2013 Ford F150 still large and in charge

Truck of the year: Affordability, improved fuel economy help boost traditional top-seller in Canada

Over the next three weeks I’ll be evaluating three pickup trucks; today it’s the 2013 Ford F150; next Tuesday is the 2013 Chevy Silverado 1500; and the 2013 Ram 1500 on Tuesday, July 2.

The result will determine the Truck Guy Pickup of the Year. We have been conducting a poll on Facebook for the past two months and will share these results with you at the end (www.facebook.com/CustomTruckParts).

The Ford F150 has always been a top-seller in Canada, and the 2013 model is no exception, and that has a lot to do with its pricing and its improved fuel economy.

Looks

Little has changed over the last few years when it comes to F150 body styling. That said, the grille has seen some attention over the years and this helps determine the model year. With 10 F150 models to choose from, Ford has something for everybody. This truck has a nice shape to it. Its large side mirrors fold in, the large cab windows provide excellent visibility and the large wheel wells allow for excellent suspension travel. Notice a pattern here? Large and in charge!

In The Cab

The 2013 F150 has a very well appointed interior with stitching and textured plastic along the dash and console and very comfortable front seats. My tester was equipped with heated and ventilated seats along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The rear seats are a one-touch 60/40 split that folds up to allow for a fully flat floor area for cargo. The back of the centre console has a 110 power plug and flow-through vents. Ford Sync, part computer and part music storage, is optional, as is the voice-activated navigation system that uses an eight-inch LCD touch screen with interactive maps, can play DVDs while in park and stores up to 10 gigabytes of music.

Safety First

Sensors are used in the advanced personal safety system that control deployment of the dual stage front airbags, front seat side airbags, and side canopy airbags. AdvanceTrac and roll stability control comes standard. If you swerve or corner too quickly, the two gyroscopic sensors measure the vehicle roll and turning rates then apply the individual brakes and modify engine power to help keep all four wheels firmly in place. Pretty cool. Mykey technology allows you to program the ignition keys with reminders to drive at appropriate speeds, limit the volume on audio system, limiting the vehicle’s top speed and muting the audio system until the front seatbelts are fastened.

Power

The 3.5-lire V6 engine is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission and puts out 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 420 lbs.-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm. New this year is a 136-litre fuel tank that comes standard on the EcoBoost 4x4s, allowing you to drive over 1,400 highway kilometres before stopping to refuel.

Pump Frequency

12.9/9.0 L/100km (city/highway)

Warranty support

Basic warranty 36 months/ 60,000 km
Powertrain warranty 60 months/100,000 km
Corrosion perforation warranty 60 months/unlimited distance
Roadside assistance 60 months/100,000 km

Roadworthy

Full marks for towing, and the technology in the Ford brake control unit is amazing. It takes the white knuckles out of your vacation plans. Gas mileage is also deserving of full marks. Comfort is another quality that is hard to beat. Long trips just became a little easier.

Verdict

 

Strong out of the gate, and sets the bar. We will see how the other two competitors stack up.

 

Sticker price

XL $21,559
STX $23,855
XLT $27,103
FX2 $36,287
Lariat $42,335
FX4 $42,895
Raptor $67,591
King Ranch $59,359
Platinum $60,031
Limited $64,735

Article written by: Ian Harwood - "The Truck Guy" Corporate Sales and Operations Manager for Custom Truck Parts

The Future of Pickup Trucks is Here

Ford’s Atlas offers a shuttered front grille, self-charging batteries and fold-up running boards

The future of the Ford F150 - The Atlas concept truck

Ford Atlas Concept Truck

The Atlas looks like an F150 on steroids. It’s got large wheel-well flares, and LED headlights and tail lights that offer a significant improvement over conventional halogen or HID lights. The side mirror and cargo box light are also LED. The hood is a raised power dome which wraps around the unique front grille, which features active shutters that remain open when cooling is needed and close automatically to improve aerodynamics when driving at highway speeds. The wheels also feature shutters that automatically close at higher speed. The self charging batteries use energy from wheel motion to power the shutters. The front air dam also drops at high speed and raises to provide more clearance off-road. Power running boards drop down into position when the doors are opened up and remain tight against the body when the truck is in motion. The tailgate step also can rise up to provide a cradle for holding long pieces of cargo. And the lowered section of the cab roof has tie downs to secure a ladder or lumber.

In The Cab
Covered in an ambience of blue, this interior was designed to be comfortable and highly efficient. The instrument cluster is a 3D series of displays, similar to the Ford Focus. The real meat and potatoes is the navigation screen, providing a vast array of important information, music, phone connectivity, and a highly sophisticated backup camera. And the 360-degree point-of-view camera helps drivers navigate tight parking spots. With a twist of a knob, the camera can help back up your trailer. That’s right; Ford can guide your trailer into a parking spot.

Safety First
No specs on these yet, but I would assume that the safety features from an F150 would carry over in this vehicle, with a high-tech addition or two.

Power
The next generation EcoBoost engine uses gasoline direct injection and turbocharging to deliver fuel economy gains of up to 20 per cent and a 15 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions. It also features auto start-stop technology that shuts the engine off when stopped to save fuel. It is also knows when you’re towing to disable this feature.

Pump Frequency
Not available at this time

Warranty Support
Not available at this time

Verdict
Although most concept vehicles never come to fruition, they do provide a window to what designers and engineers are working. If some of this technology finds its way onto
the 2015 Ford F150, we will be in for a treat. I say stick this beast into production and don’t change a thing.

Article written by: Ian Harwood - "The Truck Guy"
Corporate Sales and Operations Manager for Custom Truck Parts