Ford has increased the fuel efficiency of its 2015 F-150 by up to 29 percent with a lighter-weight aluminum body, pushing highway mpg for a gasoline-powered pickup to 26 mpg.

When equipped with the 2.7-liter V-6 EcoBoost, the rear-wheel-drive F-150 achieves 26 mpg highway, 19 mpg city, and 22 mpg combined, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Ford has shed more than 700 pounds from the 2014 model.

The most fuel efficient F-150 exceeds the comparable 2015 Chevrolet Silverado with the 4.3-liter V-6, which has been rated at 24 mpg highway, 18 mpg city, and 20 mpg combined. The gasoline-powered 2015 Ram 1500 gets 25/17/20 mpg in comparable cycles, while the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel gets 28/20/23 mpg.

“We set out to create the future of tough with the new F-150,” said Raj Nair, Ford's group vice president for global product development. “We are delivering with the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever — and now the highest EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of any full-size gas-powered pickup in America.”

Seven other 2015 F-150 models have also received EPA ratings, including the rear-wheel 3.5-liter V-6 Ti-VCT (25/18/20); all-wheel 3.5-liter V-6 Ti-VCT (23/17/19); all-wheel 2.7-liter EcoBoost (23/18/20); rear-wheel 5.0-liter V-8 Ti-VCT (22/15/18); all-wheel 5.0-liter V-8 Ti-VCT (21/15/17); rear-wheel 3.5L EcoBoost (24/17/20); and all-wheel 3.5L EcoBoost (23/17/19).

Related:

Photos: Assembling Ford's Aluminum Body F-150