Filed under: Truck, Technology, Ford Ford may turn to aluminum body panels on the company's F-Series pickup trucks in an effort to reduce weight. According to Ward's Auto, the next-generation F-Series is set to debut in 2014 and will likely feature aluminum fenders and door skins. The news comes courtesy of two unnamed sources close to the vehicle's development. Right now, the next-gen F-Series is rolling through Ford halls under the name P552, and while the automaker is reticent to go on the record about aluminizing its best-selling model, executives have made it clear that weight-savings is a major priority. Derrick Kuzak, Ford's Group Vice President of Global Product Development, has previously said the company intends to cut up to 700 pounds per model by 2019. Ditching stamped steel body panels for aluminum would be a good start. Ford has already dabbled in aluminum hoods on both the F-Series and Explorer, and the material is expected to find greater use across automakers in the near future as companies brace for stiffer Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards.Next Ford F-Series to go on diet, make extensive use of aluminum originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments More...
Wow. Took almost a hundred years for manufacturers to figure out that lighter=better MPG??? The current F150 can weigh close to 6000 lbs, perhaps more, depending on the options. Now if the same truck weighed 1000 lbs less, with the ecoboost V6, it should be able to achieve a few more MPG, wouldn't ya think? 25 mpg would be nice in a fullsize! Not to mention that acceleration and more importantly deceleration (braking) improvements that come with less weight. I sure hope that they can put 'em on a diet without sacrificing strength in critical areas. Dieting the F150 is a GREAT idea and should have been thought of way back in the 1990's when the new rounded F150's came out ('97). Imagine a Lightning with 380 HP/450 lb-ft but weighing 4000 lbs instead of close to 5000? Would have been a really bad truck!
the reason ford or any of the other auto manufactures have not made the vehicles as light as possible is cost. for the longest time americans didnt care about mpg. only now there is a significant demand for fuel efficiency by the government and the public. the cars and trucks have been getting heavier due to increasing safety requirements mostly. another government requirement. the result is a vehicular that is getting more expensive. so is getting a f150 that can get 25mpg going to be worth the higher price?
