Recently, Ford has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons with issues relating to the Ecosport. However on the other end of the globe, the American automaker has unveiled the all new 2015 F-150 pickup truck at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS-2014). The Ford F-150 is based on the Atlas concept that was previewed earlier and features similar design cues with the concept version. Ford has immense confidence with the performance of this off-road vehicle and says that it is the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever made.
The 2015 Ford F-150 has a considerable weight reduction of 320 kgs when compared with the previous generation vehicle and is going to feature an all new steel frame chassis specifically designed for this vehicle to enhance overall performance. The F-150 is available with the naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6, 5.0-litre V8 as well as a 2.7-litre EcoBoost and 3.5-litre EcoBoost powertrains. The F-150 is built with a high strength aluminium alloy body.
The new Ford F-150 features an auto Start-Stop function as standard on all the variants and incorporates active grille shutters that maximises cooling and aerodynamic efficiency. The new F-150 is safer than its predecessor. This vehicle has a 360-degree camera which is first of its kind in this segment. It is also offered with integrated loading ramps, LED headlights and tail lamps, hill start assist, trailer brake controller, trailer hitch assist, extendable tail gate step, second row inflatable seat belts, etc.
Ford has been a leader when it comes to handling and this car is even more better with the introduction of the curve control system which assists in high speed cornering. Other features on offer are radar guided adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, smart trailer tow module, in cab high-wattage power outlets and a next generation fully integrated tail gate step which is invisible when not in use. The interiors feature subtle changes when compared with the outgoing model with the incorporation of a newly designed dash layout. An 8-inch touchscreen display is provided in the instrument console which can be customised to show relevant parameters and provides easy access to frequently used applications. The essential features on offer are SYNC with my Ford touch, my key, rear view camera and reverse sensing.
