For 2018 MY, one of the most famous Ford’s vehicles, F-150 will once again be redesigned. It has been only two years since the new overhauled F-150 was released and back in 2015, it came with an aluminum body, a new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 unit, while the cabin was more car-like. Once again, Ford decided to refresh their F-150, and the new model will come with three large changes.
2018 F150 Engine
Big changes are coming under the hood of the most popular truck since Ford has put new engines or reworked the old ones. The first thing we wanted to mention is the second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 which appeared in the 2017 model for the first time. Instead of the old 3.5-liter V6, the new Ford F-150 will come with much better 3.3-liter V6 powerplant with direct injection. According to Blue Oval, the new engine will be rated at the same 282 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque as the current 3.5-liter, but the difference is improved fuel efficiency.
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Another engine that we will have a chance to power the 2018 Ford F-150 model is second generation 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 that also comes with direct fuel injection and as they say “improved robustness.” The performance figures of this engine currently remain unknown, but it will be more powerful than the first-generation unit that produces 325 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque, and it will offer better fuel efficiency. The 5.0-liter V8 unit will also be available, but we know absolutely nothing about this powerplant at this point, except that Ford announces a decent improvement in torque and horsepower.
The engine that we are looking forward to seeing is a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 that comes under the Power Stroke name, and it will be the best in the class in horsepower and torque output as well as fuel efficiency. It is expected that this Ford’s powerplant exceeds The Ram EcoDiesel’s 29 mpg highway by far. All of the new units will be mated to the 10-speed automatic transmission, with the exception of the base 3.3-liter that will be combined with the six-speed automatic gearbox.
Active Safety Systems
The safety of the new pickup will be substantially upgraded, and the 2018 Ford F-150 will come with Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Pre-Collision Alert, Lane-Keep Assist and adaptive cruise control. Moreover, it brings improved Blind-Spot Monitoring System, that has been introduced for the first time in the brand-new 2017 Super Duty model, keeps track of blind spots beside a connected trailer. This is the first time the F-150 will offer so many safety features.
2018 Ford F-150 Design
In terms of design, this one will have a bigger front grille opening compared to the previous model, and this opening dips into the front bumper, thus creating a crease along its top. According to Ford, because of the design such as this one, the vehicle looks wider than it actually is. The customers can choose so many grilles and color options for the F-150, while chrome appearances and sport appearance packages are available on some trims. What is also interesting is that each of the seven trims is equipped with a different front grille.
The rear taillights come with a different design, but the distinction is hardly visible to the naked eye. In addition, a new tailgate look is a novelty as well, whereas the customers will be able to choose between several wheel choices. What will remain the same is the sheet metal the Ford started using on their 2015 F-150 as well as the interior.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the 2018 Ford F-150 will look almost identically as the previous models, with only a few changes to the exterior, but there will be a significant overhaul under the hood. This mid-cycle refresh will allow Ford F-150 to remain the leader in the class until 2024 when the next-generation F-150 is expected to arrive.
