FTE Celebrates Ford’s Greatest Truck Ideas & Innovations
6. 360-Degree Exterior Camera
Another full-size truck first, Ford’s 360-degree camera system is a welcome addition to our favorite Ford truck. No matter how skilled you are at maneuvering a big vehicle, it’s nice to know just how close you are to scraping up that precious paint at the local drive-thru. Not to mention being able to see any neighborhood kids riding their bikes directly behind your truck. Coupled with a fantastic blind-spot monitoring system, this tech makes the act of driving a big truck much, much safer.
7. Luxury Trim Levels
In the old days, fancy trim levels meant some extra chrome and maybe power steering. But Ford was the first manufacturer to recognize consumer demand for trucks decked out like luxury cars. Today, Ford offers more variations of upscale trim than any other full-size truck manufacturer, and they remain the most popular models in its lineup.
8. Ecoboost
Love ’em or hate ’em, Ford’s Ecoboost engine lineup outsells everything else by a large margin today. Just a few years ago, it might have seemed crazy to think that so many people would opt for turbocharged V6 engines in their pickups. But with prodigious amounts of horsepower and torque coupled with seriously impressive fuel economy ratings, it’s quite obvious why so many are eschewing V8s. Meanwhile, the competition is still playing catchup in terms of building equally efficient engines.
9. Tailgate Bed Steps and Box Steps
Fold out bed steps are another idea that’s so incredibly simple it makes you wonder why they haven’t been around forever. The reason, of course, is that we didn’t used to need them. But today, high-riding four-wheel drive pickups are our preferred rides of choice. So Ford gave us a hand and made climbing into the bed a task that doesn’t require gymnastics skills. Plus, when you’re done, everything folds away in seconds!
10. Aluminum Body
One thing’s for sure – no one can ever accuse Ford of playing it safe. When the Blue Oval decided to ditch steel bodies in 2015, it was quite the controversial decision, to say the least. But it’s safe to say that the bold move has paid off handsomely. Not only have F-Series sales continued to reach new heights, but the switch to aluminum has also paid off at the pump!
The F-150’s hyper-efficient 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel is just the latest in a long line of groundbreaking Ford truck innovations.
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