Six things we learned about the aluminum-body F-150

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Plenty's been written about the 2015 Ford F-150 pickup, but some revelations remain.

Six things we learned about the new, aluminum-body pickup at an intense series of Ford briefings Tuesday night:

• Sign-makers are working up removable, sticky-film decals because magnetic signs won't stick to aluminum. You'll still be able to proclaim, "My kid's an honor student," or, "Best Gutter Cleaning in Three Counties" using the new slap-on appliques that independent retailers expect to be selling soon.

• Aluminum body didn't cut 770 pounds of weight. About 500 pounds. The rest is from lighter steel frame, heavy use of high-strength, lightweight steel throughout the truck. The frame is 78% high-strength steel, up from 22% in the 2014 F-150.

• The 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 Ford's promoting as a good blend of power, mileage will be a $495 option when the truck's launched late this year. discounted from the $795 sticker price to get dealers to order the engine and buyers to consider it. Power ratings: 325 horsepower, 375 pounds-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. It will be able to tow 8,500 pounds. No official mpg ratings on it or the other powertrains until November. The 2.7 engine also will be offered as the high-performance choice in the new version of the Ford Escape Sport.

• Extended-cab trucks will have rear-hinged "suicide" doors that open 170 degrees – almost flat to the bed – for easier entry and exit.

• Rearview camera's still mounted in the tailgate handle. Ford didn't find a way around the fact that you drop the gate and you're blind backing up.

• Ford's working on ways to put 12-volt and 115-volt outlets in the cargo bed to charge tools, toys that ride in back. Challenges are how to make wiring invulnerable between cab and bed; how to make electric outlets impervious to car washes, rainstorms.