2013 Ford F-Series: a Facelift for America's Sweetheart The Ford pickup range is America's perennial sales leader, so even a minor update warrants a visit to the heart of truck country. On Monday in Bruceville, Tex., the Ford chief executive, Alan R. Mulally, introduced the mildly refreshed 2013 F-150 half-ton pickup truck. Attending the event were alumni and educators from Future Farmers of America, an organization that works with Ford dealers to award scholarships to students in agricultural markets. At a glance the new F-150 is nearly identical to the current truck, but the 2013 model gets a revised grille with beefier crossbars. The truck also receives 18- or 20-inch wheels and additional brightwork. New for 2013 is the Limited, a luxury-oriented model, that Ford said in a media release would add "even more breadth" to a lineup that already included 10 variants on the F-150. According to Mike Levine, a Ford Trucks spokesman, the Limited will be available with the turbocharged EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6 engine, generating 365 horsepower - a popular choice with buyers of the 2012 F-150 - or the stout 411-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 power plant found elsewhere in the line, including in the Raptor. Those engines are available at other select F-150 trim levels, as are a 360-horsepower 5-liter V-8 and a normally aspirated 302-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6. The specifications for all four power plants are unchanged from their 2012 ratings. Newly available on some F-150 versions for 2013 are H.I.D. projector headlamps that are said to deliver improved visibility. This type of headlamp combines a high-intensity discharge bulb with special optics to provide a bright, focused bluish beam. Also offered are the power-telescoping trailer-tow sideview mirrors that were previously available on only heavy-duty F-Series models. The Sync voice-activated communications and entertainment system is standard equipment from the XLT through to the top of the range. A center-stack 4.2-inch touch screen can be paired with the system. Opt for a top-of-the-heap Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum or Limited F-150 and buyers receive the MyFord Touch telematics upgrade, with an 8-inch screen and voice-control capability for navigation and other functions. Ford asserts the touch parameters of the interface can be tailored to the needs of truck drivers, including those who wear work gloves. Inside, the center stack has been brought more in line with units in the automaker's cars, with a dual-level layout offset by four prominent audio and climate-control dials. Pricing for the 2013 F-150 will be announced closer to its delivery date this fall.