Ford considering pickup positioned below F-150
December 31st, 1969
As customers shift away from heavy SUVs and pickups in droves Ford is looking at ways of maintaining its market leadership in the dwindling segment and is currently in the midst of creating a new pickup truck positioned below its market-leading F-150. Unlike its bigger brother, the baby pickup will feature lightweight construction and will be designed from the ground up with fuel-efficiency in mind.
Codenamed P525, the new pickup will be built on the F-150's platform to keep costs down and will likely go into production in around three years time. Ford's president of the Americas, Mark Fields, has previously admitted that the 'F' range of pickups is definitely an area for designers "to focus on", especially in light of new emissions laws being rolled out across the U.S., reports Automotive News.
The new pickup may become the revival of the F-100, a model that phased out in 1986 after the introduction of the F-150. There is also the possibility that the new pickup will replace the Ford Ranger, which might be on the chopping block in 2009 when the Ford Twin Cities plant closes.
Whichever direction the new pickup takes, it represents Ford's desire to regain lost footholds in the U.S. by following customer demand - whether or not the new pickup will satisfy these demands remains to be seen.
As customers shift away from heavy SUVs and pickups in droves Ford is looking at ways of maintaining its market leadership in the dwindling segment and is currently in the midst of creating a new pickup truck positioned below its market-leading F-150. Unlike its bigger brother, the baby pickup will feature lightweight construction and will be designed from the ground up with fuel-efficiency in mind.
Codenamed P525, the new pickup will be built on the F-150's platform to keep costs down and will likely go into production in around three years time. Ford's president of the Americas, Mark Fields, has previously admitted that the 'F' range of pickups is definitely an area for designers "to focus on", especially in light of new emissions laws being rolled out across the U.S., reports Automotive News.
The new pickup may become the revival of the F-100, a model that phased out in 1986 after the introduction of the F-150. There is also the possibility that the new pickup will replace the Ford Ranger, which might be on the chopping block in 2009 when the Ford Twin Cities plant closes.
Whichever direction the new pickup takes, it represents Ford's desire to regain lost footholds in the U.S. by following customer demand - whether or not the new pickup will satisfy these demands remains to be seen.
Ford considering pickup positioned below F-150
May 19th, 2008
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May 19th, 2008
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May 19th, 2008
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Codenamed P525, the new pickup will be built on the F-150's platform to keep costs down and will likely go into production in around three years time. Ford's president of the Americas, Mark Fields, has previously admitted that the 'F' range of pickups is definitely an area for designers "to focus on", especially in light of new emissions laws being rolled out across the U.S., reports Automotive News.
The new pickup may become the revival of the F-100, a model that phased out in 1986 after the introduction of the F-150. There is also the possibility that the new pickup will replace the Ford Ranger, which might be on the chopping block in 2009 when the Ford Twin Cities plant closes.
Whichever direction the new pickup takes, it represents Ford's desire to regain lost footholds in the U.S. by following customer demand - whether or not the new pickup will satisfy these demands remains to be seen.
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Comments (5 total)
Meet the top commenters on the LeaderboardBy bambam #1, Posted: 5/19/2008
give it a little soul or attitude to it please
By chris #2, Posted: 5/19/2008
I think ford may want to still produce the ranger as well... it may be a 10 year old design but sales have doubled in the last couple months.. and the "nid sized truck" sales arent that much better than the full sized truck sales. they arent that much more fuel efficient,.. look at the dakota. they still put a 4 something L V8 in the thing. its only a couple hundred pounds lighter than the full one. its like the difference between a sedan and a wagon variant.
where as the ranger is actually a really small truck and its used by stores and things like that that need to delive stuff. anyone who needs to haul big stuff but not necesarily heavy stuff or a lot of it at the same time.
the bigest problem i have is that the ranger name is almost 30 years old now.. and well known. why would ford even think of doing something like this in the mullaly era? if your going to replace the ranger... just... replace it. with another one.
By Gus #3, Posted: 5/19/2008
What Chris said.
There is a big gap between the Ranger and the F150, though. Maybe a mid-size truck is called for?
By chris #4, Posted: 5/19/2008
i dont know gus,... the ranger is available in two sizes,the sort of beater 2.3L and 3L, and then the bigger 4x4 4L.. then you go to the F150 which is even bigger in its base form with a 4.2L, 4.6L or 5.4L.. then you're up into the "250"... etc
I'd be willing to bet this F100 theyre talking about would be really close to the bigger ranger type. I like the idea of sharing the engineering.. but if they do that, wouldn't they be better off making it in dearborn with the F150? all the parts should be there already.
i think the key here is that the big guys need to start making their 1 series trucks (F150, silvarado 1500, ram 1500) into a smaller lighter vehicle. something that is more or less directed at Mr. Joe America.. with his 2.4 kids and his couch. something tells me the people using the trucks for 5th wheels, trailers, farming,.. etc.. are actualyl getting the 250(0)'s anyways. or the 350(0)'s.
I really think that todays trucks can lose probably 10% of their weight without losing any box size, and maybe no cab room either. The next gen of pickup needs to look muscular (who wants a wimpy looking truck) but still aerodynamic looking, futurish,.. etc. Something tells me that GM is selling more trucks than they should right now because they are the most fuel efficient full sized pickups.
I don't know. I'm really interested to see what happens with all of this. really. The other thing too is that companies can start looking at putting a lot of tech into their trucks. if gas is going to be 4 (or even 5?) dollars a gallon... it might actualyl make sense for people to buy a truck that costs another 500 or 1000 $ compared to the competition.. if it gets another couple mpg.
By Gus #5, Posted: 5/19/2008
I swear, if gas hits $5 a gallon, you're going to see a revolution in this country. People will tear down the offices at the oil companies...
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