Randall Reed’s Planet Ford team in Humble, Texas is please to learn that once again Ford, America’s truck leader, has earned top honors at the Texas Auto Writers Association Texas Truck Rodeo.

This is the 14th time that the Ford F-Series has roped in the most prestigious award. That’s right, the 2018 F-150 earned Truck of Texas at the 24th annual competition. In addition, the F-150 Raptor won the Off-Road Pickup Truck category and earned the highest overall personal appeal score and best overall exterior score across all participating vehicles.

“With the new 2018 F-150, we’re honored to earn back-to-back Truck of Texas awards for F-Series, a recognition that speaks to the truck team’s dedication to our hardworking customers,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president and president, North America. “That’s especially true in Texas – truck capital of the world.”

At the Texas Truck Rodeo at Longhorn River Ranch, journalists evaluated trucks on both on- and off-road courses over a two-day period. The panel previously awarded Truck of Texas honors to Ford F-Series in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2003-09, 2011, 2014 and 2016.

“The competition was incredibly fierce at this year’s Texas Truck Rodeo,” said Nic Phillips, TAWA president. “More than 70 member journalists put in more than 300 hours of driving time evaluating the vehicles presented. The results in several categories are separated by the narrowest of margins, just tenths and hundredths of a point, confirming just how competitive the trucks and utility vehicles are today.

“Ford’s 2018 F-150 pickup, boosted by its extreme-performance 2018 Raptor, along with updated EcoBoost® engines and 10-speed transmissions, convinced our journalists to bestow the trophy,” he added.

New 2018 F-150 Even Tougher, Smarter & More Capable

New features on the Ford F-150 include standard Auto Start-Stop for all engines, all-new 3.3-liter V6 with port and direct-injection technology and flex-fuel capability, and electronic six-speed automatic transmission with selectable drive modes – normal, tow/haul and sport. Electronic 10-speed automatic features selectable drive modes – normal, tow/haul, snow/wet, eco-select and sport (standard with all-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost, 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 5.0-liter V8 engines).

Second-generation 2.7-liter EcoBoost now has advanced dual port and direct-injection technology. Enhanced 5.0-liter V8 brings significant upgrades including advanced dual port and direct-injection technology, plus spray-on bore liner technology. Major exterior freshening across the lineup includes new grilles, bumpers, lighting, tailgate outer, appliqués and wheels.

Interior refresh on XLT Sport, XLT Special Edition, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum and Limited includes color and material changes for seats, instrument panel and console trim. For King Ranch trucks, the new interior leather color is Kingsville, while Platinum gets Dark Marsala and F-150 Limited gets Navy Pier. Leather-trimmed bucket seats with flow-through console are now available on the base Lariat truck. All-new B&O PLAY™ premium audio by HARMAN is also available.

In 2018, SYNC® Connect is now optional on XLT and Lariat trucks, and standard on King Ranch, Platinum and Limited; it includes a Wi-Fi hotspot for connecting up to 10 devices. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality and Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection are available. A Technology Package is now available with the 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine.

With an EPA-estimated rating of 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined, the 2.7-liter EcoBoost-equipped F-150 returns best-in-class fuel economy. Powered by the 3.5-liter EcoBoost, F-150 offers best-in-class towing of 13,200 pounds. The enhanced 5.0-liter V8 brings a best-in-class payload capacity of 3,270 pounds.

Built at Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan and Kansas City Assembly Plant in Missouri, the 2018 F-150 is available at Ford dealerships nationwide now.

Ford F-150 Raptor Stands Alone in High-Performance Off-Road Segment

The purpose-built, off-road F-150 Raptor builds on the success of its predecessor with performance gains and new technology. The 2018 Raptor stands alone among high-performance off-road trucks, featuring a high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine generating 450 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque, plus a segment-first 10-speed automatic transmission and six-mode Terrain Management System™. Its high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body saves 500 pounds over the previous model.

F-150 Raptor’s competition-proven chassis sets the performance bar with its second-generation BFGoodrich KO2 tires designed exclusively for the truck’s extended off-road capabilities. In addition, upgraded FOX shocks, jointly engineered by Ford Performance and FOX, are 44 percent larger with three-inch-diameter shock canisters (2.5 inches previously) and nine-stage bypass damping to deliver improved suspension control. F-150 Raptor’s shock design enables an increase in suspension travel to 13 inches at the front and 13.9 inches at the rear, a gain of 0.8 inch and 1.9 inches in wheel travel compared to its predecessor.

Ready for a new Ford truck, car or SUV? ake the short drive on Hwy. 59 to Planet Ford in Humble (serving Kingwood, Atascocita, Katy, Conroe, greater Houston). You can also shop our huge selection online anytime at www.PlanetFord59.com!