7 Most Innovative Features on the F-150

1. Aluminum Body

Love it or hate it, Ford's decision to switch to aluminum bodies was and still is incredibly bold. The exotic metal, once reserved for sports car and military vehicles, helps the F-150 shed substantial weight. And so far, it's proved to be quite durable. Other benefits include corrosion resistance and the major byproduct of weight loss - improved efficiency. Switching to aluminum was a gutsy call, but continued sales success means that other manufacturers will soon follow suit.

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2. EcoBoost Engines

Just a few years ago, anybody who suggested that a small displacement, turbocharged six-cylinder might make a great truck engine would have been laughed out of the building. But the tremendous success of Ford's EcoBoost lineup means that the Blue Oval is the only one laughing now. Most hardcore truck enthusiasts still cling to their V8's, but millions of others have already made the switch. 

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3. Driver Assist Technology

People who were interested in fancy things like blind spot detection and lane keeping assist used to have to go luxury car shopping, but Ford is working hard to integrate driver assist technology into the F-150. Aside from those two features, the new F-150 has things like forward collision warning and radar cruise control. And Ford is the first manufacturer to employ active parking technology on a full-size pickup. All of these features make the F-150 safer and easier to drive.

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4. Remote Tailgate

It might seem a little bit silly to long time truck owners, but having a remote locking, unlocking, and opening tailgate is a big deal for many folks. Some people struggle to lower and lift heavy tailgates, and it's nice to be able to lock them by remote instead of having to use a key like in the stone ages. When Ford debuted the remote tailgate back in 2015, it was the first truck to offer such a feature.

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5. Boxside Steps

Another "why didn't I think of that?" feature was added to the F-150 back in 2015 - kick down box side steps. With truck beds getting higher and higher off the ground, it can be quite difficult to reach stuff in the bed that's close to the cab. Boxside steps make it easy to reach things in this area, and they retract back under the bed when not in use. It's a simple yet amazingly effective tool.

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6. 170 Degree Rear Doors

In the past, gaining access to the rear cargo area in an extended cab pickup was a real pain. But not everybody wants the added size and expense that comes with a crew cab. Ford solved the problem caused by the obtrusive B-pillar by completely eliminating it and allowing the rear door to rotate 170 degrees. Those two little changes completely open up the rear of the extended cab for passengers or cargo.

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7. Exterior Cameras

For years, most trucks only had rear facing cameras. While these are great, Ford went the extra mile and introduced 360-degree camera technology to the F-150. This makes navigating tight spaces and parking much, much easier. Plus, the reverse camera features a dynamic display line that guides the driver toward a trailer hitch when they're looking to hook up. That little addition makes it easy to attach a trailer even if you don't have a friend to help.

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For help with the maintenance of your Ford truck, please check out the how-to section at Ford-Trucks.com