The F-150’s Aluminum Diet

When Ford rolls out its redesigned F-150 pickup truck here on Monday morning to kick off two days of press previews for the 2014 North American International Auto Show, the automaker will be making one of the boldest product gambles in its 111-year history.

.. By Ford’s calculations, the 2015 truck, equipped with a new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 and a 6-speed automatic transmission, will be capable of achieving “close to” 30 miles a gallon in the Environmental Protection Agency’s highway test when it goes on sale this year

.. Engineers involved with the program credit Alan Mulally, Ford’s chief executive, with supporting the lightweight F-Series plan throughout the financial crisis, when Ford was forced to drop some vehicle programs and mortgage assets to avoid the financial hardships that hit General Motors and Chrysler.