Intake
NEWS I OPINION I GOSSIP I STUFFB
elieve it or not, the 2021 Ford F-
XLT you see here is 92 percent new
or revised, including every exterior
panel. This is some Porsche 911–grade
design evolution right here. Clearly, the
unbroken stuff goes unfixed, as engi-
neers instead concentrate on continuing
the F-150’s unrelenting march upward
in payload and towing capability. Also
improved are the ride quality, stability,
and interior refinement, all in the name
of enabling the truck to better assist its
owner in getting various jobs done.
Most dimensions, the size and config-
uration of the three available cabs and
boxes, and the powertrains (except for the
axed six-speed automatic) are unchanged.
Leading the roster of cool improvements is
a new PowerBoost hybrid offering, which
includes Pro Power Onboard. PowerBoost
mates the Explorer Hybrid’s transmis-
sion-mounted electric motor and frame-
mounted 1.5-kW-hr battery pack with the
F-150’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. While the
Raptor takes a year or so off, this willserve as the new F-150’s most powerful
offering and delivers “12,000-pounds-
plus” of towing capability, reasonable fuel
economy, and a claimed 700-mile driving
range. It will be offered on every trim level.
The hybrid’s standard Pro Power
Onboard system provides a 2.4-kW
inverter that delivers 20 amps of 110-volt
electricity for powering a job or camp
site. Need 30 amps of 220-volt power?
Upgrade to the 7.2-kW inverter. Can’t
swing the cost of the hybrid? A 2.0-kW
110-volt inverter is offered on all but the
base 3.3L V-6 and the diesel. It automati-
cally starts and idles the engine as needed
to power your devices.
Chassis improvements include frame
reinforcements to support widening the
track by just under 1 inch, increasing
the tow ratings, and accommodating the
PowerBoost’s longer transmission and
battery mounting. Increased rigidity
improves ride, as do better bushings
where the cab mounts to the frame, and a
switch to monotube shocks on higher-end
trim levels. The vacuum brake booster
is ditched in favor of electric assist, the
rotors and calipers are upgraded to handle
the higher tow ratings, and the F-
gets the Adaptive Steering system from
the Super Duty, Edge, and others. This
places a motor and gears between the
steering wheel and column to reduce the
amount of input needed during low-speed
maneuvers while also removing the“nervousness” that quick-ratio steering
might otherwise cause at highway speeds.
Other new features aimed at getting
jobs done easier include a stowable shifter
that can fold into the console, allowing
the center armrest to flip over forward to
form a continuous flat work surface. Need
a flat surface you can saw on? With the
tailgate step option, you now get an SMC
composite tailgate surface that incorpo-
rates imperial and metric ruler markings,
a place to stand your handheld device
while watching that YouTube how-to
video, and two recesses for C-clamps to
secure your workpiece to the tailgate. A
new Trailer Reverse Guidance system
joins Pro Trailer Backup Assist; borrowed
from Super Duty, it uses cameras and a
trailer-mounted yaw sensor to coach a
driver while maneuvering manually.
Screens are larger in all F-150s, with
base trucks getting the 8.0-inch unit that
was optional, while a 12.0-inch screen
becomes the upgrade, still augmented
by hard buttons for audio and climate
controls. Two B&O Play audio upgrades
are offered, boasting eight or 18 speakers.
Sync 4 is standard, as are wireless Apple
CarPlay and Android Auto. A standard 4G
modem permits over-the-air upgrades of
most systems. At its launch, Ford will take
a page from Tesla’s book by selling a hard-
ware upgrade (higher-quality cameras
and new sensors) for later activation
of Active Drive Assist, Ford’s answer to
Cadillac Super Cruise and Tesla Autopilot.
Interior materials are upgraded at
all levels. The new Max Recline Seating
allows the front and rear seats to fold into
a lie-flat bed; in-vehicle napping is avail-
able on trim levels from King Ranch up.
The redesigned sheetmetal might
not launch a dealership stampede on its
own, but the thoughtful new features
and onboard electrical power might. Stay
tuned for more details as we approach the
truck’s launch date. Frank Markus2021 Ford F-
FIRST^ LOOK
PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVEN PHAMSPECS Price $31,000-$75,000 (est) Layout Front-engine, RWD/4WD, 3-6-pass, 2-, 2+2, or 4-door truck Engine 3.3L/290-hp/265-lb-ft* DOHC
24-valve V-6; 2.7L/325-hp/400-lb-f t* twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6; 5.0L/395-hp/400-lb-f t* DOHC 32-valve V-8; 3.5L/375-hp/470-lb-ft* twin-
turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6; 3.0L/250-hp/440-lb-f t* turbodiesel DOHC 24-valve V-6; 3.5L/375-hp/470-lb-f t* twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6 plus
47-hp* elec Transmission 10-speed auto Curb Weight 4,550-5,700 lb (mfr) Wheelbase 122.4-163.7 in L x W x H 209.1-243.5 x 79.9 x 75.1-77.3 in
0-60 MPH 5.0-8.0 sec (MT est) EPA Fuel Econ Not yet rated On Sale Fourth quarter 2020
*All power/torque figures estimated