Exclusive First Look At The New 2013 Ford F-150

Ford toughens up the already beefy F-150 with a new set of grilles and front fascia for the 2013 model year. The look adopts more of the Super Duty front end, with the perforated grille and big lights. And about those lights…

They're not just headlamps, but rather High Intensity Discharge lamps that add a cleaner look to front end and better visibility while driving at night. The lighting upgrade pricing has not been announced yet, but that’s not all of the changes planned for the 2013 F-150.

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The 2013 F-150 will debut with MyFordTouch, a popular telematics system that includes the voice activated Sync and a slew of other features such as 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report. Furthermore, the system has evolved to address consumer and government concerns about it distracting drivers. As Ford streamlines the system, the big winner is the consumer.

MyFordTouch will also use a 4.2-inch touch screen in the center stack so it will be easier to operate for drivers than the smaller base screen that comes with Sync. Some models, such as the King Ranch, Limited and Platinum will include an 8-inch LCD color screen. If the truck has a bigger screen, it will also have double USB ports, an SD card reader and input jacks for audio and video. Other interior improvements include:

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A new appearance package for the FX model, which adds Alcantara seat inserts. The Platinum model will feature black or pecan colored leather seats. Ford will also feature new 18- and 20-inch wheels for the 2013 model. It's certainly not an overhaul for the truck's looks, but these little changes add up. The incremental improvements demonstrate how Ford quickly adapts its trucks and tries to meet customers' needs.

Ford has long stuck to the philosophy of continual upgrades to its trucks, said Doug Scott, head of marketing for Ford trucks. "Last year, we upgraded our powertrains and this year we’re adding some new technology to the F-150. It keeps our pickups really fresh."

Furthermore, Scott said, that changing consumer demands has caused Ford to change its priorities. Ten years ago, pickup buyers began asking for more fuel efficient vehicles. Ford, as well as other truck makers, have focused more and more on those needs.

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But Ford continues to lead America in pickup sales month after month, year after year. Last year's powertrain upgrades included bringing back two V-6 engines, including the 3.5-liter Ecoboost V-6 that provides 365 horsepower. In May, 56 percent of F-150 sales were V-6 models, Ford officials said. That's 13 months in row that more consumers have opted for a V-6 instead of a V-8 in their F-150.

"Like our hard-working customers, Ford is committed to getting the job done right with our industry-leading trucks," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas, in a news release. "The 2013 F-150 demonstrates our commitment to continuously improving our trucks with new features and capabilities, allowing F-Series owners to be increasingly productive."

Pricing has not been announced for the 2013 F-150, but there shouldn't be any significant jump when the pickup arrives at dealerships later this year. But with a truck that can hit 23 mpg on the highway and another model that can tow 11,000 pounds, there's no doubt the F-150 will be at the top of the list for many pickup buyers.

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