No, this Ford F-150 isn’t coming to Australia.
The F-150 Rattler has been revealed for the USA, and brings a host of off-road upgrades to the base XL package to create a more affordable alternative to the Tremor or Raptor.
Under the skin it features skid plates, an electronic locking rear differential, hill descent control, and unique off-road shock absorbers, and all-terrain tyres.
There’s a dual exhaust, painted 18-inch aluminium wheels, Rattler badging, and a smattering of rattlesnake-inspired graphics. It’s a subtle makeover, but the aftermarket is always on hand to correct that.
When it arrives in Australia, the F-150 will be offered in XLT and Lariat trims, both of which will be powered by the 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 EcoBoost engine option.
With 298kW of power and 678Nm of torque, the turbocharged V6 engine sits 15kW shy of the 6.2-litre engine in the Silverado when it comes to power, but out-punches it by 54Nm on the torque front. Braked towing capacity is 4500kg, up 1000kg on what the Ranger offers and in line with the Silverado and Ram.
A 10-speed automatic transmission is standard, along with switchable four-wheel drive.
In the USA, the F-150 XLT is pitched as a well-equipped workhorse, while the Lariat is a more generously-equipped option.
The King Ranch, Platinum and Limited sit above the Lariat in the American range, but won’t be offered locally at launch.
In the US, Ford also offers an FX4 off-road package across most of the line-up, including the base XL, that comprises an electronic locking rear differential, hill descent control, skid plates, a rock crawl mode, and retuned front shock absorbers and monotube rear shocks.
Standard equipment for Australia hasn’t been locked in yet, but the American-market XLT features a smattering of chrome exterior trim pieces and body coloured door handles, along with 17-inch alloy wheels. The tray is finished with a spray-in bed liner.
It has a 8.0-inch central touchscreen and an analogue instrument cluster inside, along with cloth seats.
A 12-inch infotainment system with Sync 4 is optional, along with a surround-view camera, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, trailer backup assist, and rain-sensing wipers.
The Lariat gains dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, keyless entry and start, rear parking sensors, and a 12-inch touchscreen as standard. Wireless phone charging, front parking sensors, active parking assist, and a heated steering wheel are all optional.
