G E A R E D - I N

Tall riding vehicles, such as pick-ups, have come under heavy attack once again for their large girth, apparent high-speed instability and appetite for natural resources.  However, it seems that peering long enough into their Magic 8 ball as paid off as Ford Motor Company has taken steps to answer all of these concerns with the unveiling of their new, 2004 Ford F-150 at the recent North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

Though it didn’t necessarily knock people off their feet, this particular vehicle should be given much attention since it accounts for 28 percent of Ford Division’s sales and 23 percent of the entire company’s US sales.  In addition, it has been the undisputed leader: best-selling truck for 26 consecutive years and best-selling vehicle for 21 years running.  It sold more than 800,000 units in 2002 alone.

With a slew of more sophisticated competition from its Japanese and American rivals, there’s little doubt that the public anticipated an all-out effort from the company who pioneered the concept of the pick-up truck.  From initial reactions, this one is set to deliver the goods.

From the outside, the new F-150 is all about confidence.  The tall yet planted stance has been done by widening the front and rear tracks by 38.1 mm.  The straightforward circular wheel arches house larger tire and wheel choices.  Add the fresh and refined look of the quad-circle styled headlamps, wrap-around facia, nearly flushed side glass and a more vertical tumblehome (the inward bow of the side windows) sums up to one handsome truck. 

Inspiration is drawn from a set of earlier F-series trucks and concepts including the current F-150, the F-series Super Duty, the F-150 Lightning Bolt Performance Concept and of course, the mighty F-350 TONKA.  There are also some nifty blast-from-the-past details such as a roofline reminiscent of chopped-top custom street trucks and a stepped-down belt line.

Inside, the same, if not more, attention to detail has been given to enhance the F-150’s interior giving it car-like ergonomics and refinement.  Designers have opted to take a modular approach, giving the cabin more flexibility by allowing the adoption of different colors, textures and materials to customize the look of each variant (wood grain and warm steel trim, anyone?). 

Another first is the flow-through center console, giving owners the option of choosing two captain’s chairs over the standard 40/20/40 split-fold front bench.  This new design accommodates a floor-mounted shifter (an F-150 first) or if stacked, can maximize the room for the middle front passenger in the bench seat configuration.

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