Ford F150 Truck Blog

Here’s what we do know about a potential SVT truck for 2009. Earlier this morning AutoBlog reported that an SVT rep commented “a new SVT truck is coming … later this fall”. Shortly thereafter PickupTrucks.com reported from a credible source that the truck won’t be called a Lightning. In fact it looks like it’s going to be part of the Harley-Davidson line-up of trucks.

Here’s what we don’t know. We don’t have details but it’s probably safe to say the truck will likely be a version of the supercharged Harley F-150. Expect big custom wheels, a custom instrument cluster, perhaps special stitching in the seats. Production may be limited. We also don’t know whether this will satisfy 01-04 Lightning owners. Will this new SVT truck be a Lightning replacement? We’ll see.

One thing is clear. Ford needs to keep coming up with new models and incentives to get truck sales levels back to where they were not that long ago. Trucks are big business and the F-Series was the top selling vehicle for many years (that is until this year). With rumors of a Raptor F150 and a new Ford F100, this potential new SVT truck might be just what Ford needs to be #1 again.

Sources: [Ford SVT Lightning Concept 2004 - Photos] [Autoblog] [PickupTrucks]

MotorTrend is reporting that Ford has confirmed plans of building two new pickups smaller than the F-150 (one may be the Ford F-100). With gas prices showing no signs of going down, this is good news from the Blue Oval. As we reported earlier, one of the trucks may be called the F-100.

Here is a quote from the MotorTrend article:

The smaller F-150 is codenamed P525 and may be badged F-100, the name of the F-150’s predecessor from the 1950s. At one point, P525 and the Ranger replacement were competing proposals, but with growing need for higher-fuel-mileage trucks, both projects will become reality in 2010 or 2011. The P525 won’t be offered with V-8 power, but instead will come with four-cylinder and V-6 EcoBoost (gas direct injection and turbocharging) options, the engines’ fuel economy and torque optimized for interim Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards expected to kick in for the 2011 model year.

Personally, I can’t wait to see a smaller EcoBoost truck, especially a potentially turbo 4-cylinder model. I only have need for a light-duty pickup. I suspect many people are in the same boat, they don’t need the V8 power on a daily basis and would like to get better mpg for their daily commute.

The F-100 nameplate has some heritage and I think it would be a good choice for a slightly-smaller-than-F-150 size.

Ford announced today they are offering employee pricing on F-Series trucks. If you’ve been thinking of buying or leasing a new 2008 F-150, F-250, or F-350, now is the time.

According to Ford:
“Customers have made F-Series America’s best-selling truck for 31 years because it gets the job done. Now, we’re offering even more value on our hard-working trucks,” said John Felice, Ford general marketing manager. “The Ford Employee Pricing Plan on 2008 model F-Series is a great deal with a clear, compelling message that shows customers how much we value their business.”
Customers in the more than 3,600 Ford showrooms across the U.S. will be eligible to receive the highly prized employee discount pricing.

The Plan
The plan is simple to understand. All 2008 model F-Series, except Harley Davidson and chassis cab models, will be sold at employee discounted price plus cash incentives,.

Beginning June 3, participating dealers will receive supplemental window stickers for 2008 models F-Series outlining the MSRP, the employee discount and applicable cash rebates.

The Ford Employee Pricing Plan will be advertised through print, television, radio and Internet ads featuring the employees who build Ford F-Series pickups.

For full details, see your local Ford dealer.