LED headlights, tail lamps, cargo box and side mirror lighting will make it to production, at least on more expensive models.
Ford today unveiled the Ford Atlas Concept to offer its thoughts on the design, capability, fuel efficiency and technologies that it thinks will define future pickup trucks. Ford, as the pickup truck sales leaders for 36 years, emphasized fuel economy improvements that it promises will come from a number of aerodynamic tweaks, and the next generation of turbocharged EcoBoost engines. Last year, pickup trucks comprised 11% of the U.S. new vehicle market. They and their SUV spinoffs are among the most profitable vehicles sold by the Detroit Three.
Notably missing was any mention of the extensive weight saving materials that are under exploration at Ford’s Dearborn engineering center. Industry insiders know that Ford has locked in the purchase of large quantities of aluminum going forward, and they are assuming that the next F150 when it appears in 2015 will use the weight-saving, but expensive material to increase efficiencies. As much as 700 pounds of curb weight per pickup is targeted by the Ford diet, which is being fed to all vehicle development teams. The production F150 already has an aluminum hood. Moreover, the times they are a changin’ with regulations dictating a fleet average of 54.5 mpg on the books in the U.S. for 2025. Real world without the credits and other adjustments this still means about a 38 mpg average at each automaker.
The usual overwrought exterior design exaggerations, huge wheel arches, wide stance and large grille, among other clichéd show car themes. The technologies are more interesting, though.
As it stands on the floor of the NAIAS in Detroit, F150 Atlas has the usual overwrought exterior design exaggerations, huge wheel arches, a wide stance and large grille, among other clichéd show car themes. Ho, hum…
There is a much more interesting collection of technologies, though. The combination of these fuel-saving features saves more than 2 mpg on the highway without diminishing towing or hauling capability Ford claimed, if they make it to production of course. These include:
- Active Grille Shutters – Automatic shutters behind the grille stay open when extra engine cooling is needed, such as during low-speed stop-and-go driving or while working in hot weather. The shutters automatically close to improve aerodynamics when cruising on the highway at steady speeds
- Active Wheel Shutters – Automatic shutters in the wheels are hidden to improve style at rest and low speeds, but automatically close at highway speeds to improve aerodynamics. Self-charging batteries use energy from the wheels’ motion to power the shutters
- Drop-Down Front Air Dam – A drop-down front wind spoiler lowers at highway speeds to improve underbody airflow. The air dam is raised at low speeds to improve ground clearance – helpful for off-road operations
- Power Running Boards – Auto-deploying running boards help passengers enter the truck at rest and tuck up against the truck when it is moving to improve aerodynamics and ground clearance
How this ultimately goes over with conservative truck buyers remains to be seen, and cost will be a key sales issue.
The next-generation EcoBoost powertrain will introduce what Ford calls truck-enhanced Auto Start-Stop engine shutoff technology. Start-Stop shuts off the engine when stopped in traffic to save fuel – and suspends cut out when the truck is towing.
The F150 Atlas Concept also has a number of so-called productivity improvements that likely will be in widespread use at Ram and, Chevrolet and GMC during the next couple of years, if they aren’t in production already. These include:
- Dual-Purpose Tailgate Step and Cargo Cradle, which adds the ability to also act as a cargo cradle by lifting and holding extra-long cargo items above the truck and freeing valuable bed space
- Trailer Backup Assist, a claimed segment-first innovation allows drivers to back a trailer with the twist of a knob. Ford research shows that backing a trailer is often the most intimidating task a truck customer can face
- Dynamic Hitch Assist, which helps to line up the truck’s hitch with the trailer coupling, eliminating maneuvering guesswork by showing visual cues in the truck’s center display screen
- 360-Degree Point-of-View Camera that gives a bird’s-eye view of the truck to help position the vehicle in tight places or when there are obstacles near the truck
- LED headlamps and taillamps, cargo box and side mirror lighting
- Hidden Cargo Ramps that are stowed below the cargo box can be quickly removed and set up to assist with loading wheeled items into the bed
