This winter, you’ll be able to buy what Ford is touting as the most advanced, luxurious truck ever – the Ford F-150 Limited. The upscale trim comes fully equipped with a dizzying array of convenience features, options and technology as standard.
Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development, says “The F-150 Limited sets a new bar for what discerning customers should expect in a high-end truck. We’re adding segment-exclusive technology, and features that improve productivity, convenience and capability with distinctive style.”
Previous special editions include the Harley-Davidson in 1999, the first King Ranch in 2001, the Platinum in 2009, the first-generation Limited in 2013, and now, the 2016 Limited Edition. Chevrolet’s Silverado High Country and Dodge Ram’s Laramie Editions are nice, but the new Limited has just raised the bar high, extremely high, so it will be interesting to see what the competition does for the next generation.
On the outside, the Limited rides on some seriously blinging 22-inch wheels and satin-chrome door handles with chrome exhaust tips. The hood sports raised lettering letting the world know what edition the F-150 is (hint: it spells out “LIMITED”) and the grille is also an exclusive affair. The tailgate is also adorned with a satin-chrome badge while the chrome front bumper is capped off with body-coloured end caps. The rear bumper gets the colour matching treatment as well with bright belt mouldings to visually tie the two together.
Buyers can order their very own Limited in Shadow Black, Magnetic, Blue Jeans and White Platinum Metallic tri-coat. I very much want to see what ‘Blue Jeans’ looks like.
The Limited serves as a rolling showcase for all of Ford’s new technology and features and it comes standard with some serious equipment, including BLIS with cross-traffic alert, chrome front tow hooks, panoramic vista roof, power-deployable running boards, quad-beam LED headlamps, remote start and tailgate release, as well as an integrated trailer brake controller.
A technology package includes a lane-keeping system, 360-degree camera system and dynamic trailer hitch assist.
No upscale interior is complete without cooled and heated front seats, available in Mojave or black leather. The unique front seats also feature Limited badging, 10-way power adjustment, and chair massagers. Yes, you read that, a pickup truck with massage chairs. To keep things manageable for our Canadian winters, the rear seats are also heated.
Ford’s newest multimedia and communications system, Sync3 with AppLink is also included as standard and is paired with a Sony 10-speaker sound system with subwoofer to keep things sounding crispy and full. The Limited also comes with a laser-engraved VIN plate on the centre console lid featuring its production number to match the aluminum interior accents, and scuff plates with ice blue backlighting. Also unique to the Limited are the front and rear floormats and instrument cluster face and the inclusion of genuine fiddleback eucalyptus wood.
A Trailer Backup Assist is available to aid drivers of all skill levels – from beginner to advanced – in backing a trailer up. The technology is a segment-first feature and is intuitive to use.
Powering the Limited is the excellent 365-hp and 420-lb-ft 3.5L Ecoboost V6, allowing you to tow up to a whopping 4,581 kg or 10,100 lbs, keeping the F-150 at the top of its class for payload capability.
The crowing jewel that will seal the deal for many a buyer is the fact that the current-generation F-150, is still the only full-size, light-duty truck to earn the highest rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a five-star crash test rating for all crash test modes and cab configurations – SuperCrew, SuperCab and Regular Cab.
There really is a F-150 to suit almost every type of buyer now. From the bare bones sub $25k XL, to the $55k-plus Platinum, and now the 2016 Limited (pricing has not yet been announced, but if the current Platinum is just over $55k, then…) to raise the luxury standard even higher.
