Since 1977, Ford has been manufacturing America's most popular pickup truck, and the Dearborn-based marque is not planning on stopping anytime soon. But things have changed lately. Numerous other players are already trying to shrink Ford's size of the pie, and others like Tesla are getting ready to do the same. Ford didn't miss the chance to underline what its refreshed truck can do. It wants you to be a good samaritan and help electric vehicle (EV) drivers.
The year 1982 marked the moment when America made the F-150 a star. It has kept its crown as America's best-selling vehicle since then. But do keep in mind that the Blue Oval is grouping all unit variations into a single pool. That may be why the numbers have been great for over four decades.
Nonetheless, it's an impressive feat to achieve. Not many companies manage to survive so many years, let alone thrive.
But today's automotive industry is much different. There's a clear push for zero-tailpipe emission powertrains, and brands like Rivian have already proved that a well-made all-electric pickup truck could do everything a gas-powered model can do and maybe even surpass it.
Still, Ford knows its customers and understands that not all of them are ready to embark on a Lightning journey just yet, especially since the all-electric F-150 doesn't have the same off-road capabilities as a Rivian R1T.
Photo: Ford
That's why the new model debuts an anticipated price hike, a 2.7-liter V6 Ecoboost engine, a hybrid 3.5-liter V6 PowerBoost powerplant, and the hefty 5.2-liter supercharged V8 mechanical beating heart that transforms the F-150 Raptor R into a super truck.
Customers who will spend a bit more and get the middle engine option will also receive the 2.4-kW onboard charger nicknamed Pro Power Onboard as standard. Under the motto "It's one thing to know it all. It's another to do it all," the Blue Oval showed that the new truck can also be equipped with a 7.2-kW option that will be able to power all sorts of tools, effectively enabling professionals to do their job nearly everywhere.
Another nifty naming trick the brand representatives used was the creation of the "Bring Your Own Power (BYOP)" abbreviation. That's Ford's way of telling prospective customers that they can remain independent while on the road, at work, or at a party, as long as enough gas is in the tank.
It could also become a very useful feature when the power grid taps out, and you need to power some home appliances.
But Ford couldn't miss the opportunity to mention Tesla and its all-electric vehicles during its keynote presentation. It took the opportunity to remind those interested in the truck that they can help the EV drivers in need of electrons.
"You can even help a stranded Tesla driver by powering up their car on the side of the road," said Ford's General Manager for North America, John Emmert.
Photo: Ford
That's unlikely it will ever happen because Tesla has a comprehensive high-power charging network to which Ford has adhered and even adopted the EV maker's port known as the North American Charging Standard (NACS).
Besides many 250-kW Supercharger DC stalls, Tesla has great car software that allows owners to set up a route. Then, the system tells them where to stop for a quick charge. It's nearly impossible to run out of electricity or experience range anxiety if the driver follows the navigation's instructions.
It's more likely that an existing F-150 Lightning will need a gas-powered F-150 to help it get back on the road since the electric truck is still relying on CCS Combo 1-equipped charging stations.
All in all, it was an interesting choice to make a lighthearted joke about the brand the pushed everyone toward electrification. Let's just hope it won't backfire.
Lastly, the 2024 Ford F-150 will start reaching customers early next year. If you plan on ordering one today, you'll buy the facelifted version. That means you'll have to wait until 2024 to take delivery.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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