Here's Everything We Know About The 2021 Ford F-150

Apr. 11, 2020 9:40 AM ET by Aaron Brzozowski Trucks / Comments

Ford is going after the Ram 1500 with the new 2021 F-150.

Ford's best-selling product of the last several decades, the full-size F-150 pickup, is due for a head-to-toe redesign for 2021. Not that it needs it; the current truck has only been on the market since 2015, making it relatively young yet in modern passenger vehicle terms.

But a redesign is coming nonetheless, although any alterations to the truck's appearance will be more evolutionary than revolutionary. Where the real differences will lie, according to a recent piece from Car and Driver, is in the arenas of cabin quality and powertrains. We've already seen the all-new cabin design, thanks to some particularly revealing spy shots shared earlier this week.

2019-2020 Ford F-150 Limited Front Angle View

But on top of the fresh new design, which features a more ordered, orthogonal overall aesthetic, Ford will chase after the Ram 1500's impressively upscale feel with more premium materials and pleasing touch points - at least on the upper-range Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum models. A big, 15.5-inch infotainment touchscreen will be available - more than a match for Ram's 12-inch unit - running next-generation SYNC 4 software.

On the topic of propulsion, engine options aren't expected to change substantially from today's lineup, consisting of a naturally aspirated 3.3L V6, twin-turbo V6s in 2.7L and 3.5L flavors, a 5.0L V8 sharing even more in common with the Mustang's mill, and a 3.0L turbo-diesel.

If that all sounds like exactly what's available today, that's because it is. But radical change is coming in the form of a plug-in-hybrid model, likely to be available from launch, that will reportedly couple a twin-turbo V6 with a single electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery pack with enough juice to power up to 10 miles of pure-electric driving. The real selling point, however, won't be the efficiency, but the worksite utility; Ford is expected to market the truck as a mobile power supply of sorts, with the ability to run all manner of tools out in the wild.

And of course, a year or two after that, there will be a pure-electric F-150 - yet another entrant in what will be a very crowded segment, with vehicles like the Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, GMC Hummer EV, Bollinger B2, and LMC Endurance.

Stay tuned for more, and look for the all-new Ford F-150 to be unveiled later on in the year.