By: IOL Motoring Staff
Detroit Motor Show - Ford has pulled a (rather big) cover off of its all-new F-150. Though not exactly relevant to South Africans, the significance here is that F-150 is still the world's best selling vehicle thanks to North America's appetite for this full-sized pick-up truck.
Drawing heavily from the Altas Concept of 2013, the new F-150 is about as pretty as Bruce Willis is metrosexual. Instead, the F-150 is a bold, square and muscular block of metal - just like a 'truck' should be.
That's not to say it belongs in the Stone Age - this one's billed as the smartest and most capable F-150 ever. For starters, it weighs up to 317kg less than its predecessor thanks to the extensive use of high-strength, military-grade aluminium in its construction.
Its technological advancement continues with new features like a 360-degree 'bird's eye view' camera, integrated loading ramps in the load bin, 400-watt power outlets in the cabin for powering tools, and just in case there are any buyers afraid of breaking a nail, there's also the option of a remote tailgate release.
Ford will offer the F150 with four petrol engines, ranging from a new 2.7-litre EcoBoost turbo unit through to a 3.5 V6, 3.5 V6 EcoBoost and 5-litre V8. No performance figures have been released as yet, but Ford says the new 2.7 will deliver the same power as some mid-range V8s.