Pulling up to a stoplight in Tucson, I had my first taste of Ford's new fuel diet. After the 2015 F-150 came to a stop, the engine shut down, and the air-conditioning fan receded from a flurry to a whisper. That's when it hit me: The lightweight aluminum body is just a carrier for current—and future—fuel-saving technology.
The new body has received much attention. The F-150 is America's most produced vehicle—car or truck. For years, Ford has used aluminum in the hood, but the light metal has been, until now, mainly available for speciality applications. The F-150 chassis is made of higher-strength steel, which also saves weight.