Ford F-150 Finally Tows Hands-Free — and Gets Its First Carhartt Edition
The refreshed pickup pairs hands-free highway towing with a larger standard EcoBoost, a returning V8, cheaper Tremor and Raptor models, and a $4,195 Carhartt package.
Ford opened order books for the 2027 F-150 on Tuesday, and the headline addition is a feature Chevrolet and GMC buyers have had for four years: hands-free highway driving with a trailer attached. The refresh also brings a larger standard engine, the V8's return to the top trims, cheaper off-road models, and the first F-150 Carhartt.
BlueCruise with Towing lets the driver go hands-free on more than 130,000 miles of prequalified divided highways — Ford's Blue Zones — while pulling a boat, camper, or trailer. Ford says more than 75 percent of F-150 buyers tow with their trucks, and the feature costs nothing extra for owners with an active BlueCruise subscription. It works on every BlueCruise-equipped trim, from XLT and Tremor up to Platinum.
There are guardrails. According to InsideEVs, the system handles trailers up to 10,000 pounds, requires the driver to enter a trailer profile with accurate dimensions before it activates, won't change lanes on its own or operate in construction zones, and caps speed at 75 mph. It remains a Level 2 setup: hands off, eyes on. GM's Super Cruise has allowed hands-free trailering since 2022, so this closes the most visible driver-assist gap between the F-150 and the Silverado and Sierra.
A bigger base engine and a V8 comeback
The 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 is gone. A new 3.0-liter EcoBoost built on the same architecture becomes the standard engine, and Ford says peak output and capability carry over unchanged — the gain is roughly 10 to 11 percent more torque in the rev range where daily driving actually happens, with peak pulling power arriving sooner. For reference, the outgoing 2.7-liter was rated at 325 hp and 400 lb-ft.
Higher up the ladder, the 5.0-liter V8 (400 hp, 410 lb-ft) returns to King Ranch and Platinum for the first time since 2023, making the naturally aspirated engine available across the whole range. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost continues with 500 lb-ft and a 13,500-pound maximum tow rating, while the PowerBoost hybrid delivers 570 lb-ft and up to 7.2 kW of Pro Power Onboard generator capacity.
Ford is also cutting the cost of entry to its off-road trucks. A new STX-based Tremor drops dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, the B&O audio, and the power sliding rear window, while an entry Raptor loses the head-up display, fog lamps, the 2-kW generator, and the power-adjustable steering column. In both cases the chassis hardware stays put; Ford didn't include pricing for either in its announcement.
The Carhartt treatment reaches the F-150
After launching a Super Duty version in May, Ford is bringing the Carhartt package to its half-ton for the first time. It's a $4,195 option on 4x4 XLT SuperCrew models — the same price Ford charges on the Super Duty — and the F-150 Carhartt starts at $62,660 before destination charges.
The package covers unique 20-inch wheels, Carhartt-logo fender vents and badging, rocker and tailgate graphics, a cowl hood, dual exhaust, off-road running boards, and a branded spray-in bedliner.
Inside are two-tone Carhartt seat covers, accent stitching on the door panels, console lid, and steering wheel, and logo all-weather floor mats.
Elsewhere in the lineup, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trims get redesigned grilles and new wheel designs — changes Ford attributes to customer requests for a more modern take on a familiar look.
Orders for the 2027 F-150 are open now, with the Carhartt model reaching customers in early 2027. The Super Duty Carhartt is already shipping.
