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No bed to speak of? What's under the hood power-wise?
To me it looks very impressive. It has that "bulk" look but the auto makers always make these concept vehicles appear much more "muscular" vs actual production appearances.
Is this the 2015' F-150 that Ford said weeks ago it was uncharacteristically going to unveil at this auto show???
Obviously this is a real truck replete with all working parts that I'm sure is ready for everyday life. My question is who/where is this truck built? I mean aren't all parts such as frame new to the point where the normal assembly lines needs to be renovated/retrofitted to accommodate such a build?
Or are concepts such as the Atlas built in its own department uniquely designed for such a project? And when do you think such a build originated? Years ago or do these auto companies have the abilities to build such a truck in a few months?
Engineers at Ford will design the new parts on a computer and then either produce them through rapid prototyping or send the design out to a supplier who will produce a prototype part. They only need to get the assembly line involved when it comes to building a production truck. Otherwise, they're one off builds (as in, a couple guys assemble an F150 in a warehouse somewhere).
As far as how long this takes, you're typically talking at least 6 months or more.
I really like this look. It shows that Ford is forward thinking. I know it is just a concept but I can see a lot of the design ques making it into the next generation of both the F150 and Super Duty. Again Ford leaves the competition scrambling.
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2002 PSD Excursion Limited 4x4, Mineral Grey. Hellwig Anti-Sway Bar.
Way to go Ford. They're just prolonging the legacy of FUGLY trucks. Ford hasn't had a good looking pickup since 1997 with the F250HD and 350. To be fair though, neither the other two unmentionable brands have had a decent looking truck in even more years. Yes, and that includes the SD's I've had, as well as my 2012.
That thing does have some nice tires.
It's all my opinion.
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Good stuff, trucks bring it.
'12 XLT Scab, 5.0, Roush exhaust, 3.55 gears, 1" Daystar spacer, Airlift bags, turn signal mod, lower billet grille, rear wheelwell liners, 4 times 4 sticker removed, front airdam deleted, Race Red, like a giant tomato..
Looks pretty cool, I watched the video of the unveil where some of the new features were ever so briefly covered. I must say it's not what I was expecting (I was looking forward to the 2014 F-150) but nonetheless shows what Ford has been busy with for a while now. Besides the next-gen Ecoboost, there's tech in the front end that would lower the truck to make it more aerodynamic. Also, there's an auto-shuttering grill to cut down on wind resistance, stop-start technology that shuts the truck off at stop lights (but is disabled when towing), and parking assist for towing. An interesting but handy addition was a bed rack that appeared out of the tailgate to help carry longer items.
More than these were some things that stuck out to me, especially in the design area. I don't think it's a mystery that the Atlas has design ques that we'll see in the 2014 F-150. I think the three bar grill and aggressive front-end that resembles the super duty's will stay, following the trend set in 2012 that is aiming at aligning the F-1/2/350 designs. The bed rack will probably make it in also. I think it's quite possible that all major technologies mentioned will find their way into the final design because if they didn't it would not look good in light of the competition.
In spite of the "new" technologies, many of these same features can be found in the 2013 Ram 1500. The other two (you know who I'm talking about) also revealed their revised 2014 models with some of the same features. Perhaps Ford is waiting on selling more of the 2013 model before unveiling the redesigned model. Yet, it almost feels as though the Atlas prototype is there to show that Ford is working on something. And from what they showed, it appeared as though it was a "me too!" unveil, mirroring the other companies' new technologies almost entirely -- yet I'm sure there will be more to add when the 2014 F-150 takes a bow sometime during this year. This really couldn't be avoided... After the powertrain upgrade in 2012 the Ford F-150 wasn't due for a major upgrade for a few years and so it provided the competition a nice little window to take a stab at the market leader. Now, Ford has to play "catch up" in a sense when it comes to the efficiency technologies. That next-gen Ecoboost should fit the bill.
I'm hoping that the statements made at the end of the unveil, "This is only a fraction of what we're working on" or something to that effect is true and Ford reveals something that will set the bar just a bit higher in the 2014 F-150.
My question is what powertrains/drivetrains are going to be in the next F-150.
I've heard about the smaller displacement Ecoboost engines, 2.7L and 3.0L I beleive codenamed ''Nano'' I beleive.
But I would also like to see at least two V8's in the next truck as well...I've heard that Ford is planning on discontinuing the 6.2L in the F-150 when the next gen trucks debut...If that's true I would like see something along the lines of a 5.0L Direct Injection Naturally Aspirated V8 as the ''base'' V8 option and maybe a Twin Turbo Direct Injection 5.0L as the ''Upgrade'' V8. Or better yet...A Supercharged Direct Injection 5.0L V8.
Either way, I'm pretty impressed with the Atlas concept. I like that it still looks like a brawny truck...I was really worried that they were going to water down the F-150's looks up in favor of better aerodynamics, but it appears Ford learned that lesson with the 1997-2003 F-150's.
The Interior is the biggest flaw of this truck in my opinion. I'm not a fan of its ultra modern high tech look and it just seems way to busy. But seeing as the Atlas is just a concept, I'm almost certian that Ford will tone down much of this trucks looks in the actual production F-150 model.
I think it's kind of good looking but I sure heck as hope that they don't call it the Atlas when it or it's refined sibling debut.
On technology, I wish like hell that Ford would slow down a bit on this issue. Their reliability ratings have tanked over the past couple of years because of "too much - too soon" technology.
The XLT is the best selling trim level. Let's see a concept of this trim level, it'll be more conservative for sure. The interior is horrendous IMHO.
The front here reminds me of the 2008 Gen FX4 Superduty trucks. Ford moved away from that after a year or two and merged the FX4 package back into the regular looking trucks. As I remember, I looked the looks of the 2008 FX4 trucks.
__________________ Tim SCPO United States Coast Guard Retired
2011 F-150 XLT 4x4 Ecoboost
2010 Ford Focus
2004 Expedition XLT 4x2 FTE Guidelines
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Women might not find ya handsome but they will find ya in your F150.
