New 2015 Ford F-150 goes lighter, smarter — and maybe better than ever

This is the next version of the Ford F-150 pickup, the most profitable vehicle Ford sells and the most popular automobile in America. While it looks new, the biggest changes lie under the paint, where the body has been made from aluminum instead of steel — a costly yet revolutionary change that helps the new model shed 700 lbs. over the previous versions, and could give Ford years of dominance among truck buyers.

Think of it as "The Biggest Loser," pickup edition.

Under development for six years, Ford started almost from scratch in its designs — driven by a desire to future-proof its bellweather model against ever-increasing demands for fuel efficiency. And by making a radical switch to aluminum, Ford can then make other changes, like smaller engines, without weakening the F-150 or upsetting its loyal owners — at least in theory.

First, a bit about why aluminum's such a big deal: Many luxury cars use aluminum frames for lighter weight and more stiffness, including Jaguar, Audi and Land Rover. And a few mainstream models, including the current F-150, have aluminum hoods to shed a few pounds. But despite its rust-proof advantages, aluminum has never been the chief metal for vehicles because of its relatively higher cost versus steel and the different methods needed to form it (unlike steel that can be welded, aluminum melts at a lower temperature, and typically needs to be riveted or glued in most vehicles.)