2021 Ford F-150 Spills More Secrets

“Do everything better, and don’t be afraid of gimmicks” seems to be the mantra the 2021 Ford F-150‘s development team toiled under. Given the company’s track record with the model, it’s likely a strategy that will pay off.

Optional hybrid power (pricing of which came to light yesterday) and lie-flat front seats are things the F-150’s rivals can’t claim; same goes for on-board factory generators for both hybrid and gas-powered models. As more time passes following the model’s June debut, more secrets are being spilled.

For example, some of the niceties offered on the revamped model won’t arrive until later on, nor will they be an across-the-board option.

According to dealer order guides seen by CarsDirect, the model’s available Max Recline Seats — front buckets made for sleeping — are an affordable $340 addition, though the pricing becomes moot when you learn they’re only be available on King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited examples. A nice-to-have for lofty trims.

Per those guides, the trick seats won’t be immediately available when the new truck shows up this fall.

Another option not available at launch is something we’re already used to seeing: Ford’s 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel V6. The same guides show that the upgrade engine, good for 250 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque, is a late-availability option for ’21. At least the price tag hasn’t changed. Like before, going diesel is a $4,995 get when applied to a model with the base 3.3-liter V6. It’s a $3,800 or $3,000 climb, respectively, over a 2.7-liter or 5.0-liter truck.

If the idea of using your truck as a mobile power source appeals to you, you needn’t shell out up to $4,495 for the PowerBoost hybrid drivetrain. While the new Pro Power Onboard 2 kW generator is not quite as capable as the hybrid truck’s 2.4 kW unit (or upgrade 7.2 kW unit), it is usable. And at $995, it’s cheaper than going the hybrid route.

If you do plan to become a hybrid pickup pioneer, powering additional external accessories via the 7.2 kW unit is a $730 charge away.

Speaking of prices, if times aren’t tough in your household, Ford’s elevated upper-tier pricing shouldn’t annoy. For the rest, it shouldn’t surprise. CarsDirect notes that the 2021 F-150 can top $80,000 in the right configuration, with price increases far steeper than those seen with the model’s lesser trims.

Looking at high-end 4×2 Super Cabs, the Lariat starts $1,945 higher than a comparable 2020 model. A ’21 King Ranch in the same layout carries a $3,340 markup, with the Platinum trim ratcheting up the ask by $3,590. Order guides also show the top-flight Limited carrying a slightly more modest increase of $3,090; however, when combined with the newly available hybrid powertrain and a checked 4×4 box, it adds up to a Limited SuperCrew costing more than $78,000.

There are some who’ll want nothing more than to spend this sum. That said, the jury’s out on who’ll want to equip their F-150 with Ford’s Active Drive Assist, a hands-free driver-assist function arriving late in the model year. Apparently it can only be had on Lariat Super Cab and loftier models, and only with a pricey technology package in attendance. According to CarsDirect, the necessary hardware the system needs to function also requires purchase of a towing or 360-degree camera package, further boosting the option’s otherwise sensible price tag.

This means the cheapest model equipped with Active Drive Assist carries a price north of $55k — a serious climb even from a stock Lariat. As additional standard content piles up further up the trim ladder, the system’s actual ask (technically, it’s $995 to activate via an over-the-air update) will drop.

[Images: Ford]