I think more an more vehicles will be using a lot more aluminum, carbon fiber and other lightweight materials to make the vehicles more fuel efficient.
Saving 700 lbs by extensive use of aluminum is not new, but it is a major paradigm shift for a pickup truck.
Only time will tell if Ford's F150 stays as King of truck sales in the US.
The problem with Motor Trends Car/Truck of the Year is that they only judge the vehicle based on the revolutionary changes without regard to the cost, usefullness, sales success or dependibility of the vehicle. Often times they pick vehicles that have barely made it to the dealers showrooms? As previously stated, Motor Trend Car of the Year awards includes many poorly designed vehicles. Sometimes the engineering revolution that earned the Motor Trend car of the Year, is the same engineering feat that later causes the vehicle to be considered a big failure.
...Rich