Fans of the Ford F-150 pickup truck can finally rejoice, as the legendary truck is now heading to Europe in a more official capacity according to a Motor1 report. For many years, those who have lusted after the F-150 have had to import it from the United States themselves, and they are an incredibly rare sight outside of North America. But that is about to change.
A company called Hedin US Motor is bringing the iconic truck over to Europe in certain markets, and this is an official route working in liaison with Ford itself. Depending on your territory, that means you could soon have access to one of the best pickup trucks ever made, and the most popular in America.
Part of this has been driven by the popularity of the Ram Rampage, which has done very well in territories outside of the United States, although it is a smaller truck than the F-150. But if you are keen to get your hands on the F-150, then there is even more good news.
Not only is it the XLT trim that Europe will have access to, but that means the massive Coyote V8 engine will be the powertrain of choice. It flies in the face of hybridization and electrification, in an automotive world that is seemingly in flux as regards what the future is.
How the Ford F-150 Will Be Made Available in Europe
Sales are to be handled by Hedin US Motor for the F-150 XLT. The XLT stands as the entry point for the truck in Europe, and under the hood, you will have the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine that makes 406hp and 410lb-ft of torque. It’s not what many Europeans will have expected to have access to. The XLT itself sits between the STX and Lariat trims in North America.
At the time of writing, prices will start at around €76,500, which is roughly $88,905 at the current exchange rate. Along with the V8, the truck will also have a ten-speed automatic transmission, and it will come with four-wheel drive as standard. With a towing capacity of up to 7,700lbs, it is likely to be able to do anything any European owner asks of it.
A huge pickup bed allows European truck owners access to perhaps more space than they ever could have imagined. With such a large towing capacity as well, it will be able to tow everything from car haulers to boat trailers. There will be very little that the F-150 won’t be able to do after crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
Going Against the Grain of European Vehicles
The size of the F-150 very much goes against what recent European vehicles have been launched. A case in point being the new Renault Twingo EV, which is right at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to size and what it is used for. Renault has also of course recently launched the Renault 4 and Renault 5 EVs, and all three have shown that small cars are still popular. Even if many people like to drive big SUVs.
The F-150 will become more of a statement vehicle in Europe, rather than a workaday vehicle as it is in America. This is because the price of $88,905 is roughly double the $44,700 that the current XLT retails for in America. It could be that the vehicle is priced well out of reach for many potential owners.
There are, of course, alternatives to the F-150 already in Europe. Namely, the Ford Ranger, which is also offered with a plug-in hybrid option. Its more compact size certainly lends itself better suited to the roads in the continent, and it’s hard to see how the F-150 will truly fit in. Either way, the pickup is sure to gain plenty of attention when it is first spotted on the continent, and it begs the question of whether more full-size pickups will make their way across the Atlantic.