Ford News: 2016 Ford F-150 Limited Goes All Fancy

[William Maley]

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The big thing in pickup trucks at the moment is luxury models. Chevrolet has the Silverado High Country while the Denali has been part of GMC for quite awhile. Ram has quite the variety of luxury pickups with the Laramie Longhorn and Limited. Ford also has a range of luxury trucks from the Lariat to the Platinum. But the blue oval decided that wasn't enough and has introduced the 2016 F-150 Limited.

 

Ford bills the F-150 Limited as the "the most advanced, luxurious F-150 ever." Ford has thrown everything and the kitchen sink in terms of standard equipment. All Limited models get heated and cooled Mojave leather front seats with "multicontour massaging," fiddleback eucalyptus inserts, heated rear seats, SYNC 3 with AppLink, 10-speaker Sony sound system, 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, active park assist, a remote tailgate release, and a laser-engraved VIN plate with production number on the center console lid.

 

The exterior gets a set of 22-inch wheels, a satin chrome finish on a number of exterior pieces such as the grille and door handles; and Limited written across the hood. Power will come from a 3.5L EcoBoost turbo V6 with 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. There will be choice of either two or four-wheel drive.

 

Pricing hasn't been announced, but sales are to begin this winter.

 

Why is Ford doing this? It comes down to sales and profit. Ford said 60 percent of F-Series sales were made up of 'high-series trims' - Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum. This has seen the average transaction price of the F-Series grow 9 percent to $44,100 compared to a year ago.

 

“There’s a lot of people who buy trucks as both a work tool and a status symbol. You have a lot of wealthy businesspeople who have the money to buy an extremely capable and extremely luxurious truck. It’s not any financial stretch for these people to spend 50 or 70 grand,” said Karl Brauer, senior director of insights for Kelley Blue Book to Automotive News.

 

 

Source: Ford, Automotive News (Subscription Required)

 

Press Release is on Page 2

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NEW TOP-OF-THE-LINE FORD F-150 LIMITED IS MOST ADVANCED, LUXURIOUS F-150 EVER

• New Ford F-150 Limited meets the growing needs of discerning truck customers interested in exclusivity, capability and craftsmanship – those looking to differentiate themselves from buyers of other high-series trucks
• Innovation comes standard with new F-150 Limited – including SYNC® 3 with AppLink™, and class-exclusive1 features such as a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, quad-beam LED headlamps, remote tailgate release and multicontour massaging front seats
• Exclusive exterior and interior design elements include raised LIMITED lettering on the hood, unique custom satin-chrome grille and tailgate, 22-inch wheels, genuine fiddleback eucalyptus, Mojave leather seating surfaces, unique instrument cluster face and laser-engraved VIN plate with production number
  

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., July 21, 2015 – Ford, America’s truck leader, introduces its most advanced and luxurious truck ever – the Ford F-150 Limited.

 

The new Limited expands the F-150 model lineup – Ford’s toughest, smartest, safest and most capable F-150 ever – with more standard technology and driver convenience features than any other light-duty pickup. The Limited, a 2016 model, goes on sale this winter.

 

“The F-150 Limited sets a new bar for what discerning customers should expect in a high-end truck,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “We’re adding segment-exclusive technology, and features that improve productivity, convenience and capability with distinctive style.”

 

There’s a Ford F-150 for every truck customer, beginning with work-ready versions that have a starting MSRP below the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT, as well as the popular mid-range F-150 XLT. But the new F-150 Limited meets the growing, untapped needs of luxury customers looking for exclusivity, convenience and fine craftsmanship that’s differentiated from other high-series trucks. F-150 Limited surpasses the well-appointed Lariat, the Western-themed King Ranch and contemporary Platinum edition models.

 

In 1999, the company introduced the special-edition 2000 Harley-Davidson F-150. In 2001, the first King Ranch F-150 arrived. The 2009 F-150 took truck luxury to new heights with the Platinum model, and the first-generation Limited was added with the 2013 model year.

 

Exterior refinements
The 2016 Ford F-150 Limited stands out with exclusive 22-inch polished aluminum wheels and raised dimensional LIMITED lettering on the hood, unique grille and satin-finished chrome badge on the tailgate. The chrome front bumper has body-color end caps while the rear bumper is body color; bright belt moldings visually tie the two together. The exterior is further accented by satin-chrome door handles and chrome exhaust tip.

 

Available colors include Shadow Black, Magnetic, Blue Jeans and White Platinum Metallic tri-coat.

 

Top-tier equipment
The standard equipment list is a showcase of the best F-150 Limited has to offer to make getting work done easier and with greater comfort.

 

BLIS® with cross-traffic alert, chrome front tow hooks (4x4 only), panoramic vista roof, power-deployable running boards, quad-beam LED headlamps, remote start and tailgate release, as well as an integrated trailer brake controller come standard. A technology package includes a lane-keeping system, 360-degree camera system and dynamic trailer hitch assist.

 

Interior equipment includes heated and cooled black and Mojave leather front seats that are unique in design and feature Limited badging, 10-way power adjustment and class-exclusive1 multicontour massaging. Heated rear seats and SYNC® 3 with AppLink™ are also included.

 

SYNC 3 is Ford’s newest communications and entertainment system that features enhanced voice recognition, high-speed performance, capacitive touch screen and easier-to-understand graphical interface.3

 

F-150 Limited also includes a Sony® 10-speaker sound system with HD Radio™, subwoofer and single CD player paired with a five-year subscription to SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link to complete the package.

 

The interior is further differentiated from other F-150 models with a laser-engraved VIN plate on the center console lid including production number. Unique front and rear floor mats, unique instrument cluster face, genuine fiddleback eucalyptus, and aluminum interior accents and unique scuff plates with ice blue backlighting further distinguish the Limited model.

 

All-new, segment-first Pro Trailer Backup Assist is available that makes it easier for drivers of all skill levels to back a trailer up to launch a boat or park in a driveway. The technology allows customers to steer a trailer instinctively by turning a knob left or right to indicate direction; the truck controls its steering and limits vehicle speed.

 

Advanced power and fuel efficiency
The 2016 F-150 Limited is powered by the 3.5-liter EcoBoost® V6, which allows for towing of up to 10,100 pounds when properly equipped. This advanced powertrain produces 365 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque – the latter unsurpassed by any truck with a comparable engine in its class1 – and has an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined.

 

The engine is paired with an electronic six-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul and sport modes that features SelectShift® with progressive range select. Four-wheel-drive models are equipped with two-speed automatic four-wheel drive that automatically shifts between two-wheel and four-wheel drive depending on driving surface traction conditions.

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