2015 FORD F-150 XLT QUICK TAKES

2015 FORD F-150 XLT 4X4 SUPERCREW 3.5L V6 ECOBOOST QUICK TAKES

The 2015 F-150 delivers an impressive combination of power, capability and efficiency – from advanced materials that improve durability and inhibit corrosion, to faster processors that enhance driving performance, to breakthrough cargo management and towing solutions.

IMG_5561“F-150 is well-known for being Built Ford Tough. Now, it is both tough and smart,” said Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company chief operating officer. “The all-new F-150 redefines the future of trucks, and it is yet another example of our One Ford plan to produce vehicles that serve customers with a commitment to the very best quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value.”

IMG_5548F-150 is part of the Ford F-Series truck lineup, America’s best-selling truck for 37 consecutive years and America’s best-selling vehicle for 32 years.

“We have a unique connection with our customers,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford executive vice president and president of The Americas. “Time and again, F-150 has delivered the tougher, smarter features they want, along with the capabilities they need for work or play. We build our trucks to their high standards.”

IMG_5555In designing the backbone of the F-150, Ford engineers improved the truck’s signature fully boxed ladder frame. It is all-new with more high-strength steel than ever – making it stronger and lighter. High-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloys – already used in aerospace – are used throughout the F-150 body for the first time, improving dent and ding resistance and saving weight. Overall, up to 700 pounds of weight have been saved, helping F-150 tow more, haul more, accelerate quicker and stop shorter, and contributing to efficiency.

IMG_5547“More than ever before, customers want a truck that is a dependable partner, mobile office and a go-anywhere workshop,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “To meet the needs of our truck customers, we created smart new features and a whole new approach to using advanced materials and engines to improve capability and efficiency.”

Even tougher
Before the 2015 F-150 goes on sale, it will have been torture-tested in labs, at Ford proving grounds and in the hands of some of Ford’s most demanding truck customers for more than 10 million miles.

IMG_5550The grueling testing simulates the demands Ford customers will subject the truck to throughout its average lifetime. These include crisscrossing the country pulling heavy trailers and hefty loads through desert valleys and over high-altitude mountain passes – in temperatures from 20 degrees below zero to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

IMG_5597Customers using F-150 for construction, mining and utility work have tested and helped prove out its high-strength, aluminum-alloy cargo box.

IMG_5545A disguised new Ford F-150 even raced in the Baja 1000, where it earned the distinction of completing all 883 grueling miles of the event, while other purpose-built race vehicles could not.

IMG_5544To perform in these challenging conditions, the frame uses high-strength steel rated up to 70,000 psi – stronger than the steel found in some competitors’ heavy-duty pickup truck frames. Eight through-welded crossmembers provide increased stiffness, while staggered rear outboard shocks help provide stability.

Even smarter
IMG_5574
Several groundbreaking new productivity features debut in the 2015 F-150. These include:

  1. Available 360-degree camera view uses exterior cameras to create a bird’s-eye view of the truck to help the driver park, maneuver in tight spots and navigate down narrow trails
  2. Available integrated loading ramps enable easy loading of ATVs, motorcycles and mowers
  3. Available BoxLink is a combination of metal brackets and custom cleats used to secure a variety of accessories in the cargo box – from ramps to storage bins to bed dividers
  4. Available LED headlamps and taillamps provide excellent nighttime visibility
  5. Available trailer hitch assist is a new rear view camera feature that adds a dynamic line based on steering wheel angle in the display to help customers line up truck and trailer without requiring a spotter or having to get out of the vehicle
  6. Available smart trailer tow module uses an all-new wiring harness that helps identify and inform the driver of potential trailer connectivity issues, burned or unlit trailer marker lamps, and brake light and trailer battery faults
  7. Available remote tailgate allows for the tailgate to be locked, unlocked and released with the key fob – eliminating manual locking and increasing convenience and security. The tailgate also is damped, dropping down, hands-free, to a flat position when opened
  8. Available 400-watt, 110-volt power outlets in the cab, allowing drivers to easily charge corded tools, batteries or mobile devices on-site or while driving
  9. LED spotlights on sideview mirrors provide powerful, durable and bright lighting around the vehicle exterior
  10. Latest engine technology in an available all-new, efficient 2.7-liter EcoBoost® engine that features extremely high output and lightweight design
  11. Available next-generation tailgate step is now fully integrated inside the tailgate and virtually invisible when not in use

Other smart innovations include:

  1. New 8-inch LCD productivity screen in the instrument panel includes tabbed navigation pages – from fuel economy to towing tips – and the ability to create a customized home screen for customers to access their most frequently used pages in one place
  2. LED lighting embedded in the walls of the cargo box brightly illuminates the box interior to help customers quickly find tools or other items
  3. Rear under-seat storage in F-150 Super and Crew cabs provides hidden storage for valuables. One storage bin is located underneath the rear seat
  4. Deployable boxside step is now available for the short 5.5-foot box

IMG_5575These features join available driver aids, including SYNC® with MyFord Touch®, hill start assist, MyKey®, rear view camera, reverse sensing and trailer brake controller.

More capable
IMG_5589
In addition to helping customers work smarter, F-150 features technologies that automatically assist drivers. These include:

  1. Available second-row inflatable safety belts work like a traditional belt but include a tubular airbag that inflates in the event of a crash and distributes the force of the impact across a wider area of the passenger’s chest
  2. Available Curve Control automatically provides more aggressive four-wheel braking when the truck is going into a corner too fast
  3. Available adaptive cruise control allows drivers to set a cruising speed and use radar technology to monitor traffic ahead and maintain a set distance between vehicles
  4. Available lane-keeping system is designed to help avert unintentional drifting of the vehicle outside the intended lane by automatically detecting the left- or right-hand road lane markings using a camera mounted between windshield and interior rearview mirror
  5. Available Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert uses radar hidden in the taillamps to detect a vehicle entering a driver’s blind spot while driving or slowly backing up

A range of four engines provides power to meet almost any customer need.

IMG_5591A new, available 2.7-liter EcoBoost with standard Auto Start-Stop and a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine with twin independent variable camshaft timing join the proven 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8 engines that are available. The 2.7-liter EcoBoost features a lightweight, compact design to deliver the same power as many mid-range V8s.

IMG_5573Ford Auto Start-Stop technology – specially tuned for truck customers – shuts off the engine to save fuel when the vehicle is stopped, except when towing or in four-wheel drive mode. The engine restarts in milliseconds when the brake is released.

IMG_5581Ford F-150 trucks equipped with EcoBoost engines also will benefit from standard Active Grille Shutters. Active Grille Shutters stay open when extra engine cooling is needed, such as during low-speed stop-and-go driving or while working in hot weather. They automatically close to reduce aerodynamic drag at cruising speed.

On sale late this year
When it goes on sale late this year, the all-new Ford F-150 will continue the tradition of offering a broad selection of trim levels in the full-size pickup segment. IMG_5549The five available primary trims are XL, XLT, Lariat, Platinum and King Ranch. Chrome appearance packages are available with XL, XLT, Lariat and King Ranch. Monochromatic sport appearance packages are available with XL, XLT and Lariat.

IMG_5559The FX4 off-road package can be added to most four-wheel-drive models, improving trail capability with an electronic locking rear axle, skid plates and off-road-tuned shocks.

IMG_5595Both the exterior and interior design of the 2015 Ford F-150 reflect decades of listening to customers and understanding their occupational and recreational needs. The exterior is characterized by a new shape that suggests capability, with a wider Built Ford Tough stance, prominent wheel arches and chiseled grille.

IMG_5570Comfort, utility and refinement define the truck’s interior.

IMG_5569Ergonomically optimized seating for front-row occupants enhances comfort, while extending legroom for rear passengers.

IMG_5587Buttons and controls are optimized so they can be operated while wearing work gloves.

IMG_5572Storage options include laptop stowage in the center console, as well as quick storage solutions for cell phones, drinks, pens and business cards.

IMG_5592“Once again, F-150 establishes new standards in durability, capability, technology and efficiency to help its owners be more productive 24/7 – whether for work or weekend fun,” said Nair.

IMG_5583F-150 will continue to be manufactured at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Michigan, and Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri.

IMG_55512015 FORD F-150 XLT 4X4 SUPERCREW MSRP $39,425.00

IMG_5557QUICK TAKES AS SHOWN INCLUDING 3.5L ECOBOOST, FX4 OFF-ROAD PACKAGE, AND MORE $52,010.00

CLICK HERE to get your TRUECAR SAVINGS CERTIFICATE for your new FORD. Absolutely NO OBLIGATION.

CLICK HERE TO FIND THE BEST DEAL ON TIRES FOR EVERY MAKE AND MODEL CAR, TRUCK OR SUV. SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FOR TESTDRIVENOW FANS.

CLICK HERE TO FIND TODAY’S HOTTEST DEALS FOR ALL YOUR AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS.

Facebook_buttonCLICK HERE to LIKE TestDriveNow.com on FaceBook!

twitter-followFOLLOW Steve Hammes on Twitter @DriveTimeVideos!

IMG_5559CLICK HERE TO WATCH AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES REVIEW OF THE 2015 FORD F-150 FX4

Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
MENU