Ford’s new F-150 aims to help the company attract new buyers while also keeping its loyal customers pleased with new tech features tailored to them.
Thursday night, millions of pickup lovers got the chance to take a sneak peek at the redesigned, inside and out, version of America’s best-selling car, Ford’s F-150.
Ford’s new pickup truck will be stuffed with exciting tech options when it will be released later this year. It will include a hands-free driving mode which will be optional, over-the-air software updates, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
But that’s not all! The company also announced that it will start selling a hybrid version of the 2021 F-150 model which will be able to travel nearly 700 miles on a full tank of gas.
Why is the 2021 F150 model different
As we said, the 2021 model of F-150 will come with some interesting tech options that will satisfy even the most tech-savvy pickup lover.
The vehicle will have not only a new body but also features such as hands-free highway driving and a hybrid model.
The hands-free driving feature, a feature called by the company “Active Drive Assist”, is similar to the feature that will be included to Mustang’s Mach-E electric SUV next year. This option will set Ford’s new F-150 model apart from most of its competitors and puts it on the list with the few vehicles in the US which have this feature available, alongside with the cars and SUVs from Cadillac and GM which have supercruise features.
However, the Active Drive Assist feature will only be available on certain highways that Ford has already successfully mapped. Plus, the F-150 model’s buyers will also have to purchase an additional hardware package that controls this feature. But, even if you don’t want to buy this new Active Drive Assist feature, the F-150 will still have the features included in the company’s Co-Pilot360 driver assistance system.
According to Ford, some of the features, such as automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, will come as standard options, while other features will have extra costs. For example, buyers will pay extra for the adaptive cruise control feature, the lane centering option, the post-collision braking, or the trailer backup assist. So, those buyers who afford to pay more for the extra features will be able to enjoy all F-150 model’s tech safety and assist features.
Other innovative features that Ford’s new F-150 model includes are a 12-inch landscape touchscreen in the center of the dashboard, wireless versions of both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB-A and USB-C ports, and the ability to update over the air too. The company made some comments over the over-the-air software updates saying that the feature isn’t just for improvements to the infotainment system, but the updates will also support preventative maintenance and reduce repair trips.
As for the hybrid version of Ford’s truck, it will be a full hybrid powertrain that will use the company’s 4th generation of technology. The hybrid model will have a 35kW electric motor which will pull power from a 1.5kWH battery pack. The company didn’t release any official fuel economy figures yet, so right now, we can’t really determine how much more efficient the F-150 hybrid model will be compared to its gas-only counterparts.
