Next Ford F-150 to hit 48 kmph

It’s been well documented that Ford will use extensive amounts of aluminum in its next-generation F-150 pickup truck to save weight and boost economy, but those fuel efficiency gains could be even more dramatic than first expected.

The current EcoBoost F-150 set the standard for the full-size truck segment when it arrived with a 37 kmph (23 mpg) highway rating, but it was recently overtaken by Ram’s 40 kmph (25 mpg) 1500. Ford is planning to leapfrog the competition with its all-new 2015 F-150, and it might be awhile before trucks like the Ram and Chevrolet Silverado are able to catch-up.

According to Automotive News, Ford’s new F-150 could offer fuel economy as high as 30 mpg on the highway, approaching levels that were reserved for compact cars just a few short years ago.

Ford’s 48 kmph (30 mpg) F-150 might not be ready at launch, however. In order to achieve that lofty figure, the F-150 will require a new 10-speed automatic transmission that is currently under development. Ford is also working with Toyota to design a hybrid system for light duty trucks.

While it could be a year or two until the F-150 tickles the 48 kmph (30 mpg) mark, expect the 2015 model to arrive with significantly better fuel economy than today’s trucks, thanks to weight savings as high as 341 Kilograms.