Ford bets on aluminium
with 2015 F-150
with 2015 F-150
Transport
January 13, 2015
At Detroit Auto Show Ford Motor Co. unveiled its all-new F-150 pickup. It became the world's first pickup truck with an all-aluminium body.
Ford's F-150 pickup was the best-selling vehicle in the US for the past 32 years and the best-selling pickup for 37 years. With the 2015 model the Company decided to redesign its structure in a revolutionary way.
The 2015 F-150 has an all-new high-strength steel frame coupled with a high-strength aluminium-alloy body. Switch from steel to aluminium in the body accounts for 70 percent of the weight savings. Overall the vehicle is up to 315 kg lighter than its predecessor. Aluminium body contribution to the savings is 204 kg.
The 2015 F-150 has an all-new high-strength steel frame coupled with a high-strength aluminium-alloy body. Switch from steel to aluminium in the body accounts for 70 percent of the weight savings. Overall the vehicle is up to 315 kg lighter than its predecessor. Aluminium body contribution to the savings is 204 kg.
The new pickup contains about 454 kg of aluminium, including body, cylinder block and heads for the engine, the main case for 6-speed automatic transmission, and various suspension components.
Ford F-150 goes has two 4-door versions – traditional and 170-degree backward-opening suicide doors
Ford claims that the aluminium F-150 becomes even more capable than its famously capable steel-bodied predecessor. According to Popularmechanics.com, with less of its own bulk to propel, the truck can haul more of whatever needs hauling—be it a boat, a load of mulch, or a 21/2-ton hunk of high-grade metal.
New F-150 is offered with one of four engines. The entry one is 3.5-liter TiVCT V-6 which previous 3.7 version accounted for 15% of sales. Brand new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 with a compacted-graphite iron block and is optimized for high fuel economy. The familiar 5.0-liter V-8 and the top engine is now the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6.
New F-150 is offered with one of four engines. The entry one is 3.5-liter TiVCT V-6 which previous 3.7 version accounted for 15% of sales. Brand new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 with a compacted-graphite iron block and is optimized for high fuel economy. The familiar 5.0-liter V-8 and the top engine is now the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6.
There is an opinion that with such a huge change in the best-selling model Ford is taking quite a big risk of losing its fans. Ford executive chairman Bill Ford Jr. said a bigger risk would have been "standing still."
So it seems more like a big change for the whole industry than a risk.
So it seems more like a big change for the whole industry than a risk.