2019 Ford F-150 Limited Meets Challenge of Changing Truck Landscape

2019 Ford F-150 Limited

© PHOTO BY SCOTT TILLEY

The light-duty full-size pickup brings Raptor power, luxury comfort, and advanced technology to the rapidly-changing truck landscape.

What is being required of a truck by today's consumers is changing as fast as the disappearance of cars from dealer lots. The truck is no longer just a work tool during the day and a part-time vehicle used to transport you and your equipment to your weekend adventure. Trucks are now also required to have better styling, more performance, and comfort of the level of a luxury sedan. The new 2019 Ford F-150 Limited has you covered, however, whether you're going on a weekend-adventure trip in shorts and flip flops with your boat or camper or you're going out on a dressed-up Friday night date to a white-tablecloth dinner and an evening at the symphony.

Power

I'm not saying the Raptor is an ugly duckling by any means; but it was designed for tasks like ripping through desert dunes at top speed, so it obviously offers less comfort and refinement. For those people who want Raptor power and luxury styling, the 2019 F-150 Limited has been designed to be both the beauty and the beast.

The new 2019 F-150 Limited is the most powerful light-duty pickup in America. It will now have the same high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that is found in the F-150 Raptor that currently produces 450 horsepower. It will also produce best-in-class torque at 510 lb-ft. That beats not only its gas competitors, but diesel competitors as well.

Whenever I'm in a full-size truck with a turbo, I'm always a little skeptical about turbo lag. The engineers at Ford designed the EcoBoost with twin intercooled turbos and 2 injectors per cylinder, which makes lag pretty much nonexistent. As I drove the truck, I didn't notice any issues with lag. I wasn't pulling any trailers, so it remains to be seen if the turbo lag will be an issue when towing heaving loads.

Interior

For 2019, in addition to the Limited's improved performance, the engineers sought to take the interior to another level as well. The customer experience that was designed for this truck is one that showcases the best in terms of craftsmanship, material quality, and head-turning design.

The engineers used luxurious materials throughout like Miko suede for the headliner. The instrument and door panels are leather-topped, and the trim throughout the truck is gradated ash swirl trim to make the truck look and feel like a luxury sedan. The craftsmanship is similar to what you would see in a fine instrument.

Every part of the of the truck's interior has been re-evaluated to insure the most refined and luxurious experience. The engineers went as far as enlarging the holes in the microperforated leather to improve the overall cooling performance in the seats. To top off the interior luxury styling, there is a twin-panel moonroof that is so large there is not a bad seat in the truck. Everyone can enjoy the scenic views in relaxed comfort.

Exterior

For those owners who will be using their truck for not only weekend adventures but for the occasional dinner and date, the design engineers have added style accents like raised 'Limited' lettering on the hood. The wheels are 22-inch polished aluminum, and the grille has a rich-looking satin finish as does the window trim and door handles.

To make life easier when everyone is dressed up for perhaps a charity event or dinner and that symphony, the Ford F-150 lineup offers standard power-deployable running boards which makes getting in and out of the truck simpler when you are dressed up.

And finally, if you want your luxury truck to look refined and buttoned down, then you will want to add a tonneau pickup box cover when you purchase your truck. There are two styles to choose from: a hard cover and a soft-folding cover. It will give the truck that extra bit of style to set it apart. It is also functional if you were towing a boat to the lake. You can put all the gear in the bed; and once covered, nothing will blow out.

Towing

You cannot utilize all that power and torque without having a strong foundation to support it. The Limited, like all F-150's, comes standard with Ford's trusty fully-boxed, high-strength steel frame. It also comes standard with a high-strength 10-speed transmission which includes five selectable driving modes. (Normal, Tow/Haul, Snow/Wet, EcoSelect and Sport). The stronger frame and transmission will give the active recreational owner the option of pulling larger horse trailers, larger travel trailers, and larger recreational boats in luxurious comfort without having to jump up to the F-250. This will allow owners to do more for less money.

The technology used today to hook-up, pull, and monitor trailers is a very competitive option in the world of truck sales. This is great for future buyers because there is always a new feature added every 6-9 months. The new 2019 F-150 Limited will offer a showcase of Ford technologies ranging from optional Pro Trailer Backup Assist to standard 360-degree camera system FordPass.

Some of the most recent towing assist innovations offered by Ford are listed below along with video links to help with the explanation of the technology:

Pro Trailer Backup Assist

Dynamic Hitch Assist

Blind Spot Information Systemk

Integrated Trailer Brake Controller (TBC)

Tow/Haul Mode

Hill Decent Control Mode

Trailer Sway Control

360-degree Camera System

Technology

My favorite technology on this truck is one of convenience. Ford has had this technology around for as long as I can remember and it's still my favorite. It's the touchpad keyless entry. I'm not a fan of carrying around a cumbersome key FOB in addition to my iPhone and wallet when I'm out and about. With the touchpad mounted on the side of the driver's door, I just punch in a private code and then can enter the truck without using an oversized FOB.

Safety

Here are a few of the driver-assist technology features that come standard on the Limited which reveal the commitment of creating a safe luxury sedan experience in a truck:

Standard adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality that uses radar and camera to monitor traffic
Standard pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking
Lane-keeping system alerts and assistance with lane drift

According to Ford, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the 2019 Ford F-150 as the only truck to earn the top-tier good rating in every category, and the best performing truck among 11 pickups evaluated in passenger-side small overlap front crash testing.

On the road, this truck feels like the big truck it is, the hood easily filling the lane ahead. Its demeanor is quiet and stable like a luxury sedan, and its handling is predictable. In my mind, this is a luxury car with a cargo box.

This truck is summed up best by Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager, who said, They (the consumers) wanted more power, so we combined Raptor';s engine with Limited's business-class features to deliver Baja fierceness, boardroom style, and the grit to tackle tough jobs.