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Ford Australia says it has put the incoming F-150 through its paces in more than 135,000km of torturous durability tests here, ahead of the re-engineered truck’s local launch in 2023.
The USA’s best-selling car will be lobbing here in Australia in XLT and Lariat spec levels with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 (US outputs are 294kW and 680Nm) with a 10-speed auto, in both short and long wheelbase bodies styles.
The Aussie outpost of the Blue Oval brand says that test versions of the F-150 now face temperatures between -40 and +50 degrees Celsius, trailer towing, mud, ultra-fine sand, water crossings, and corrosion test.
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The big rig was also driven through Ford’s Silver Creek Road durability track, while more of the world’s “most punishing roads” were simulated in the laboratory at Ford Australia’s You Yangs Proving Ground – with an F-150 driveline , steering, tires and suspension tuned to a Kinematic and Compliance rig.
Ford Australia maintains a large research and development operation in Australia overseeing the global Ranger and Everest projects, among others. The You Yangs proving ground is in the west of Victoria, near the city of Geelong.
“When the F-150 hits Australian showrooms, customers can be assured that it has been put through the same local durability program as the Next-Generation Ranger and Everest which, of course, is the same left-hand drive program that F-150 that came through the States ,” said Ford Australia Performance and Customization Chief Program Engineer Dave Burn.
“We’ve torture-tested, tuned and rebuilt the right-hand drive F-150 so Aussie customers know they’re getting the full factory F-150 experience. We are doing everything we can to make sure the truck is at home here in Australia.”
Since plans were announced to bring the F-150 to Australia in May this year, Ford says it has been inundated with more than 8000 expressions of interest and secured “thousands” of prospective orders in through dealers – despite pricing remaining under wraps.
Background
A version of the F-150 pickup truck reengineered from left-to-right drive should be in local Ford showrooms by mid-2023, where it will reach the locally re-engineered (in right-hand drive) Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
Ford is oblivious to the fact that strong Silverado and Ram sales are behind its decision to bring the F-Series back to Australia after nearly two decades. Sales of full-sized American pickup trucks have been on the rise since 2018, and the Blue Oval doesn’t want to miss out on the action.
The F-150 will be remanufactured in right-hand drive by RMA Automotive at a facility in Mickleham, Victoria. The car will be backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and will be sold and serviced through Ford Australia’s dealer network.
Ford is clearly aware of the F-150 Hybrid, Raptor, V8, and electric Lightning options. It doesn’t rule out bringing them to Australia, but only once the remanufacturing process is established and demand for the EcoBoost is proven.
rival
Ram Trucks Australia posted another record-breaking month in November – in terms of both local right-hand drive remanufacturing, and retail sales.
Ram International chief Bob Graczyk, who visited Melbourne recently to see the expanded production facility, said demand had “absolutely exceeded our expectations”.
The newly expanded Melbourne Manufacturing Facility – run by Walkinshaw – tasked with re-engineering the Rams into right-hand drive, rolled out 900 of the brand’s pickups in November.
Year-to-date, Ram trucks have sold 5520 vehicles (up 54.3 percent) putting it on track to surpass 6000 for the year. Its YTD tally puts it ahead of the likes of Hino and Land Rover, while its November result puts it ahead of Jeep, a fellow Stellantis brand.
During the same period, rival Chevrolet – sold by General Motors Special Vehicles (GMSV) and converted at another newly opened Walkinshaw facility in Melbourne – delivered 2045 Silverados.
GMSV has secured 5000 Chevrolet Silverado right-hand drive conversions for buyers in Australia and New Zealand after two years – and expects a “significant increase” in throughput going forward as demand for American pickups exploded.
With the success of Ram and Chevy and Ford’s big plans, other rivals jumped into the fray. Toyota Australia has plans to sell locally re-engineered Tundras here in the near future, with their point-of-difference being the hybrid engine.
The project to locally re-engineer Tundras in right-hand drive (they were only made in the American factory in left-hand drive) is a world-first for Toyota, and if all goes to plan will give local that division of the company something to sit above the HiLux and LandCruiser 300 Series.
MORE: Ford F-150 officially coming to Australia
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