Next-Gen 2021 F-150: Ford Doesn’t Replace—It Reloads

It’s only five years old, but the Ford F-150 is already the oldest full-size pickup on the market. Although it’s in no danger of losing its sales title, pressure is nonetheless mounting from the surging Ram 1500, so Ford isn’t waiting around to take action.

Big changes are right up front. Revisions to the headlights, grille, hood, and bumper incorporate cues from the recently refreshed Super Duty trucks and a leaked rendering of the next-generation Ranger midsize pickup. Around back, new taillights dress up the rear end, but all in all, most of the truck’s sheetmetal appears to be either carried over or mildly updated.

The real changes, though, are under the skin. A new platform supports plug-in hybrid powertrains for the first time, making room for batteries, inverters, electric motors, and charging hardware. Plans for a 3.5-liter V-6 mated to an electric motor have leaked, and we expect V-8 power based on what we know from the Explorer hybrid. No other details are available yet, but if the battery is large enough to benefit from plug-in capability, it’ll likely offer at least a small amount of battery-only electric driving range. More crucial to truck buyers, it would allow Ford to offer a more powerful built-in inverter to run equipment at the jobsite.

The hybrid won’t likely be ready when the truck goes on sale. We expect it to launch with the current lineup of twin-turbo V-6 engines, a turbodiesel V-6, and a V-8. We have heard, though, the diesel and the V-8 will be getting updates, likely increasing output and/or efficiency. All of these powertrains will no doubt be mated to Ford’s 10-speed automatic and standard rear-wheel drive with optional four-wheel drive. Following all these powertrains to market, eventually, will be a full-electric model.

The interior will also get updated to improve the F-150’s competitiveness against the Ram’s stellar styling. Ford is returning fire with its own all-digital instrument cluster and enormous central touchscreen infotainment system on higher trims.

We expect Ford to show us the new F-150 by the end of the year and get it to market in early 2021. Truck pricing is extremely competitive, so it shouldn’t change from the current strategy with a starting point right around $30,000.