Ford is going start making aluminum F-150 trucks, replacing the traditional steel that has been linked with the automobile for years.
Brothers Dell Ray and Steven Johnson came all the way from Fergus Falls, Minn., Tuesday to get a look at the new 2015 aluminum-bodied Ford F-150 truck at Luther Family Ford here, according to NPR.com.
Ford has taken the wraps off their brand-new F-150. And while the grille and other elements are derivative of last year's Atlas concept, the new volume pickup is more of an evolution of the current design, according to the NPR report.
Under the new lightweight skin there is a lot to talk about. The new F-150 gets a new high-strength steel frame, aluminum-alloy body, two new engines (3.5L V6 naturally aspirated replaces 3.7L V6 and a new 2.7L EcoBoost has been added to the lineup), and a variety of convenience features to keep you working easy.
Ford is using the metal almost exclusively in body of the 2015 version of its best-selling F-150 pickup, which starts arriving at dealerships next month. Barnett is already answering customers' questions about the truck. And he's updated his repair shop not only for the F-150, but in anticipation that other Ford brands such as the Mustang will eventually make the switch from steel.
"There will be some people who won't want to change for a while," says Barnett, who says pickups make up around half of the annual sales at his dealership in rural Winchester.
Ford is doubling down on aluminum, which is lighter - and more expensive - than steel but just as tough. The new truck is the company's response to customers' requests for a more fuel-efficient and nimbler pickup. Ford hopes the advantages outweigh customer doubts about the durability of aluminum or potential repair costs for the pricier metal.
The key question for Ford, and the people who sell its trucks, is: Will customers embrace such a radical change? Dealers who have seen the new F-150 say they expect to encounter some skepticism, but the change had to be made.
"We're aggressive, stretching the envelope," said Sam Pack, owner of four Ford dealerships in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. "I think you have to do that. If you don't, then you get into that predicament of being a 'me too' vehicle."
Forsline said aluminum is actually more dent and ding resistant than steel. "Because it's lighter it can be thicker, so it's actually a thicker material than the outgoing steel," he said.
Forsline said the new model was engineered to be as good as or better than the outgoing truck. As for repairs, he explained the new model is made up of a number of standalone panels that can be easily replaced, which is not always the case. This will save on labor, often the most costly part of repairs.
Forsline said he asks people who compare the new model to aluminum can if they are afraid to fly in an airplane. "They rarely say 'no,' so I say planes are all made with high-strength aluminum alloy just like the truck," Forsline said. "That's the best comparison I can make."
