For anyone visiting their Ford Dealership of choice, it’s hard to turn a blind eye to Ford’s lineup of F-Series trucks. And for any enthusiasts who stay up to speed on developments within that lineup in recent years, the real question is: why would you want to?
Bottom-line: the F-Series reigns supreme, not only as the Best-Selling Truck Worldwide, but as the Best-Selling of any vehicles around the globe. That distinction is key when it comes to validating Ford Motor Company as the indisputable ruler of all-things truck related, asserting a certain sense of Americana while leading the charge in terms of pertinent technologies and design advancement.
Take weight-reduction, for example. With our evolving mindset towards sustainability stepping up to the forefront in recent years, no vehicle segment finds itself more misaligned than that of mid and full-size truck offerings. Advancements that seek to re-align the segment with the demands of today’s environmentally-conscious and fiscally-responsible drivers are faced with an obstacle best described as ‘at-what-cost’. The burden placed upon designers and engineers is to decide what, if anything, needs to be sacrificed in order to achieve the goal. For example, do we employ lighter-weight materials with the understanding that they may not be as durable? How might a more fuel-efficient engine compromise power ratings?
To Ford’s credit, over the last four model years they’ve managed to evolve the F-150 into a vehicle that is equal parts compliant and revolutionary. The integration of military-grade aluminum as a weight-reduction agent has proved a successful game-changer, rather than a risky gambit. Setting the bar for other competitors, Ford has all-but-forced them to follow suit. But even the F-150’s closest competitor, introducing a lighter offering for 2018, fails to outclass the F-150 which still managed to garner Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year accolade.
Kudos to Ford. Despite such advancements, the F-150 has experienced no shortage of durability, versatility or power. In fact, the 2018 F-150 serves up the most advanced lineup of powertrains ever. Depending on which best suits your need, you can score Best-in-Class torque, payload and tow-ratings, making the F-150 more desirable than ever.
With numerous cab and bed configurations, trim levels and special edition enhancements to choose from, the 2018 F-150 is well-deserving of exploration. For those interested, here’s a closer look courtesy of Kelley Blue Book’s YouTube channel:
