More details are emerging surrounding a possible new Ford truck that was first reported by the truck site pickuptrucks.com. The new pickup would reportedly be built on F-150 underpinnings, but would be smaller, more lightweight and fuel efficient than Ford's flagship truck.
2009 Ford F-150
According to a report in Automotive News, the new truck -- codenamed P525 -- will most likely utilize a new sheet metal design and come with a more spacious storage space configuration. Unclear at this time is if the the new vehicle will replace Ford's aging Ranger compact pickup, which is expected to be phased out in late 2009.
Ford's new truck will likely use a V-6 EcoBoost engine that employs turbocharging and direct injection and promises greater fuel economy. There is even speculation that Dearborn will revive the F100 name of the 1950s for its trimmer F Series.
In an interview with Automotive News, Ford president of the America's Mark Fields did not confirm the existence of the P525, but did mention that Ford's F Series models will need to become lighter in order to meet CAFE standards.
"When you see what the F series makes up in term of the composition of our vehicle lineup, clearly that's one area we really have to focus on," Fields said.
Although the model has not yet been officially approved for future production, sources close to the project have indicated that the truck is included in Ford's model cycle plan and is slated to go into production in the first half of 2011.
Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)