As the definitive pickup truck in Ford’s best-selling F-Series, the Ford F-150 calls for a premium audio system that makes a powerful statement. Building on its longstanding partnership with Ford, HARMAN is proud to announce that its first two-tier B&O premium audio offering – B&O and B&O Unleashed – will debut in the 2021 Ford F-150.
Revealed on June 25th in a live-streamed event, the all-new F-150 boasts an overhauled interior with greater connectivity and enhanced in-cabin experiences. Offered for the first time in any vehicle, the 18-speaker B&O Unleashed Sound System, features headrest and headliner speakers, for exhilarating, multi-dimensional audio performance that transforms the truck cabin into a personalized, immersive environment. The available 8-speaker B&O Sound System will be offered on expanded trims, starting with XLT, affording more F-150 enthusiasts the opportunity to equip their trucks with powerful B&O sound.
B&O and Ford announced an exclusive global partnership in 2016, integrating B&O Sound Systems across most of the Ford lineup, including the hotly anticipated all-new Mustang Mach-E. The brands share a boundary-pushing heritage and commitment to iconic product design and inspiring performance.
B&O’s unique approach to sound design creates a customized audio experience for Ford owners, with specifically tailored speaker placement and calibration for each truck in the Ford lineup, where B&O is offered. B&O sound engineers spend hundreds of benchmarking and dynamic tuning hours to ensure optimal sound is maintained in the cabin, no matter what the driving conditions are like or where someone sits.
The 2021 Ford F-150 will offer two tiers of available B&O signature sound:
B&O
The 8-speaker, 640-watt B&O system is expertly optimized for every seat in the truck cabin. It features a newly developed Externally Coupled Subwoofer (ECS) which delivers the same heart-pounding bass as a traditional application, but with reduced weight and saved space, for enhanced efficiency. Advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) enriches listening experiences with Speed Adaptive Volume and Surround Sound. Taking inspiration from B&O portable speakers, powder-coated steel grilles subtly signal the iconic B&O brand DNA.
The 8-speaker B&O system is available in the F-150 XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trims.
B&O Unleashed
Reflecting its name, the all-new 18-speaker B&O Unleashed Sound System takes powerful B&O sound to even greater heights with two groundbreaking features:
- Headliner speakers introduce multi-dimensional sound for enhanced immersion from every angle.
- Headrest speakers in the front driver and passenger seats deliver richness expertly calibrated for near-ear audio performance.
Complementing the luxurious design of the top F-150 models, the B&O Unleashed speakers are wrapped in perforated leather headrests and laser-etched aluminum grilles that mirror the strength of the military-grade, aluminum-alloy F-150 body. A dynamic fade pattern flows seamlessly to the edge of the speaker grilles for flawless interior design continuity.
The B&O Unleashed system also incorporates the same space and weight saving ECS subwoofer, along with DSP features such as Speed Adaptive Volume and Surround Sound. The 18-speaker B&O Unleashed system is available in the F-150 Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum, and standard on Limited.
“We’re thrilled to be growing our fruitful partnership with Ford with an expanded range of B&O audio options available for a wider group of F-Series owners than ever before,” said Bill Wyman, Vice President of Global Marketing, Car Audio, HARMAN. “For the F-150 that puts its heart into every job, the B&O and new B&O Unleashed Sound Systems inspire powerful emotion with every listen. They deliver exactly what you’d expect from an iconic Ford truck with such a loyal fanbase.”
The 2021 Ford F-150 is the latest example of the way Ford and B&O are bringing the transformative power of music to vehicles, to elevate everyday experiences wherever our journeys may take us. Expected availability is late 2020.
Note: Pre-production models shown in images. Select images are computer generated.