For the eighth time in the 22-year history of the award, the Ford F-150 pickup truck has been named North American Truck/Utility of the Year by a panel of American and Canadian automotive writers.
Selected ahead of the Chevrolet Colorado, a mid-sized pickup truck manufactured at the Wentzville GM plant which was recently named Motor Trend Truck of the Year, and the Lincoln MKC, the F-150 won the award presented at the beginning of the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, January 12.
“Ford is honored to be named the best among such a strong field of competitors,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. “Ford employees and customers have a lot to be proud of with the innovative and award-winning F-150.”
The F-150 is manufactured with pride at the Ford assembly plant at Claycomo near Kansas City. Ford is a member of the Associated Industries of Missouri Circle of Elite Organizations. The F-150 made Missouri its home after AIM and Ford spearheaded the Missouri Manufacturing Jobs Act during the special legislative session of 2010.
North American Car of the Year and Truck/Utility of the Year awards recognize vehicles based on factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value. More than 50 veteran journalists vote for the vehicles, which must be all-new or substantially changed from the previous model to qualify for the awards.
The newly redesigned F-150 uses a new lightweight aluminum-alloy body and a high strength steel frame to shed up to 700 pounds making the truck both fuel efficient and sufficiently strong. The innovative new truck can tow up to 1,100 more pounds and haul up to 530 more pounds than the 2014 model, and has the highest EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of any full-size gasoline pickup on the market. When equipped with an available 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine, the new F-150 4×2 has EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.
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