Ford F-150 on observe for mid-2023 launch, sellers taking orders

The long-awaited return of the F-150 to Ford Australia showrooms remains to be on observe, with sellers taking orders.

That’s regardless of pricing not but being launched for the two-model vary.

“We’ve had quite a lot of curiosity on our web site, and definitely sellers are taking orders,” Ford Australia president Andrew Birkic informed CarExpert.

“We haven’t launched pricing but. We’re working by way of that now, so I feel that would be the subsequent set off level to drive additional orders and we are able to shore up some prospects with the specs.”

The F-150 might be imported to Australia, the place it’ll be remanufactured in right-hand drive by RMA Automotive at a facility in Mickleham, Victoria.

“We’ve made actually good progress, so we’ve constructed some preliminary autos,” stated Mr Birkic, confirming the corporate remains to be “in place” for a launch in mid-2023.

“And we’re doing a complete degree of testing. And as we talked about on the launch, Ford Engineering is concerned in that.

“RMA Automotive have a facility out close to our new components warehouse in Mickleham. And you recognize, we’ve labored with RMA around the globe, we all know they’re a extremely robust, robust accomplice of ours.

“However clearly the lens must be on high quality and doing it proper. It’s a big funding.”

The F-150 will initially be out there solely in XLT and Lariat guise with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 as Ford Australia establishes the native re-manufacturing course of, however the firm has stated it “has an open thoughts” about expanding the local range.

The EcoBoost V6 overtook the F-150’s V8 choice a number of years in the past in gross sales within the US market, which makes it the logical selection for Australia – even because the rival Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, remanufactured by Walkinshaw, come solely with V8s.

The three.5-litre produces 298kW of energy and 678Nm of torque, out punching the Ram 1500’s 5.7-litre V8 (291kW and 556Nm) and evaluating favourably with the Silverado 1500’s 6.2-litre V8 (313kW and 624Nm).

It’s mated with a 10-speed automated transmission and boasts a braked towing capability of 4500kg, up 1000kg on the smaller Ranger.

The automobile might be backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, and might be offered and serviced by way of the Ford Australia vendor community.

Whereas simply two variants might be supplied right here at first, the F-150 is obtainable in a dizzying array of permutations in its residence market the place it’s constantly the best-selling car.

The vary contains the electrical Lightning, the Baja-ready Raptor and the even hotter, supercharged V8-powered Raptor R.

There are additionally common, Tremendous Cab and dual-cab physique types, a selection of three tub lengths, and extra V6 and V8 engine choices together with a hybrid.

The XLT and Lariat are mid-range fashions in Ford’s US mannequin vary, slotting beneath the extra luxurious King Ranch, Platinum, and top-spec Restricted.

When it comes right here, the F-150 will discover itself battling not solely its rivals from Ram and Chevrolet, but additionally probably a car from Australia’s best-selling model.

Toyota has confirmed an “in depth program is underway” to re-engineer the recently revealed, third-generation Tundra for right-hand drive, although it hasn’t formally confirmed a launch.

It’s working with Walkinshaw, who additionally deal with remanufacturing of the Ram 1500 and Silverado.

The primary Tundra prototypes are anticipated to indicate up on native roads in September 2022, with an additional 300 mules set to hit Australia within the fourth quarter of 2023 “as a part of the ultimate validation stage of the RHD program”.

One other attainable competitor is a full-sized pickup truck from Chinese language model GWM, which previewed a manufacturing mannequin with its X Cannon concept final yr.

The Chinese language pickup packed a 260kW/500Nm turbo-petrol V6, which can even discover its method into the roughly Ranger-sized Shanhai Cannon anticipated to launch in Australia.

The F-150 was final seen in native Ford showrooms in 1993, although its heavier-duty F-250 and F-350 siblings have been offered right here from 2001 to 2006 in manufacturing unit right-hand drive, courtesy of Ford’s plant in Brazil.

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