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The 2015 Ford F-150 was honored with the North American Truck of the Year award 10 years ago this week after it introduced high-strength, military-grade aluminum alloy to the body of the truck and numerous industry-leading features and innovations.
The Ford F-150 has been a test bed for innovation for the past 50 years, and just 10 years ago, the company was rewarded for making a huge leap in the construction of the venerable pickup’s body, along with other significant upgrades.
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The 2015 F-150 was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2014. It was awarded North American Truck of the Year at the same venue a year later.
Ford recently earned its fifth consecutive North American Truck of the Year honor, but on Jan. 12, 2015, the company came home from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit with what was then its eighth award in the coveted category. The recipient was the all-new 2015 F-150, the body of which included military-grade aluminum-alloy, which helped make the truck approximately 700 pounds lighter.
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The truck saw the introduction of high-strength aluminum alloy to its body, which resulted in a weight savings of as much as 700 pounds in some models.
High-strength aluminum alloys had already been used in other industries, including aerospace and commercial transportation, and they were selected for use on the F-150 because of their ability to withstand our truck customers’ demands for toughness, capability, and fuel efficiency. The result was improved towing and hauling, as well as improved acceleration, braking, and handling performance. There were also side benefits such as improved dent and ding resistance and rust and corrosion resistance.
Building Ford tough
The 2015 F-150 exceeded expectations as it underwent 10 million miles of testing to earn the Built Ford Tough name. Some unique testing for this model included a trial run as a disguised, mostly stock entry in the 2013 edition of the vaunted Baja 1000 off-road race. The only maintenance the truck required during the competition was changes to its stock air filter. Also, its new cargo beds endured two years and more than 300,000 miles of real-world fleet testing with Ford customers in the mining, utility, and construction fields. This led to new engineering tests being established and design changes being made to ensure the production model would be able to meet the demands of Ford’s toughest customers.
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The 2015 F-150 underwent 10 million miles of testing prior to launch, including an incognito run in the Baja 1000.
In addition to the use of the aluminum alloy, the 2015 Ford F-150 also included more than 100 new Ford technology and feature patents and patent applications. Innovations could be found throughout the truck, including LED spotlights located on the truck’s side mirrors, a remote tailgate release, Trailer Hitch Assist, and a 360-degree camera view, among others.
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The truck was loaded with new technologies and features, as more than 100 new patents were recorded during the program.
The company also developed an industry-first heat treatment method for aluminum alloy, which nearly doubled the strength of the material.
“And the more than 100 patents filed by the F-150 team for technologies on the 2015 truck further proves these Ford engineers and designers lead the automotive industry in innovation,” Strager said in a press release
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The 2015 Ford F-150 also won the coveted Truck of Texas award.
In addition to North American Truck of the Year, the 2015 F-150 went on to earn numerous other honors, including the sought-after Truck of Texas award. Ultimately, the truck’s success helped cement Ford’s position as a leader in truck innovation and helped pave the way for future advancements in the industry.
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