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With all the attention squarely on GM as the 2014 Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500 gets ready to debut sometime this year, Ford is quietly getting its next F-150 ready for a significant design and engineering change. How significant that change will be undoubtedly is a highly guarded secret.
Regardless, there are a few things we can tell from these recent spy shots from Brian Williams of KGP Photography. They were snapped outside the Dearborn testing facility where a few test mules have been spotted, we're told.
First of all, it looks like Ford has seriously upgraded its camo gear. Not only does this covering look like it's supposed to conceal the exact sizes and shapes of the window and overall greenhouse, the extra padding (see how smooth all the exterior surfaces are) is clearly designed to add heft and bulges that are not actually there.
I hope that's a 2wd, otherwise it looks like a liftkit will be required if a guy wants to do even mild 4wheelin. I really wish Ford would just stick with the current body style, or better yet stuck with the 04-08 style and just tweeked the drivetrain. I think they would still sell alot of trucks even with an outdated body as long as they were built tougher than the competition. The real truck owners don't care if they have all the latest bells and whistles, they just want a truck that is tough and will get the job done.
Aren't those 5 lug rims? Kinda looks like the 97-03 body with a 09+ front end, tail lights, and rear bumper.
They're most likely six lug but the center caps look like five lug as do mine on my truck. I'll be really disappointed if we go back to that 97-03 look. That's a pretty wimpy looking truck under the camo.
__________________ Tim SCPO United States Coast Guard Retired
2011 F-150 XLT 4x4 Ecoboost
2010 Ford Focus
2004 Expedition XLT 4x2 FTE Guidelines
I don't think people should look too much into these photo's as far as a glimpse at the next gen styling. I've heard this theory floated around on other sites and I agree, I think that's an old 97-03 F-150 with some current gen parts (grill, headlights,taillights etc) running around as a test mule.
If you look closely at these photos you can see the previous gen styling and dimensions poking through the heavy camo...
Notice the similar curves in the shape of door and the gap between the cab and the beds. Also how the current gen rear bumper is a little wider than the rest of the truck. The shape and flare of the wheel-wells are also very similar. Not to mention the wheels on it are directly from a 97-03 F-150 like it's been said already.
Wish the spy pictures were bigger so we could get a clearer look at what's underneath that camouflage, but I'm almost convinced that's a previous gen with some next gen technology underneath. Perhaps the dimensions of the next gen will be more so like a 97-03 thus the choice of using it as a test mule over a current gen?
I agree with Jet...this is not the body style they will be using. I am sure they are trying out engine components etc. on this truck and all the covering is just a ploy.
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