The new generation Ford F-150 will, for the first time in the nameplate’s history, offer an electrified version with the introduction of the F-150 PowerBoost hybrid.
Just because it packs an electrified powertrain doesn’t mean that it is soft, though, as Ford has made sure that it can handle everything the ICE-powered versions can, and for this, they have conducted extensive real-world and lab testing.
The tough trials included towing fully loaded trailers over desert mountain passes in extreme heat, driving in the frozen tundra, enduring high-humidity chambers and being exposed to salt baths and roads designed to kill most vehicles. The engineers also built a custom testing machine designed to shake the 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery, simulating 10 years of mechanical torture in just 82 hours.
Read Also: How Does The New 2021 Ford F-150 Pickup Compare To Its Predecessor?
“Just because it’s a hybrid doesn’t mean we treated PowerBoost with kid gloves”, commented F-150 chief engineer Craig Schmatz. “To earn ‘Built Ford Tough’ certification, PowerBoost went through the torture testing we put all of powertrains through. No F-150 powertrain gets a pass, we have one standard for quality and durability.”
With a towing capability of up to 12,700 pounds (5,760 kg) and a maximum payload of 2,120 lbs (962 kg) corresponding to it, the 2021 F-150 PowerBoost has the most powerful engine in the range, making 430 HP and 570 lb-ft (773 Nm) of torque. It is backed up by the 1.5 kWh battery that doubles as a generator, delivering a standard 2.4 kW or available 7.2 kW of power.
Ford will start accepting orders for the new-gen F-150 this fall, with prices to reportedly start at $28,940.
The truck is built at the Dearborn facility in Michigan and at the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DTB0XGkNR4
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