Topic: Preview: 2015 Ford F-150

[Autos_Editor]

Ford aims to enter fourth decade of market dominance with 'tough and smart' 2015 Ford F-150.

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[dutch]

Some nice new features - I like the lights in the box. Thought styling wise it looks a little like the GMC. Will have to wait to see one in person to truly judge. Miss having a full size truck.....

[Northernridge]

Some nice new features - I like the lights in the box. Thought styling wise it looks a little like the GMC. Will have to wait to see one in person to truly judge. Miss having a full size truck.....

Agree about the box lights and the GMC-esque styling. I also like the integrated ramps.

Oh, and how about that coaching debut last night?

[Fobroader]

Hmm...the thing looks better, its lighter, has a lot more features that a truck user would find handy (bed lights, integrated ramps) and the interior is better....sounds like a win win. Time for a D3 truck test 

[dutch]

"Oh, and how about that coaching debut last night?"

I don't think the change in coach was the reason for the win. A Phoenix team playing like the Jets have been playing was what got the win.

That said I was cheering loudly!

[nlm]

Thought styling wise it looks a little like the GMC.

Agree about the box lights and the GMC-esque styling.

Interesting...my first thought was a very Ram-esque front grille.

[JohnM]

Too many pickups are being used as automotive jewelry and personal transport as opposed to the tools they were designed to be.  That said, the 700 pounds cut from the 150 is really impressive.  There are bound to be a lot of other fuel efficiency advances in the new model and it will be interesting to see exactly what effect this effort has on mileage in a road test.  I wonder if Ford has a hybrid F150 under wraps?

Cheers,
John M.

[Snowman]

What is all the aluminum panels mean for the auto body repair shops and insurance costs?

[Fobroader]

What is all the aluminum panels mean for the auto body repair shops and insurance costs?

I know when the A8 came out it was a huge PITA to get it repaired. My buddies dad had one and was in a fender bender and it took a really long time, the car had to be shipped somewhere and it cost a whole bunch of cash....that was a long time ago though. Still, dont know how your average body man is going to deal with aluminum repairs.

[aquadorhj]

What is all the aluminum panels mean for the auto body repair shops and insurance costs?

does that even make any difference though.?

i mean, jaguars for instance.. body panels are "bonded" to chassis.  body shops can't weld it on anymore.

maybe more specialized aluminum bonding/welding machines at body shops?  (thus hiking body work prices)

[Concerned Commuter]

Thought styling wise it looks a little like the GMC.

Agree about the box lights and the GMC-esque styling.

Interesting...my first thought was a very Ram-esque front grille.

Oh geez and it has a tailgate that looks like a drawbridge.  Must have copied the Friendly Giant's Castle.  It also has tires, so it must have copied the chariot from a chariot back in the dark ages, and it has etc. etc.  Get over the copying thing already.  This truck has been in development since 09.  Next you are gonna start harping on how the Mustang and Fusion have copied Aston Martin, how Hyundai has copied Jaguar and virtually every other automaker out there. 

If you think that this grill looks anything like a RAM grill, I want some of that hallucinogen you are on....

[timelynoise]

Too many pickups are being used as automotive jewelry and personal transport as opposed to the tools they were designed to be. 

Actually John I think the trucks are being used in a way that's very close to what they were designed for. Many of the features listed are far more at home on automotive jewellry and personal personal transportation than a work truck. The traditional blue collar work truck has been a fraction of pickup truck sales for years.

This is one of the joys of living in a country where Kim Il Jung isn't in charge. Embrace the freedom, celebrate our right to buy whatever you can afford and use it any way you want. Freedom is a wonderful thing; it includes people doing things you don't agree with. (including posts on web sites!http://www.autos.ca/forum/Smileys/CarTalk/grin.gif) It's pointless to suggest that people should buy things and use them the way you think they should.

[ArticSteve]

What is all the aluminum panels mean for the auto body repair shops and insurance costs?

It's big.  Can't repair an aluminum car in Owen Sound.  Needs to go to KW or GTA.  Needs an entire aluminum shop all with special tools, welders ,,,, the list is endless.  That's $600 in transportation costs just to start.

Currently, Ins. Co. are sucking up the extra costs, more or less, for the Jags, etc.  However, if mainstream vehicles like the F150 come more common, expect a hefty surcharge. 

[OliverD]

What is all the aluminum panels mean for the auto body repair shops and insurance costs?

It's big.  Can't repair an aluminum car in Owen Sound.  Needs to go to KW or GTA.  Needs an entire aluminum shop all with special tools, welders ,,,, the list is endless.  That's $600 in transportation costs just to start.

Currently, Ins. Co. are sucking up the extra costs, more or less, for the Jags, etc.  However, if mainstream vehicles like the F150 come more common, expect a hefty surcharge.

On the other hand, more mainstream aluminum vehicles also means more shops will invest in the new equipment.

[dutch]

Thought styling wise it looks a little like the GMC.

Agree about the box lights and the GMC-esque styling.

Interesting...my first thought was a very Ram-esque front grille.

Oh geez and it has a tailgate that looks like a drawbridge.  Must have copied the Friendly Giant's Castle.  It also has tires, so it must have copied the chariot from a chariot back in the dark ages, and it has etc. etc.  Get over the copying thing already.  This truck has been in development since 09.  Next you are gonna start harping on how the Mustang and Fusion have copied Aston Martin, how Hyundai has copied Jaguar and virtually every other automaker out there. 

If you think that this grill looks anything like a RAM grill, I want some of that hallucinogen you are on....

Friendly Giants Castle.... that's funny. Nice to hear you express your opinion on the forum too, next time have a coffee first 

[canuckystan]

Agreed!  Why people bother posting that "nobody needs an SUV" or "everyone needs snow tires" or "trucks are fer werkin' only" is beyond me.

Why do you need a big screen TV? Or a fancy watch? Or a [insert nearly any luxury consumer item here].

Stop trying to control others and live your life - it will be happier that way.

Thought styling wise it looks a little like the GMC.

Agree about the box lights and the GMC-esque styling.

Interesting...my first thought was a very Ram-esque front grille.

Oh geez and it has a tailgate that looks like a drawbridge.  Must have copied the Friendly Giant's Castle.  It also has tires, so it must have copied the chariot from a chariot back in the dark ages, and it has etc. etc.  Get over the copying thing already.  This truck has been in development since 09.  Next you are gonna start harping on how the Mustang and Fusion have copied Aston Martin, how Hyundai has copied Jaguar and virtually every other automaker out there. 

If you think that this grill looks anything like a RAM grill, I want some of that hallucinogen you are on....

[Danno001]

Interesting that they have an image with the 2015 equipped with a snow plough. The current F150 is not rated to plough.   Need to move to a F250/F350 to get plough rating.

[mixmanmash]

Interesting that they have an image with the 2015 equipped with a snow plough. The current F150 is not rated to plough.   Need to move to a F250/F350 to get plough rating.

Not true.  You can get a plough on a current F150.  I believe you have to have certain options and Ford even shows a snow plough prep option on their online builder.

[Neromanceres]

Looks like a good truck for Ford.  Going to an Aluminum bed will require a lot of new manufacturing expertise.  I like the Front end styling of the Truck the rear not so much.  The interior seems to use nice materials and looks a lot like the Dodge trucks.

As for Ecoboost people call these engines technologically advanced.  I fail to see what is advanced about them?  They are turbo charged directed injected motors with variable valve timing.  There are many other companies that have been doing this for nearly a decade and many years before Ford did it.  The only thing Ford did is attach a well crafted marketing term to it and put it in a truck.

For the weight the press release says "Up too 700lbs lighter".  So this might be due to several factors obviously the engineers have worked hard on weight reduction and aluminum panels.  Also Ford has dropped their big V8 motor which also makes the numbers look better.  GM's trucks are already 250 - 500lbs lighter depending on configuration so this will bring the new F150 down around the new GM trucks.  The RAM is the heaviest of the bunch (even compared to the current F150).

[Danno001]

Interesting that they have an image with the 2015 equipped with a snow plough. The current F150 is not rated to plough.   Need to move to a F250/F350 to get plough rating.

Not true.  You can get a plough on a current F150.  I believe you have to have certain options and Ford even shows a snow plough prep option on their online builder.

Went through the online builder site and can only see the snow plough prep on the F250/350 models.
F150 - no luck. Some web chatter on Ford making the change for 2013 MY .
Not sure why I can't see the option.