January 6, 2002

Detroit Auto Show
Ford Mighty F-350 TONKA
You're gonna need a very big sandbox..

Ford Motor Company Vice President of Design J Mays introduces the Mighty F-350 Tonka Truck concept as it makes its worldwide debut January 6, 2002 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Click image to enlarge

Detroit, Michigan - The boldly-styled Ford Mighty F-350 TONKA, a bright yellow and chrome concept pickup truck, showcases an advanced new powertrain and a fresh design approach from Ford that may preview future Ford pickups.

For more than 50 years, TONKA - which means "great" in Sioux - has been synonymous with durable children's toy trucks. "We've had fun bringing to life a full-size pickup that reminds kids of all ages of the trucks they used to loved to punish in their sandboxes," says J Mays, vice president, Design, Ford Motor Company vice president, Design. "This truck is unmistakably a Ford and signals the direction we will take Tough Truck design in the future," he says.

Its confident stance, drop-down beltline, round wheel openings and oversize grille with side nostrils complement the personality of the Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup. Clean, sheer surfaces with distinctive geometric forms and strong lines introduce a modernized, highly structured look, emphasizing the an overall sense of power.

An open, B-pillarless design with rear-hinged rear doors extends an uninhibited welcome into the Mighty F-350's extended cabin. Dual rear wheels with 22-inch rims and custom Goodyear tires and a shortened, six-foot open bed give the Mighty F-350 a refined ruggedness designed with the truck enthusiast in mind. Chrome is featured generously, creating a striking profile on this concept derived from the popular F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab.

The Mighty F-350 TONKA concept truck's interior is designed to be functional and sophisticated, placing the driver in full command. Modular, customizable snap-on gauges and oversize, aircraft-inspired toggle switches deliver versatility and durability. A manual Torquemaster controller allows the driver to shift torque left or right, front or back.

Click image to enlarge

The Commander's Seat, built on a full-floating suspension, is inspired by the seats used in heavy-duty, long-distance Class 8 rigs. It is completely adjustable and introduces a new level of total comfort for pickup trucks.

A combined storage system and "smart box jump seat" positioned between the centre stack console and the front passenger seat allow ample room for a sixth passenger. Folding rear seats maximize usable space in the cabin and house removable "tool box" luggage. Rear head restraints fold up into the ceiling, allowing a clear view of the road.

The Mighty F-350 TONKA introduces a unique combination of technologies that deliver a cleaner, more efficient ride. The vehicle's Power Stroke Diesel Super-600 Concept diesel V-8 engine is teamed with the five-speed PowerTorq transmission, marking in Ford's first application of a five-speed automatic with a diesel engine. The 6.0-litre, 32-valve, turbocharged V-8 concept engine concept is rated at 350 horsepower and delivers up to 600 foot-pounds of torque when teamed with the PowerTorq automatic.

With lower emissions and better fuel economy than any V-8 diesel truck engine on the road today, this concept powertrain also features Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA). The HLA system, currently under research, is designed to improve fuel economy in large trucks by an estimated 25 to 35 percent in city driving. A reversible pump/motor attached to the driveshaft through a clutch system and an energy storage module work in tandem with the traditional powertrain. The HLA system recovers energy normally lost during vehicle deceleration, stores it in the form of hydraulic pressure and then reuses it during acceleration.

"We're committed to pushing the envelope and exploring ways to provide our customers with leading-edge powertrain technologies that are fully capable and socially responsible," says Richard Parry-Jones, Ford Motor Company group vice president, Global Product Development, and Chief Technical Officer, Ford Motor Companyand Chief Technical Officer. "Our commitment to innovation doesn't end with the gearbox or the powertrain/engine."

The Mighty F-350 TONKA concept truck features several technologies designed to deliver value and convenience. The truck's vehicle's air suspension - with sophisticated air springs replacing the conventional rear leaf and front coil springs - enables a "kneeling" function to ease entry and exit and assists in loading the truck bed. As the doors are opened, the Mighty F-350 lowers five inches and the running boards deploy. The truck reverts to its raised position once the doors are closed.

A camera-operated lane departure warning system helps keep the driver alert by emitting a soft audible sound signal if the vehicle unintentionally drifts outside of the lane. Additional cameras mounted within the bed help the driver monitor truck-to-trailer coupling, as well as reversing.

The Mighty F-350 TONKA concept also marks the debut of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in headlamp application, introducing new opportunities for advanced lighting technology. High intensity LED lights are featured prominently throughout the vehicle's interior and exterior: in low beam and fog lamps and in all of the signal lights, including rear combination lamps, the centre high-mounted stop light, front turn signals, and marker lights. This advanced lighting technology can deliver better-distributed illumination on the road than conventional halogen lights, as well as providing a means to reduce electrical power and emissions. While halogen bulbs take a fraction of a second to respond to an electrical input, LEDs respond instantly, giving valuable extra warning time for following traffic.

TONKA is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc., a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech.

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