The last week has since several large automakers come out with updates on new releases and upgrades in technology. Following Daimler, Benz, and GM, Ford is the latest automaker to announce an upgrade in their vehicles. Yesterday, Ford unveiled its 2021 F-150 model, the newest entry in their uber-popular pickup truck. However, unlike previous iterations, the new truck will have a sleuth of new features, being very tech-savvy. Here’s a look at some of the features of this new model.
Ford Presents the Future
Ford’s new pickup truck will feature a new hands-free driving mode, allowing users to enable several driver assistance options. It will also feature over-the-air updates, which will help users stay updated with their software. The new truck will also feature Apple’s wireless CarPlay and their much-loved Android Auto. Ford has also announced plans for a hybrid F-150 with high mileage, being able to travel over 700 miles on a single tank of fuel.
Driver Assistance Features
Ford’s hands-free option, called the Active Drive Assist, will also be seen in Mustang’s new launch for next year, the Mach-E electric SUV. This option will make the F-150 one of the few vehicles to have a fully functional driver assistance feature onboard. The other cars with a hands-free option will be GM’s Super Cruise model and Cadillac’s AND, both of which have already announced their specifications and features. However, the prospect of Active Drive Assist will only be available on a few divided highways as decided by Ford. Also, to be able to use this feature, users will have to purchase a hardware package designed for it, that enables the option. The hardware package also comes with a system that monitors the driver, which utilises an IR camera to ensure the driver is focusing on the road. Since it requires additional hardware, the Active Drive Assist will require extra payment from the user’s side.
Other Features
Buyers who don’t opt for the Active Drive Assist will still be able to make use of the other F-150 features, such as Co-Pilot360. This is an older version of a driver assistance system that Ford had developed and marketed. Certain features of this package, such as automatic braking for emergencies, and pedestrian detection, will come complementary. This is a great deal for buyers as these systems are necessary due to the large size of the F-150 truck. However, additional features such as cruise control, collision braking, backup assist, and lane centering will have to be bought at an added cost.
Additional Specifications
Bigger F-150 models will have a 12-inch touchscreen placed in landscape mode on the dashboard. Such placement will serve as a different design outlay, as both theFiat Chrysler and Dodge Ram models have a vertical arrangement of the screen. The smaller F-150 will feature an eight-inch display, placed in the same manner. Both screens will run Ford’s acclaimed infotainment platform Sync 4. The new pickup truck is also one of the few vehicles that feature both CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition to this, it also features a wireless charging pad, USB-A, and USB-C ports, and a 12-inch instrument cluster.
As the system allows for over-the-air updating, buyers will be able to switch to the state-of-the-art technology, as soon as updates drop. Ford has also clarified that updates will help upgrade the whole car and not just the infotainment system. Planned upgrades include ones that support preventative maintenance, helping users reduce trips for repair and improve the overall quality of the vehicle.
Hybrid Model
Ford is also working on coming out with an electric F-150, which should hit the market in 2022. The company will launch a hybrid F-150, the way GM and Fiat Chrysler have in the past. Ford’s hybrid will be a fourth-generation pickup truck that utilises the newest technology. Technical specifications include a 47 horsepower motor powered by a 1.5kWh battery. When used together, it will allow the hybrid to travel over 700 miles on a full tank of 30.6 gallons of gas, giving it a mileage of 23 miles/gallon. Furthermore, the hybrid will have rear-wheel and all-wheel drive alternatives featuring a twin-turbocharged V6 engine.
The new F-150 will usher in a new age for Ford, being their biggest jump in technology. It will be interesting to see how their experiment works out and how much value the new technology will add to one of the most popular vehicle divisions in the world.
Being a cinephile with a love for all things outdoorsy, Athulya never misses a chance to chase inspiring stories or poke fun at things, even when the subject is herself. Currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she is someone innately interested in technical and scientific research. Music reviews and op-eds define her as they allow her to explore different perspectives. Though sometimes she thinks she makes more sense playing the guitar than she does while writing.