Ford F-150 Hybrid Slowly Comes Into View

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Long promised and as of yet undelivered, the hybrid variant of the Ford F-150 will be the first vehicle of its kind in a wildly competitive (and lucrative) segment. The model will offer pickup buyers a taste of the fully electrified pickups poised to flood lineups, while giving do-it-yourself types and work crews a convenient power source for their tools, lights, etc.

As of this week, it seems we now know what to expect under the hood.

A VIN decoder chart posted to newf150forum.com reveals the engine roster for the next-generation F-150 inbound for the 2021 model year. The lineup looks just like the current-gen model’s, but with one new addition.

The hybrid-electric (a terrible term) F-150 dons a V6 engine boasting a displacement that disappeared from non-turbo F-150s before 2018: 3.5 liters. That same engine faded from the Explorer line when it went all-new for MY2020.

Scheduled to enter production at the Dearborn Truck Plant later this year (joined in 2021 by a fully electric variant), the hybrid F-150’s gas-electric output is listed as TBD. The old 3.5-liter generated 282 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque; for 2018, the base V6 was replaced with a dual-injection 3.3-liter making more power. Where this engine lands on the power scale remains to be seen.

Elsewhere in the 2020 F-150 portfolio, Regular Cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew bodystyles remain, as do the base 3.3L, upgrade 2.7-liter and 3.5-liter Ecoboosts, the 5.0-liter V8 (Ford isn’t ready to ditch available V8 power just yet), and the recent 3.0-liter turbodiesel addition. Not seen in the VIN is the higher-output 3.5EB found in the Raptor, though the off-road variant does appear in the chart’s vehicle type section.

[Image: Ford]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Apr 02, 2020

    The only reason to get a hybrid truck s to save a nickel on gas. Some years ago, GM's mild hybrid trucks earned an EPA rating of 20/20/20 mpg, and were market turds. With such a wide array of drivetrains available (too many, IMO), it's hard for me to see any advantage of a hybrid in this application.

    • See 6 previous
    • Scoutdude Scoutdude on Apr 03, 2020

      @SCE to AUX The reality is the first one, the full hybrid was sold at a loss, they didn't want to sell more because that would have increased their losses on the project. The two mild hybrids that followed were compliance vehicles that they didn't make a available in many markets. Fleet purchases are a significant number of pickup truck sales so it wouldn't surprise me if the F-150 became the best selling Hybrid in the US. If not in its first year by the second year.

  • 3800FAN 3800FAN on Apr 02, 2020

    Just look to the explorer to see the f150 hybrid. I look forward to it. More options is always a plus. Only question is how will it perform against the awesome 2.7 ecoboost and if its worth the premium pricetag which has been the question around hybrids since the original prius. Is it worth it?

  • Ajla Ajla on Apr 02, 2020

    Better than the diesel.

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