Ford has unveiled the next generation of the gold standard in pickup trucks with the all-new 2021 Ford F-150. Ford has given the new F-150 bolder looks, an all-new interior with the latest in technology, and made it even more capable with the highest payload, horsepower, and torque of any full-size light-duty pickup truck.

The F-Series lineup has been the cornerstone of the Ford product portfolio for 43 years and is considered Ford’s flagship model (ignoring the Ford GT, of course). To improve on an already impressive truck, Ford set out to make the new 2021 F-150 the most potent light-duty full-size pickup truck on the market.
Tougher and More Capable
Ford always prides itself on building tough and rugged vehicles. Starting with the design of the new 2021 F-150, Ford has given the exterior an updated headlamp design, power dom hood, and wrap-around bumpers. The front fenders sit higher, while larger diameter tires have been moved out to the edges by three-quarters of an inch to give the F-150 a broader, more powerful stance.
There are 11 grill options available in the 2021 Ford F-150 lineup, each differentiated throughout the product lineup but instantly identifiable as an F-150. LED headlamps and taillamps are available, as are full-length power extending running boards that give owners better access to the cargo box.
All models in the new F-150 lineup receive new active aero by way of active grille shutters and an active air dam. Together with a new cab and tailgate design, these aerodynamic improvements work to reduce drag and improve fuel economy.
The new F-150 will have six engine configurations available at launch, including an all-new 3.5-liter PowerBoost full hybrid powertrain that Ford says will have the most torque and horsepower of any light-duty full-size pickup on the market. The PowerBoost will be available through the entire F-150 lineup from XL to Limited. Ford says PowerBoost will give the F-150 an estimated range of around 700 miles on a single tank of gas, along with a maximum towing rating of 12,000 pounds.
The PowerBoost powertrain combines a 3.5-liter V6 with a 35-kilowatt electric motor integrated into the 10-speed automatic transmission. The software has been designed specifically for truck use, including towing/hauling. Power storage for the PowerBoost hybrid system comes by way of a 1.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery located beneath the truck.
New Features to Boost Productivity

The interior has been redesigned based on the feedback of truck owners to make the cabin more comfortable and easier to use. Enhanced materials, new color choices, and more storage have been added throughout the interior. Standard on XLT high series trims and higher is an all-new 12-inch center screen oriented in a landscape view. The display can be split and allows for multiple functions simultaneously. This feature gives drivers and passengers the flexibility to have infotainment, navigation, and truck-specific functions available at a single glance. XL and XLT models receive an 8-inch touch screen standard. Both screen setups retain physical hard buttons to perform routine functions like climate and radio controls.
A 12-inch digital gauge cluster is available throughout the F-150 model lineup and allows several different functions and gauges to be displayed at once, along with information on the selectable drive modes. Off-roading data and turn-by-turn navigation can also be presented to keep all the relevant data the driver needs in a single pane of glass.
An optional Interior Work Surface is available that allows the center console to be used as a desk for documents or laptop use. Ford says that customers prefer a center console shifter, so vehicles equipped with this work surface will have a stowable shifter that retracts with the push of a button.

New Max-Recline seats are available on King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited models, which recline nearly flat, raising the back cushion and upper back support for comfort. Also new is a lockable storage vault located under the rear seats.

The bed of the new F-150 has been enhanced to make hauling and working on projects at the truck easier. Standard cleats have been added to the tailgate to act as extra tie-downs. New clamp pockets are built-into the tailgate as well for material clamping. An optional flat Tailgate Work Surface is available with integrated rulers and holders for phones, cups, and pencils.

Perhaps the most innovative new productivity booster on the new F-150 is the available Pro Power Onboard generator that is built into the bed area and cabin of the new F-150. Gas-powered engines can be equipped with a 2.0-kilowatt generator, while PowerBoost models come with a standard 2.4-kilowatt generator with a 7.2-kilowatt generator being available as an option. There are four bed-mounted 120-volt 20-amp outlets, with a 240-volt 30-amp also available on the 7.2-kilowatt version.

Technology for Tomorrow
The new F-150 brings several innovations to the truck by way of the all-new SYNC 4, over-the-air updates, and new driver-assist features, including Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0. Over-the-air updates can add functionality or performance to the vehicle as Ford continually refines the systems inside the new F-150. Ford says most of the updates can be performed in under two minutes and at a time the owner specifies.
SYNC 4 is standard across the F-150 model lineup and features twice the processing power as the outgoing SYNC 3. SYNC 4 supports wired or wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. SYNC 4 also supports SYNC AppLink and Ford+Alexa integration.
Streaming media services are available with SiriusXM and 360L. Ford says these services will open up over 10,000 hours of on-demand content, as well as live channels. This audio can be auditioned on optional eight-speaker Bang & Olufson systems starting at the XLT trim level, up to an 18-speaker B&O Unleashed system with speakers in the headliner and headrests on the Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum models. Limited models get the 18-speaker system as standard equipment.

Driver-assistance features are available as part of Ford Co-Pilot 360 2.0, with features like Pre-Collision Assist, Automatic Braking, and Pedestrian Detection being standard across the lineup. New for the F-150 is Active Drive Assist, which Ford claims allows for hands-free d driving in all 50 states in Canada. A driver-facing camera tracks head position and driver attention to enable hands-free driving on pre-mapped, divided highways when situations allow. Active Drive Assist Prep will be available at launch to fit the F-150 with the necessary hardware for this functionality. Software functionality for this will be available during the third quarter of 2021 and has an additional cost for activation.
Also new is Intersection Assist, which detects oncoming traffic during left turn maneuvers. If there is a risk of collision, Intersection Assist will apply brakes to try to avoid the collision.
Prices for the 2021 Ford F-150 will be announced at a later date, with the new F-150 being available for sale this fall of 2020.
All-New 2021 Ford F-150