Return of the King—Ford rolls out the F-150

I vividly remember the first F-150 that once ruled Philippine roads. It was 1998, and it was simply the baddest vehicle to hit Manila streets. It was a humongous head-turner that no waist-high Italian sports car could ever hope to be. And Ford sold every single F-150 they had.

Then they were gone. That first F-150 to land on our shores was of the same generation as the first-gen Expedition. We’ve since had two more generations of Expeditions in the country but we’ve never had its beautifully brutish pickup sibling with those.

Until now.    

Because Ford has once again brought in its gigantic truck—now even bigger and bolder. The new-for-the-Philippines F-150 pickup (an all-new F-150 actually debuts in North America on the same day we get the F-150 here, but that model won’t be available for export for two to three more years) joins the RAM truck as the only two full-size trucks available in the Philippines.

The Ford F-150 sets the global standard in big trucks with its standout look and design, powerful performance, class-leading capabilities, and advanced smart and safe technologies. Not surprisingly, the F-150 has been America’s bestselling truck for 43 straight years and America’s bestselling vehicle for 38 straight years. 

In the Philippines, Ford is offering two variants of the F-150: the F-150 4×4 Platinum SuperCrew priced at P2,998,000 and F-150 4×2 Lariat SuperCrew retailing at P2,698,000, both with automatic transmissions. Both trucks hit showrooms June 25.

“The F-150 is definitely a strong addition to our pickup truck portfolio as we continue to lead the segment with the widest range of trucks, now totaling fifteen variants. The F-150 is packed with segment-defining features and capabilities that have made it the truck of choice across America and the world,” said PK Umashankar, managing director, Ford Philippines. “We are excited to bring back this legendary Ford truck to Filipino customers who seek next-level power and refinement in their pickup.”

The F-150 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine—the same one in the Explorer—with Auto Start-Stop Technology, which generates 380ps and a stunning 637Nm of torque. It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic with SelectShift. An Electronic Shift-On-The-Fly (ESOF) 4×4 system is fitted on the F-150 Platinum.

Exclusively on the F-150 4×4 Platinum is a silver mesh satin-aluminum grille and tailgate applique, chrome side mirror caps, door and tailgate handles, tailgate step with tailgate lift assist, bright beltline moldings, high-gloss black B-pillar applique and platinum badge on fender sides, twin panel moonroof, as well as power deployable running boards.

Its interior features a luxurious leather interior with genuine black ash wood trim accents, aluminum applique in center panel and console, unique instrument cluster gauges, leather-wrapped console lid and shift knob, 10-way power adjustable driver and  front passenger seats with ActiveMotion massage function, color-coordinated carpet flooring with premium floor mats, and metallic door sill inserts with Platinum branding. 

Meanwhile, the F-150 4×2 Lariat variant comes with the Sport appearance package with a body-color grille with black mesh, side mirror caps, door and tailgate handles, magnetic angular step bars, and Sport box decals. The interior also features a unique Lariat finish on the instrument panel, media bin lid and doors, as well as leather seats. 

Standard across both F-150 variants are body color bumpers, 20-inch alloy wheels, high strength aluminum alloy body, daytime running lamps, quad-beam headlamps, LED foglamps and taillamps, a 5.5-inch long box, and front tow hooks.

The F-150 is also equipped with a host of smart and safe features that enhance the driving experience for both drivers and passengers. The F-150 features Ford Co-Pilot 360, Ford’s safety suite composed of Pre-Collision Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Lane Keeping System (LKS) and Auto-High Beam Headlamps.

For convenience, it’s equipped with a remote start system, remote tailgate release, 8-inch LCD touchscreen, SYNC 3 with AppLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, 2 smart-charging USB ports and 12V Powerpoint, navigation system, 8-inch productivity screen in the instrument cluster, and a superb 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system with subwoofer. 

The F-150 is also packed with driver-assist technologies (DAT) which include 360-degree camera with split-view display, Active Park Assist, Curve Control, Hill Start Assist, SOS Post-Crash Alert System, Trailer Sway Control, Rain-Sensing Wipers, and Reverse Sensing System. 

Additionally, the F-150 takes safety further through advanced technologies and features such as AdvanceTrac with RSC (Roll Stability Control), Dual-Stage Front Airbags, Front-Seat Side Airbags and Safety Canopy System with Side-Curtain Airbags and Rollover Sensor, Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System, SecuriLock Passive Anti-Theft System, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), and Perimeter Alarm. The Platinum variant gets a boost with Inflatable Rear Seatbelts.

The F-150 4×4 Platinum comes in four colors, Blue Jeans, Star White, Iconic Silver and Agate Black. The Star White color variant, which is a special color for the F-150 4×4 Platinum, is available for an additional Php15,000. Meanwhile, the 4×2 Lariat variant also comes in four colors, Rapid Red, Oxford White, Iconic Silver and Agate Black.