Just ahead of the Detroit Auto Show, Ford has unveiled the freshened 2018 F-150 pickups. More than just a garden variety facelift, it gets new and updated engines, a first ever turbo-diesel.
It seems the F-150 was all-new just yesterday but three years into the aluminum era, Ford has given it’s number one selling pickup a new style job front and rear, added new driver assist and safety technologies, and has touched every powertrain in the lineup with the update wand.
Right up front you can see new headlights, grille and bumper that like before will be different for each trim grade across the line. On the Sport Package for instance the wide center bars will be body color. Other models will have variations of chrome, silver or black.
A new tailgate has more contour now with F-150 stamped into the lower recess. This I think looks better for sure. Like before various slabs of trim will be added to dress it up on models like King Ranch, Platinum and Limited. Slightly redesigned tail lights finish out what’s new at the back.
All new wheels designs will range from 17 to 22-inches in diameter, but the side profile of the F-150 remains the same as before.
The big change is what’s under the hoods. For the base engine, the 3.5 liter V6 is out, replaced by an all-new direct-injected 3.3 liter V6 that promises to have the same or better output of the old engine which was 282 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque.
The popular 2.7 liter EcoBoost V6 goes into its second-generation now with both port and direct-injection, internal friction enhancements, promising some additional power and efficiency. Both the latter helped by being tied up to the new 10-speed automatic transmission.
Those liking the tried and true 5.0-liter V8 will appreciate a number of improvements to yield additional horsepower and torque. Though Ford hasn’t yet elaborated on what those are, we know it gets linked up to the new 10-speed automatic.
Big news is the availability of the 3.0-liter Power Stroke V6 turbo-diesel. Ford hasn’t given us any specifications on the engine, it’s based on the Ford built “Lion” turbo-diesel built in England for some time.
That engine is currently supplied to Land Rover for their SUVs where it offers up 254 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. In the F-150 we should expect at least that if not somewhat more. Like the other engines, the new turbo-diesel will be paired with the 10-speed automatic.
I’ve driven this engine in the Land Rover and was pretty impressed with it, having here on our site a full test drive review and technical video.
The new Power-Stroke in the F-150 will go head to head with the RAM EcoDiesel and we should expect to see mpg figures around 30 or better, along with exceptional towing capabilities.
The interior of the F-150 comes largely unchanged with the exception of some new colors and finishes. There will be available a new 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot for up to 10 mobile devices at a time. Take that On-Star. Also, new is an available B&O PLAY audio system with high-end amp hardware and speakers.
Lastly, the 2018 Ford F-150 will the first in class to offer adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality which can fully manage your speed and progress even in stop and go traffic. Also available is Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection to help avoid accidents – a feature to target an IIHS Top Safety Pick + rating.
The new 2018 F-150 goes on sale this fall with more specifications and pricing information to come closer to that time.
