Ford’s most important vehicle, the F-150, is back with a new set of Duds and many new features and innovations to fight rival pickups. After combing through everything that’s new with it 2021 Ford F-150We decided to select five of the most important and entertaining innovations for this light full-size truck. While the truck looks very similar to what was before, there’s a lot going on that truck buyers should really appreciate.
Max reclining seats
We heard about it can essentially live in the 2021 F-150, and the Max Recline Seats certainly support the idea. The seats can be folded flat by almost 180 degrees, creating a cozy place where you can literally sit back and relax. The lower pillow and the back pillow meet, while the upper back support rotates 10 degrees forward so everyone is supported and comfortable. The whole concept is no different than a first-class aircraft seat.
PowerBoost V6 hybrid powertrain
Ford was pretty good at naming more efficient technologies to indicate that they are actually performing better while keeping things green. The “PowerBoost” V6 hybrid powertrain is the latest example. The Ford engineers took the 3.5-liter V6 engine with two turbochargers and married it to a 35-kilowatt electric motor built into the 10-speed automatic transmission. A 1.5 kilowatt hour battery delivers the juice and sits under the truck to ensure that the cabin and cargo space are almost identical to other F-150 models.
We don’t have final performance for the twin-turbo V6 plus the added momentum of the hybrid system, but the electric motor will add 47 horsepower. Ford also said the F-150 PowerBoost should travel 700 miles on a single tank of fuel.
Per power onboard
The powertrain is not the only electrified part of the 2021 F-150. Ford has installed an optional power take-off called Pro Power Onboard, which leaves the generators at home. The option gives the F-150 drivers an output of 2.0 kW for trucks with regular gas-powered engines. For those who opt for the PowerBoost hybrid powertrain, it has a standard of 2.4 kW with the option of increasing the juice to 7.2 kW.
For the lower outputs, owners can access the plugs in the F-150, or there are up to four 120-volt sockets in the truck bed. For the 7.20 kW output, Ford will also install a 240 volt socket in the bed.
Blind gear selector switch
Column shifters have often been the norm when it comes to pickups, but Ford said that many customers prefer a standard console shifter. So the 2021 F-150 offers the best of both worlds. The drivers can fold the gear selector switch into the console at the push of a button. This provides space for the optional inside work surface of the truck. The company said the option offers enough space to comfortably work or eat a meal on a 15-inch laptop. It also works with both the bench and captain chair configurations. You can work, have lunch, and then take a nap in the Max Recline Seats.
Over-the-air updates
The 2021 F-150 will include Ford’s latest Sync 4 infotainment system, which offers the option of wireless updates. This makes the pickup a super networked machine, and the F-150 is the first pickup to offer the capability standard. Ford underlined this so the company can seamlessly notify drivers of important updates and said it could be anything from bumper to bumper. Tesla is best known for frequently using OTA updates to provide completely new features, and Ford could do the same with the F-150. We don’t think Ford will push Karaoke to the truck, but the possibilities are completely open.
2021 Ford F-150 looks familiar to me, but only on the surface
Show all photos