Ford automakers just announced what’s in store for the upcoming 2018 Ford F-150. The pickup will be receiving many new additions that improve fuel economy, horsepower, and handling.

For starters, the automakers will be offering an optional diesel engine, making it the first ever for the Ford F-150 series. The standard V6 engine will also be curtailed in size to improve gas mileage. It will utilize a 3.3-liter engine as opposed to the previous 3.5-liter variant. This is by no means a downgrade, especially when you consider that the lighter engine means a 5 percent boost of power-to-weight ratio.

The 2018 model with the new V6 engine is expected to be released this fall, while the diesel engine option is slated for spring next year.

All 2018 models will also be receiving a higher ratio of aluminum body frame. Aluminum was first used for the Ford F-150 for the 2015 model. This reduced body weight by about 700 pounds. The automaker has not revealed any specifics regarding fuel economy. It just noted that the higher aluminum construction will lead to increased capability and performance.

Innovations like these are what makes the Ford F-150 the best-selling light pickup in the U.S. The model also accounts for roughly a third of all Ford car sales.

The 2018 Ford Expedition will be receiving the all-aluminum treatment as well. The SUV will also be getting a 10-speed automatic transmission and start-stop technology as standard. This model is due for a fall arrival.

You can stop by Folsom Lake Ford to look up the 2017 Ford F-150. This model year still offers much of what is anticipated in the 2018 model. Speak with a Ford dealer near Sacramento, CA, to learn more about the upcoming 2018 inventory.