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AUTO REVIEW
The new Ford F-150, the best-selling ve- gineers, factories and marketers. In fact, it’s like the previous version, the inside looks
hicle in the United States by a country mile, fair to say that only Ford could have made tougher. The center console is wider, numer-
looks a lot like the model it replaces. A lot this major change because only Ford had a ous trim pieces are blockier, and the
like it. In fact, unless you’re a truck afi- CEO, Alan Mulally, who had spent most of switchgear seems beefier. It’s all very Tonka-
cionado, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the his career with Boeing. Airliner manufactur- ish, as though Ford wanted to tell owners,
2015 model from the 2014. While the visual ers know aluminum, so an executive who “Yes, we’re using aluminum now, but this
similarities suggest that Ford played it safe knows how to build a big airplane under- truck is as tough as it’s always been.”
with its popular truck, the exact opposite is stands a lot about that metal, including
actually the case. Ford took a big chance with where to get it, how to use it, how much it As anybody who has shopped or owned a
the new F-150 by using aluminum exten- costs today, and how much it’s likely to cost pickup recently knows, there is an almost in-
sively in the body and bed, a first for a in the future. finite number of possible variations from
pickup. which to choose your truck. Think hard
In addition to plenty of aluminum, Ford about exactly how you’re going to use your
Why did they do it? CAFE fuel economy also has made sure that the latest F-150 in- F-150, and then call Phil Hornbeak (see
standards are pretty low now but will require cludes state-of-the-art technology. Video below). He will get you the version you need
progressively better gas mileage over the next cameras are nothing new, but the F-150 can for the best price possible.
10 years, yet safety requirements are also be had with one that sits just above the trailer
tightening. That means that trucks will need hitch and incorporates a dynamic guideline Don’t be fooled by the familiar shape of
to get lighter for better fuel efficiency, with- to make lining up a trailer an easy one-per- the new 2015 Ford F-150 pickup. While it
out getting smaller because bigger means son job. In addition, a bird’s-eye camera sys- looks a lot like the 2014 truck, it’s lighter yet
safer. So the same size new F-150 now weighs tem available on luxury cars for years is now even more capable, and even nicer to drive,
500-700 pounds lighter than an equivalent an option on the F-150, as are lane-keeping thanks to the extensive use of aluminum.
F-150 from last year. assist and adaptive cruise-control systems. The F-150 is a great vehicle, and I pity the
Dodge and Chevrolet engineers whose job it
There are other advantages to lowering Driving a pickup truck is never any better is to keep up.
weight, too. Crucially in a market segment than an OK experience dynamically, and the
where customers spend a lot of time hauling F-150 is no exception. Over twisty roads or Steve Schutz, MD, is a
mulch and pulling trailers, a lighter pickup in town you’ll wish you were back in your board-certified gastroenterol-
can carry and tow more. Towing capacity for Honda Accord, but on the highway you’ll ogist who lived in San Anto-
the new F-150 ranges from 7,600 pounds in love the stable ride and your ability to see nio in the 1990s when he was
base trim to a maximum of 12,200 pounds over other cars. The 2015 model is notice- stationed here in the U.S. Air
with the 3.5-L EcoBoost V6 and towing ably more nimble than its predecessor, but, Force. He has been writing auto reviews for San
package. (For comparison, 10 years ago a as this is a big truck, nimble is not really the Antonio Medicine since 1995.
Super Duty Ford F-250, a much bigger right adjective to use.
truck, was rated at 12,500 pounds maximum For more information on the BCMS
towing capacity.) TOUGHER-LOOKING INTERIOR Auto Program, call Phil Hornbeak at 301-
While the exterior of the F-150 looks a lot 4367 or visit www.bcms.org.
FUEL ESTIMATES VARY
Of course, a lighter truck also can acceler-
ate more quickly and burn less fuel. Since the
F-150 is available in so many different vari-
ations with four engines to choose from,
there are several EPA fuel estimates for it.
The standard 283 HP 3.5-liter V6 two-
wheel-drive version gets 18 mpg city/25
highway. Move up to the 325 HP 2.7-liter
EcoBoost V6 (EcoBoost means turbocharged
with direct injection, by the way) with two-
wheel-drive and the numbers are 19/26,
while the two-wheel-drive 385 HP 5.0-liter
V8 and 365 HP 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 get
15/22 mpg and 17/24 mpg city/highway, re-
spectively.
So aluminum is a no-brainer right? No.
Every piece of the bring-a-new-vehicle-to-
market matrix is comfortable with steel, so
switching to aluminum stresses designers, en-
visit us at www.bcms.org 45
