Just three years removed from debuting a high-strength aluminum bodied F-150, Ford announced Sunday its flagship vehicle will get a facelift for the 2018 model year, along with the debut of the company’s first diesel-powered engine option for F-150.
All trim levels – from XL to Limited – get new grilles, headlamps and bumpers that Ford designed to create a visually wider and more planted stance and maximum differentiation between the series.
On the Sport Package-equipped Lariat F-150, the signature twin bars are painted body color for a custom athletic appearance.
The 2018 F-150 will also feature six all-new wheel designs, ranging from 17 inches to 22 inches in diameter.
F-150 also brings two new seating trim colors – Dark Marsala for F-150 Platinum, while top-of-the-line F-150 Limited offers a Navy Pier environment. New trim offerings including carbon fiber appearance appliques on F-150 XLT Sport and Lariat Sport models, while the famed F-150 King Ranch features new Kingsville Appointed seats.
A high-strength steel fully boxed ladder frame and high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy body save weight and add capability, helping F-150 tow heavier trailers than ever and deliver best-in-class payload ratings.
All new standard engine, first F-150 diesel
The new F-150 will also introduce an all-new, standard direct-injection 3.3-liter V6 engine. The 3.3-liter V6 is expected to offer the same 282 horsepower and 253 lb.-ft. of torque as the previous model’s standard 3.5-liter V6.
The 5.0-liter V8 also gets improvements in 2018. The naturally aspirated powerplant offers power and torque upgrades and is paired with the 10-speed automatic transmission for the first time.
The 2018 F-150 will have an available all-new Ford designed and engineered 3-liter Power Stroke diesel engine paired with the 10-speed automatic transmission. It’s the first-ever diesel engine offered for F-150.
In addition to the segment-first 10-speed automatic, the Ford F-150 is now the first full-size pickup truck to add automatic start/stop as standard equipment across all models and engines.
New technologies
When 2018 models hit the highways, F-150 will feature segment-first and class-exclusive technologies, like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality and Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection.
Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection helps the driver avoid or mitigate collisions with vehicles and pedestrians.
The coming F-150 makes available an embedded 4G LTE modem for a Wi-Fi hot spot, where customers can connect up to 10 mobile devices at one time. New B&O PLAY available audio system takes advantage of high-end speakers, sound and tuning.
These technologies join existing segment-exclusive driver assist and convenience features that include:
- Available SYNC and SYNC 3 with FordPass enables compatibility of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – plus mobility services to help customers move more efficiently
- Available 360-degree camera technology helps improve driver confidence when parking and can help reduce stress when connecting a trailer – allowing customers to see more so they can focus on specific tasks such as lining up a hitch
- Available lane-keeping system is designed to help reduce unintentional drifting of the vehicle outside the intended lane
- Available Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with trailer tow technology is optimized for F-150 to include the length of a trailer up to 33 feet; BLIS uses radar sensors in the tail lamps to monitor areas that may not be visible to the driver
