Ford F-150 2024: first deliveries due in November as RHD Toyota Tundra nears

Ford Australia wants its merely-hand-drive F-150 to “knock it out of the park” as native deliveries of the paunchy-measurement pickup are goal for early November.

The Detroit-built and Melbourne-remanufactured F-150 XLTs and Lariats be half of a burgeoning paunchy-measurement truck sector, with Ford Australia anticipating its “iconic” giant to turn out to be a success legend.

This will rumble in opposition to the established Chevrolet Silverado (from $121,000) and RAM 1500 (from $98,950), which contain loved impressive sales since factory-backed remanufacturing to RHD has been conducted by the Walkinshaw Automobile Community.

Conversions of Toyota’s Tundra paunchy-measurement pickup automobiles are also underway at Walkinshaw, nonetheless Toyota Australia has said its preliminary examples would be on hand handiest on a lease deal to handpicked prospects.

When the Tundra goes on paunchy sale right here, likely within the second half of 2024, there’s the likelihood this is in a position to well perhaps land with sharper pricing than the above, as it’s much less successfully-identified than the American brands within the section.

What number of F-150s will Ford Australia sell?

Ford Australia’s president and CEO, Andrew Birkic, made it certain they don’t discuss about anticipated sales volumes.

However the RMA Automobile facility north of Melbourne (conclude to Ford’s light meeting line at Broadmeadows) the put F-150s are remanufactured for RHD, has capability to hold spherical 5000 yearly.

In definite quarters, Ford in Australia has turn out to be identified as the ‘Ranger and Everest’ firm,’ and it’s no longer great to argue when sales figures are digested.

Most fresh 2023 figures reward almost 38,000 Rangers had been delivered, alongside 8400 Everests. Next handiest is the Transit a long capacity within the inspire of at 2250 devices, then the soon-to-be discontinued Procure away midsize SUV with 1800.

With the introduction of F-150, and the capacity for spherical 5000 devices transferring each year, it’d be a mighty sales boon for the Blue Oval.

For the yr to this point, RAM has sold a ambitious 5075 devices of its 1500, 2500 and 3500 paunchy-measurement automobiles – hanging it now not off beam for spherical 8000 entire sales for 2023.

To the end of August 2023, appropriate over 2000 Chevrolet Silverados chanced on contemporary Australian homes for the yr.

With the Ford F-150’s arrival, plus these solid figures from RAM and Chevrolet, over 10,000 sales for the paunchy-measurement truck section will happen long earlier than the yr’s out. Implausible for a sector that barely existed a pair of years ago.

“It’s going to be spellbinding as soon as we birth hitting the dealerships (with F-150),” said Birkic with a assured smile. “Let’s dash, let’s stare what occurs.”

Will the paunchy-measurement pickup truck search information from proceed?

Ford playing in this ever-expanding section can’t advance mercurial ample for the logo, nonetheless is there a possibility of market saturation?

“What everyone is aware of is that RAM and Walkinshaw contain done a terribly merely job,” said Birkic. “They’ve unfolded the section. We think we’ve bought a splendid-looking out merely truck, so it’s about to acquire spellbinding, the market, isn’t it?”

No query. However when pressed on what number of pre-orders Ford Australia had for the contemporary RHD F-150 before begin, Birkic refused to give numbers. “We’re in a splendid-looking out stable web page,” he said referring to the uncover monetary institution.

There’s obvious interest within the put RHD F-150s would maybe well perhaps within the ruin dash in Australia – hybrid, Raptor and entire-electrical Lightning are all in sale within the US and would be of extensive interest right here – nonetheless for now focus is on the two grades about to begin.

Equipped are a $106,950 F-150 XLT and $139,950 F-150 Lariat – each the exercise of Ford’s 298kW/678Nm 3.5-litre EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 petrol engine.

Each variant would maybe well perhaps also be sold as a short wheelbase (SWB) with a 3683mm wheelbase, or for an further $995 over the above costs, as a long wheelbase (LWB) with 3987mm wheelbase.

The latter will enhance the styleside box by 300mm (there’s no trade to cabin dimensions), allowing loading of motorbikes with the tailgate closed. All F-150s contain a tow ranking of 4500kg.

“We know what now we contain is a splendid-looking out stable formula,” said Birkic. “We think we’ve bought the merely product and the merely spec with XLT and Lariat; the shorter mattress and the longer mattress. It’s about working out the customer and what they desire.”

The F-150’s non-hybrid 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 used to be also singled out for reward by Birkic, asserting “it affords you the sweet blueprint between performance and efficiency.”

The RAM 1500 (291kW/556Nm) and Chevy Silverado (313kW/624Nm) opponents make exercise of petrol V8 engines, nonetheless the F-150’s V6 678Nm torque resolve eclipses each.

Toyota’s Tundra will exercise a 3.5-litre hybrid V6 twin-turbo petrol when it hits the market, its blended petrol and electrical outputs merely for a section-bashing 325kW and 790Nm.