The updated Ford F-150 has been spied on Australian soil in right-hand drive guise, ahead of its launch during the first quarter of 2025 (January to March inclusive).
In images published on the Ford F150 Owners Australia group on Facebook, we can see the updated F-150 in both Lariat and Platinum guise.
The latter is a trim level not currently offered in Australia, where the F-150 is sold exclusively as an XLT or Lariat. Despite the name, it’s not the most luxurious F-150, with an even plusher King Ranch sitting above it in the US.
It’s unclear what the lineup will look like Down Under with the updated model.
The updated F-150 was revealed in September 2023, shortly before deliveries of the pre-update model commenced in Australia. The F-150 is built in left-hand drive in the US and exported here, where it’s converted to right-hand drive by RMA Automotive.
At the time, Ford Australia said examples of the updated model would start arriving late in 2024, but it recently confirmed the vehicle’s launch had been moved to the first quarter of 2025.
Externally, the updated F-150 has a restyled grille, bumpers and lighting elements. There are also more three-dimensional tail light elements.
Newly available on the updated F-150 is the Pro Access Tailgate, that’s essentially an swing gate integrated into the regular fold-down tailgate that can open all the way out to 100 degrees.
This trick tailgate is conceptually similar to the Chevrolet Multi-Flex tailgate offered on the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC MultiPro tailgate available on the GMC Sierra and Hummer EV pickup, as well as the Ram Multifunction Tailgate offered on the Ram 1500.
The F-150’s Pro Access Tailgate avoids hitting the tow bar when opening, and it also allows owners to access items in the tub more easily. There’s also an available rear step to make getting up in the tub simpler.
A regular fold-down tailgate is still also available.
Inside, the entire Ford F-150 range now comes with a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard. The current F-150 range in Australia opens with an 8.0-inch instrument cluster screen and 8.0-inch touchscreen.
There’s also an available head-up display in the updated model.
Ford has also made updates to the Raptor which has yet to be confirmed for our market, including new Fox Dual Live Valve shock absorbers for a “more confident, controlled riding experience”.
In the US the Ford F-150 the standard 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine has been dropped. The range now opens with the EcoBoost 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6.
All the other engine options remain unchanged. These comprise the EcoBoost 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6, 3.5-litre EcoBoost hybrid, 3.5-litre High Output twin-turbo V6 in the Raptor, 5.0-litre V8, and a 5.2-litre supercharged V8 in the Raptor R.
Here in Australia, the only engine offered in the F-150 is the twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6, producing 298kW of power and 678Nm of torque.
Ford Australia has previously said it’s aware of the F-150 Hybrid, Raptor, V8, and all-electric Lightning options and hasn’t ruled out bringing them Down Under, but only once the remanufacturing process is established and demand for the EcoBoost has been proven.
Updated Platinum
But the remanufacturing process has gotten off to a rocky start, with multiple recalls and stop-sales. While Stellantis (Ram), General Motors (Chevrolet) and Toyota chose Walkinshaw as their remanufacturing partner in Australia, Ford went with RMA Automotive with which it had an existing relationship.
Though the F-150 was approved for sale by the Australian Government, it was later revealed various features were in contravention of Australian Design Rules (ADRs) and F-150s – including those already delivered to customers – have had to have rectification work undertaken.
Much of this has revolved around lighting elements that didn’t meet ADRs, though the F-150 has also been hit by recalls for issues with the clock spring and steering.
Current XLT
Owners of affected F-150s were compensated with five years or 75,000km of complimentary servicing if their pickup was delivered or contracted by May 6, 2024.
Ford has also been providing monetary compensation to F-150 owners, with between $1000 and $2500 on the table for affected customers.
F-150 deliveries to customers have resumed, providing the vehicles had the necessary rectification work completed before delivery.
Ford F-150 Australian rollout timeline
- November 2023: Local deliveries begin
- January 1, 2024: Customer deliveries halted due to turbocharger fault
- January 18, 2024: Recall notice for loss of steering control posted, 443 examples affected
- January 30, 2024: Recall notice for steering wheel clock spring fault posted, nine examples affected
- March 22, 2024: Recall notice for ADR 13 posted, 2020 LWB examples affected
- April 29, 2024: RMA-to-dealer shipments paused due to undisclosed issue
- May 7, 2024: Customer deliveries halted due to multiple ADR breaches
- June 21, 2024: Ford Australia announces rectification measures, compensation
MORE: Everything Ford F-150
