Odometer (Legend): 529,467
Odometer (ILX): 78,930
These 3 words are a big part of my childhood. As long as I can remember, my dad had a Ford pickup truck in the garage. I even learned to drive a stick shift in a teal green 1994 Ford Ranger.
Here was our F-150 at Lake Mead, Nevada where we frequently vacationed with our watercraft during the summer. My youngest brother Payton (pictured at left there, and now 26 years old) must’ve been digging in the dirt.
At some point we also had this bright red F-250. With its extended cab and long bed, it felt like driving a school bus. Forget about trying to park anywhere. And need I mention the fuel economy? This particular 1994 model year 3/4-ton Ford was powered by a 460-cubic-inch V8. I’d be surprised if my dad was getting anything north of 10 mpg around town.
What I did love the most about that truck, though, wasn’t just the fact that my dad had camouflage seat covers. It was the 5-speed manual transmission. Rare, I think. And man, it was fun to drive.
It’s now time for a whole new chapter in Ford pickups. Ford representative Brandt Coultas flew in from Dearborn, Michigan to share a presentation with the Phoenix Automotive Press Association (PAPA) on Tuesday evening about the all-new 2015 F-150. I attended the media presentation in Tempe, Arizona and learned a lot about F-150’s, past, present, and future. Did you know that this truck has been America’s best-selling pickup for 37 years and counting? Chances are, you’ve owned one – or at least known someone who has. A new F-150 is sold every 41 seconds on average. That’s 763,000 per year!
One of the hottest topics about this Ford is its all-aluminum construction. Much like the first generation Acura NSX, the F-150 will be made entirely of aluminum. This means that designers have helped the pickup shed over 700 pounds.
Brandt hit a button on the key fob and the tailgate dropped down smoothly. We are talking about a whole new level of technology and refinement. No “slam the tailgate down, make a running start, and hop up inside” here. The tailgate has a step-ladder built in. And, in all seriousness: a pole that extends to form a grab handle. Why, I never.
LED headlights pierce the nighttime darkness with ease – we received a demo of that later on. The glass moonroof in this truck covers nearly the entire roof.
Part of Brandt’s conversation centered around the durability testing that the prototype vehicles have undergone. The state of Arizona plays a key role in that process: Davis Dam, located in the western part of the state, is a 13-mile steep grade that Ford’s test vehicles must climb — in the heat of the summer, towing a full load, with the A/C on full blast. In all, Ford subjected its test vehicles to over 10 million miles of evaluation before giving this new model the green light.
Despite the fact that Ford is going for a “rugged” buyer, this truck will still have some luxury amenities. There are LED lights casting a light glow around the interior door handles: green when the door is shut; red when the door is ajar. Safety-minded or just for “wow” factor? You decide. Here, Joe Sage (Editor, Arizona Driver Magazine) gives that moonroof a look.
Thanks, Brandt for the preview! We all look forward to getting some seat-time in the new F-150 later this year.
Just for fun, a little more of my dad’s Ford pickup history, in chronological order.
1979 F-150 (circa 1983)
1989 F-250 (circa 1992)
1992 F-250 (circa 1994)
1994 F-150 (circa 1997)
2004 F-150 (circa 2007)
Now, how long before he buys a 2015 F-150 and puts camouflage seat covers on it?
drivetofive 