Date:
The exact price of 2018 Ford F-150 is not known. However, the expected price for base trim is $27,500 while the Platinum trim may have a price tag close to $65,000. It will be offered for sale in late 2017.
Upon release, the 2018 Ford F-150 will face staring competition from both Ram 1500 Rebel and Chevy Silverado. The Silverado has a range of powerful engines. The Ram 1500 wins the price war. Clearly, Ford F150 banks mostly on its new powertrain to take on the competition. However, it is also likely to come with enhanced infotainment technologies. If Ford does not opt for a steep price hike, the truck will hit the bull’s eye.