New pickup has five special characteristics

Ford Motor unveiled its new F-150 pickup Thursday night time with some shocking new capabilities intended for worksites as perfectly as tailgate parties.

Here are five exclusive matters you must know about the 2021 F-150:

Ford is supplying the auto with an built-in electricity generator that it truly is calling “Professional Electric power Onboard.”

The generator will appear standard on a new hybrid design of the auto. It also will be offered on other gasoline-driven vans.

The generator operates by having power from an onboard lithium-ion battery. The vehicle’s engine may possibly have to have to be on to support in charging the battery. It can also be utilized to recharge items these types of as tools even though the car is in motion.

The ability output varies based mostly on the generator, but listed here are some Ford-provided samples of what the unique techniques will be able to electric power:

The 2021 F-150 will be among the the initially automobiles along with the Mustang Mach-E crossover to supply Ford’s new fingers-no cost driving program for divided freeway.

The “Active Drive Aid” procedure will be able to regulate a vehicle’s velocity, braking and steering by a program of cameras, radar and other sensors on 100,000 miles of pre-mapped divided highways in the U.S. and Canada.

Shoppers can order a pickup with the hardware for the program later this year, but they will have to hold out right until the third quarter of 2021 to use the technological know-how.

Ford plans to launch software at that time to empower the engineering via a remote, or around-the-air, update. It can also be put in at a dealership.

Automobile organizations, specifically Fiat Chrysler’s Jeep brand name, are increasingly adding concealed layout aspects generally identified as “Easter eggs” to new autos.

The 2021 Ford F-150 has at minimum three. On all cars for U.S. clients, an American flag is etched into the inside of the instrument panels close to the driver and passenger doors. It really is a refined jab at pickups from its crosstown rivals Common Motors and Fiat Chrysler, the two of which produce some of their pickups in Mexico Ford does not.

“You will see it each and every time you open a door,” Ehab Kaoud, Ford main designer of North The us vans. “It is a reminder that just about every F-150 is assembled in the U.S. of A.”

Other distinctive design aspects on individual versions include things like F-150 King Ranch designs consist of an etching of the initially this kind of design on the instrument panel. XLT Sport designs include things like a map of Detroit on the doorway.

“It symbolizes a perception of satisfaction of the place this car was created,” Kaoud explained. “And the map also symbolizes an exploration of new areas.”

New tie-downs on the tailgate of the car also double as bottle owners.

The 2021 F-150 features new inside and exterior layouts, extra storage and 6 obtainable engine possibilities, which include a 3.-liter diesel and 3.5-liter “PowerBoost” hybrid V6 motor. All engines are paired with a 10-speed computerized transmission.

Ford stated the new hybrid model is specific to accomplish approximately 700 miles on a solitary tank of gas and provide at the very least 12,000 lbs . of obtainable utmost towing. That’s in line with or better than current types with V6 engines.

Ford expects the hybrid model — its “most premium powertrain” — to account for about 10% of gross sales. That compares with its “EcoBoost” V6 engines, which at this time account for about 60% of product sales.

An all-electric F-150 is anticipated sometime in the subsequent two many years — in line with or a little bit later on than new electric pickups from GM,  Tesla and commence-up manufacturer Rivian.

Ford Chief Functioning Officer Jim Farley on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Friday promised the future all-electric powered pickup “is a impressive product.”

On the interior of the 2021 Ford F-150, it is all about storage and optimizing space.

One of the most exceptional functions is  a stowable gear shifter that makes it possible for for a flat surface area between the passenger and driver for laptops or other requirements these as signing paperwork.

About a 3rd of truck shoppers consistently use their laptops in their pickups, according to Ford. 

The two entrance seats also can fold almost 180 levels to enable for far more cozy sleeping preparations, Ford explained.

“We know that our buyers expend a great deal of their times and often their nights in the car,” stated Craig Schmatz, main engineer of the F-150. “We required to genuinely improve the performance for them to be a lot more effective in the cab as properly as additional comfortable.”