2021 Ford F-150 Has Hidden Easter Eggs, Special Features on Multiple Trims Including King Ranch

We are far from Easter Sunday, although after a lockdown and a pandemic, who even really knows what day or month it is. So maybe it is almost Easter. If you look at the new 2021 Ford F-150, it feels like Easter as Ford’s designers have hidden a few “Easter eggs” in the 14th-generation F-150.

Jeep made Easter eggs famous as they were the first automaker to employ such a feature. Easter eggs are special design elements that are often hidden in obscure areas within a vehicle. Now, Easter eggs are a craze and Ford has jumped in on it, with the new F-150.

Easter Eggs in 2021 Ford F-150
There are three different Easter eggs hidden within the 2021 Ford F-150, found on multiple trims. One is specific for all U.S. bought F-150s and shows a bit of patriotism as well as a point of pride for the F-150.

Etched into instrument panel, near the furthest vent, and close to the driver and passenger door is an American flag (main photo at the top of the page). It’s subtle, but clearly there. And this is Ford thumbing its nose at its competition in General Motors and Fiat (Ram) who both make their trucks in Mexico. Ford does not. In fact, a recent survey by Cars.com named the F-150 the most American-made pickup truck.

So this Easter egg is clearly making sure the consumer is aware of that. And good for Ford, I say. What a great hidden Easter egg that is.

In another American-made homage, Ford has another not-so-subtle Easter egg for the XLT Sport trim, where a map of Detroit is laser-etched onto the door appliques (pictured above).

A third Easter egg is exclusive to the swanky King Ranch trim. A laser-etched image of the original King Ranch Carriage House (which the trim is named after) can be found on the all-new King Ranch’s instrument panel (pictured just above). Ford calls it a “metalized horse collar” that wraps around the upper instrument panel of the King Ranch for the 2021 Ford F-150. This is the only “Easter egg” found in the King Ranch, but there are some more exclusive things that can be found on the 2021 version.

Highlights of the 2021 Ford F-150 King Ranch
As I mentioned in my article on the reveal of the 2021 Ford F-150, I named the Max Recline Seats as one of my favorite new features in the 14th-generation F-150 (pictured above). The Max Recline Seats are available on the King Ranch trim (along with the Platinum and Limited models). These seats, according to Ford, “provide ultimate comfort and fold flat to nearly 180 degrees with the bottom cushion and upper back support rotating forward up to 10 degrees for maximum comfort.”

As you would expect from the high-end King Ranch trim, there is plenty of luxury and exclusivity related to this trim. The seats have a unique lasso perforation that is inspired by the King Ranch rope twist logo.

Additionally, there is King Ranch branding along the doors which are also wrapped in premium leather (pictured below). And a King Ranch-exclusive “Norias” brown leather wraps around the front instrument panel which ends with the aforementioned metalized American flag Easter egg.

You can upgrade the sound system of the 2021 F-150 with an optional 18-speaker Bang and Olufsen Unleashed system. Speakers are in the headliner and the front headrests on this upgrade package which is available on the King Ranch trim along with Lariat, Platinum and standard on Limited.

The King Ranch has long been my favorite F-150 trim. Of course these niceties and this high-end trim comes at a high price tag. Ford has not announced pricing yet for any of the 2021 F-150 trims, but you can expect the King Ranch to exceed $60-70,000.

There is so much more to talk about regarding the 2021 Ford F-150, but I just wanted to cover these Easter eggs and the King Ranch trim. I love fun features like this. They’re fun, quirky little things that add excitement and personality to vehicles. It shows that Ford’s designers don’t take themselves too seriously either. Which considering how much pressure Ford is under to make the F-150 a huge success, that’s much appreciated.

Jimmy Dinsmore has been an automotive journalist for more than a decade and been a writer since the high school. His Driver’s Side column features new car reviews and runs in several newspapers throughout the country. He is also co-author of the book “Mustang by Design” and “Ford Trucks: A Unique Look at the Technical History of America’s Most Popular Truck”. Also, Jimmy works in the social media marketing world for a Canadian automotive training aid manufacturing company. Follow Jimmy on Facebook, Twitter, at his special Ford F-150 coverage on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can read the most of Jimmy's stories by searching Torque News Ford for daily Ford vehicle report.