Ford (F) Unveils Revamped F-150 With Hybrid V6 Powertrain

Ford Motor Company F recently unveiled the latest edition of the F-150 pickup, which will be equipped with a hybrid V6 powertrain, available at any trim level from the F-150 XL to F-150 Limited, along with internet access, and a redesigned interior that makes the truck into more of a rolling office or even a nap room.

Ford made a bet on America’s top-selling vehicle six years ago, rolling out a radical version of the F-Series pick-up, with a lighter aluminum body, rather than the usual steel. The all-new F-150, now in its 14th generation, will have more towing and payload capacity, torque, horsepower as well as luxury.

New F-150 users will find exterior redesigns that include revamped headlamps, wrap-around bumpers and a new power dome hood. The new cab and active grille shutters are both helping reduce drag and boost fuel efficiency. However, the internal combustion engines and transmissions remain the same.

Ford has paid particular attention to the interior, updating the materials inside the vehicle, and adding a 12-inch center panel to XLT high-series models and above. It has seats that recline up to almost 180 degrees, and onboard generators, an integrated power source, free-up cargo space and can charge a full bunk of electric dirt bikes.

Reportedly, the new F-150 will be manufactured at Ford’s Dearborn and Kansas City plants. The pricing, power and fuel economy ratings will be announced in the coming months. The company is on schedule to supply the trucks this fall to the distributors, with the production only minimally affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The next move for the F-150 will be going hybrid, but not until 2022.

Trucks are a significant market for manufacturers and for 43 years, the F-Series has been the best-selling pick-up in the United States. In 2019, nearly 592,000 F-150s were sold versus the 450,316 units of Chevrolet Silverado, and 443,070 units of Ram 1500 — its two nearest competitors.

Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider

Ford currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Shares of the company have depreciated 36.5%, year to date, as against the industry’s rise of 32.4%.

Some better-ranked stocks are Niu Technologies NIU, Tesla TSLA and AngloGold Ashanti Limited AU, each carrying a Zack Rank of 2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.

Shares of Niu have surged 76.9% year to date, as against the industry’s decline of 15.5%.

Shares of Tesla have soared 129.4%, year to date, compared with industry’s rise of 32.4%.

Shares of AngloGold have rallied 28.2%, year to date, compared with the industry’s gain of 23.9%.

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