DEARBORN, MI- Ford Motor Co. took more weight out of the 2015 F-150 than the up to 700 pounds that was reported during the vehicle's unveiling earlier this year.

The Dearborn-based automaker today announced the nearly all-aluminum bodied pickup can weigh over 700 pounds less than a comparable outgoing model, including a well-equipped Lariat crew cab 4x4 at a weight savings of roughly 732 pounds.

Doug Scott, Ford truck marketing manager, said the weight savings are a catalyst for improving the performance of the full-size pickup.

"We believe this truck is the toughest, smartest, most capable we've ever built," he said.

The vehicle's weight savings, depending on trim and options, can fluctuate in the 625-pound range to more than 732 pounds, according to Scott.

Engineers have said the weight savings obviously significantly came from the aluminum body, but also the primarily high-strength steel frame and new engine options. The Ecoboost engine weighs roughly 25 pounds less than the 5.0-liter V8 engine in the 2014 models.

Ford announced the weight savings as part of an event Tuesday to announce the performance specifications of the new 2.7-liter EcoBoost and 3.5-liter V6 engines.

The high-output, twin-turbo 2.7-liter EcoBoost produces 325 horsepower and 375 lb.-ft. of torque – improving the power-to-weight ratio of the 2015 truck by 15 percent over the 2014 5.0-liter V8-equipped F-150 with similar torque output, thanks to vehicle light-weighting.

The 2.7-liter EcoBoost 4x2 has a maximum payload rating of 2,250 pounds and maximum tow rating of 8,500 pounds.

The 3.5-liter V6 produces 283 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine has a maximum payload of 1,910 pounds and a maximum tow rating of 7,600 pounds – unsurpassed for standard V6 light-duty pickup trucks.

Ford did not announce the expected fuel economy of the engines. Since the nearly all-aluminum-bodied vehicle debuted at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, industry analysts have speculated that the vehicle might be capable of achieving 30 mpg – an impressive benchmark for pickup trucks.

Currently, the most fuel-efficient full-size pickup on the road is Chrysler's diesel version of the Ram 1500 that is EPA-rated at up to 28 miles per gallon.

In an attempt to meet ambitious government fuel economy regulations by 2025, all automakers, including Ford and its crosstown rivals, have been scrambling to reduce weight of vehicles, while adding additional technologies.

The 2015 F-150 – due in dealerships late this year – is the most important vehicle launch for Ford this year, if not this decade.

With its more than 95 percent aluminum body and new high-strength steel chassis, the 2015 F-150 is up to 700 pounds lighter than the outgoing model. The weight reduction, according to Ford engineers, spawned numerous other improvements for the pickup.

The F-150 is manufactured at Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Mich., and Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo. Dearborn production of the 2015 F-150 will start in the fourth-quarter, followed by Kansas City in 2015.

Due to the truck's significant changes, officials increased shutdown time at the two full-size pickup truck plants to roughly 13 weeks combined, including from Aug. 25 through Sept. 21 at Dearborn Truck Plant.

Michael Wayland covers the automotive industry for MLive. Email him at MWayland@mlive.com & follow him on Twitter @MikeWayland or Google+.