Ford F-150 leads huge customization industry
The Ford F-150 was named the "most accessory friendly pick-up" by SEMA, the trade group that keeps tabs on the aftermarket - an industry that has grown eight to 10 percent the past 10 years. Customers also prefer the Ford F-150 for personalization as they currently spend nearly $1,700 each to customize it - more than double the rate in 2004 and more than any other competitive truck.
"The Ford F-150 lends itself to accenting because it's so recognizable as America's favorite pickup. It's already widely accepted because it comes in the most varieties and customers spend more on it than any other truck to personalize it even further," says Foose. "And it's clean, too. That's why I drive an F-150 - it's great looking, powerful and yet very minimalist in its design."
Ford's overall customization business grew 50 percent in 2006, far outpacing all other automakers, and is expected to double by 2008. This growth has been driven by full factory-customized vehicles - such as the Harley-Davidson(TM) and FX2 Sport F-150 model - versus individual parts sales.
"This is really a fashion industry," says SEMA's Peter MacGillivray. "Consumers want to put their personal stamps on everything they buy - from personalized rings to build-a-teddy-bear - and everybody knows that 'you are what you drive.' The Foose Edition is a fantastic collaboration between Chip Foose and Ford.
"It's a vehicle that will be embraced by all kinds of buyers - not just the hard-core enthusiast who really knows the Ford F-150's heritage and Chip's track record, but also people who are just into cool cars and trucks. Couple that with Chip's celebrity and broad appeal - there are millions of excited consumers from his TV show - and I think Ford's got a real winner here."
The Ford F-150 already offers the most models and configurations - five series and 60 major variations - of any half-ton truck. Ford also continues its long-time truck heritage of building specialized models to appeal to the growing number of niche customers. Poore says the F-150 has led the trend of pickups going mainstream.
"Chip Foose is similarly reaching beyond traditional automotive audiences and will help Ford trucks reach an even broader audience with the 2008 Ford F-150 Foose Edition," says Poore.
The 2008 Ford F-150 Foose Edition will begin life as an FX2 Sport model from the Kansas City Assembly Plant. The unique Foose elements will be customized at a modification center before being shipped to Ford dealers. The truck will go on sale by early 2008.
Quick Specs
• Powertrain 5.4-liter Triton V-8, intercooled and supercharged
• Iron block, aluminum cylinder heads
• 450 hp @ 5,200 rpm, 500 lbs.-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
• Four-speed automatic transmission
Chassis
• Wheelbase: 138.5 in.
• Length: 224.0 in.
• Height: 70.5 / 73.5
• Track (f/r): 67.0 / 67.0 in.
Suspension modifications
• Front tuning: Eibach coil springs, Sachs dampers, jounce bumper
• Rear tuning: Eibach leaf springs, Sachs dampers, jounce bumper
• Wheels/tires: 22-inch forged, polished Foose wheels and P275/45R22 Pirelli tires
Exterior modifications
• Ford Racing exhaust system
• Foose designed and fabricated wheel flares, lower side and front rocker moldings
• Unique front fender badges
• Foose-designed stripe package
• Foose-designed upper and lower grilles
Interior modifications
• Embroidered headrests with Chip Foose autograph
• "Foose" embroidered floormats
• Unique, leather-wrapped center console with personalized build sequence badge