New F150 coming to Detroit auto show

Anybody know if they will still use a steel frame?

Maybe they can find some old AC Cobra dies and start making them on the same line?

dshelley wrote:
Quite likely the aluminum will do fine with the required crash test results in that the body itself provides little more than a designed crumple zone. We're going to see several new applications of technology over the next few years with our beloved pickups and SUV's in the attempt to continually improve fuel mileage. This will certainly provide many interesting comments from the yesterday worshipers and armchair engineers.

Totally agree. I think saving weight is going to become an obsession with the MFRs as economy standards continue to toughen, and as I type engineers are looking at every single component of a vehicle, from the frame to the windshield wiper locating arms, trying to figure out where weight can be shaved without adding cost.

If high-tech, high-strength, low-weight materials become more cost effective that'll only ratchet the whole process up a notch.

Quite likely the aluminum will do fine with the required crash test results in that the body itself provides little more than a designed crumple zone. We're going to see several new applications of technology over the next few years with our beloved pickups and SUV's in the attempt to continually improve fuel mileage. This will certainly provide many interesting comments from the yesterday worshipers and armchair engineers.

I don't see aluminum any different then steel. I've seen steel cans crushed too. I've seen auto's crashed. I think the thickness and it's shape has much more to do with how well it holds up. With the steel so thin now and new aluminum alloys I don't think it would be any worse.

Funny tho... I remember I think it was back in the early '70's where the news media was predicting a severe shortage of aluminum shortly and I have often wondered where they were getting all this aluminum now. Even the wheels are now made of it without steel even being an option on many vehicles. I'm also surprised not more carbon fiber, fiberglass, etc is used.

I wonder too, will they up the payload or cut the GVWR? Upping the payload will really cut into 250 territory.

Boy, I hope Ford doesn't put the 3.5 EcoBoost engine in their new F150 or it won't be any good!!!

We all know what happens when an aluminum beer can is crushed...like stated above would be very interesting to see what happens in a crash..

An F-150 with a mostly-aluminum body would further help fuel efficiency — reducing the vehicle’s overall weight by more than 700 pounds, compared to the conventional version.

It will be interesting how it does in the crash tests. Wonder if the F250-350 will be using aluminum in the future.

Now off to e-trade to buy some aluminum stock :B