Factory-backed full-size Ford F-150 pick-up on sale by mid-2023 under local remanufacturing program
The hulking Ford F-150 is officially returning to Australia next year under a factory-backed local remanufacturing program that will convert the iconic US-built full-size pick-up truck to right-hand drive.
Announced this evening, the news confirms months of rumours that Ford was preparing a local conversion program for the world’s top-selling ute in an effort to get in on the fast-growing and lucrative US pick-up market Down Under.
The local heavy-duty pick-up market is dominated by the popular RAM 1500, which is officially distributed by Ateco Automotive company RAM Trucks Australia, and GMSV’s Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Both pick-ups are converted locally by the Walkinshaw Group with strong factory support, and Toyota is also studying a local launch for its new Tundra.
Indeed, carsales spotters have spied at least one example of the latest 14th-generation Ford F-150, which was renewed for the 2021 model year, heading in and out of Ford Australia’s Campbellfield HQ in recent weeks.
The latest F-150 continues the F-Series’ reign as the United States’ top-selling vehicle for 40 years and its favourite pick-up for 45 years. Since 1948, Ford has produced more than 40 million F-Series trucks, which are currently produced at four US facilities, earning the Blue Oval brand billions in revenue.
Absent from Aussie Blue Oval dealerships since 2007, when slow sales killed off Ford’s last factory-built right-hook F-Series imported from Brazil, the F-150 will be shipped from the US and remanufactured by RMA Automotive, which has plenty of experience modifying Ford vehicles but has never undertaken a RHD conversion program.
RMA is headquartered in Thailand and has offices in Australia, but will set up a dedicated facility in Mickleham, north of Melbourne, in the same precinct as Ford’s local parts supply and logistics hub and a short distance from Ford’s Asia Pacific Product Development Centre (APPDC) in Campbellfield.
Ford says its Aussie engineers are working closely with RMA in the RHD conversion to ensure the F-150 program meets the car-maker’s global quality standards, and a development vehicle is already on the road ahead of launch by mid-2023.
This is also the first factory-backed facility of its kind in the Ford world, so there’s intense interest in the Aussie program across the globe.
Of course, there’s huge interest among Australian buyers too, especially tradies and private owners who are looking for a bigger towing and touring vehicle than currently offered by the dominant Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, which will be renewed mid-year.
There has long been a respected local independent vehicle conversion industry for the F-Series, but official factory backing will make all the difference for many prospective buyers.
“Whenever I speak to our dealers, they tell me that customers consistently ask about F-150. [They] ask when it is coming, so I am very proud to now be able to say it’s heading our way,” said Ford Australia chief Andrew Birkic.
“There are just so many passionate F-150 fans out there and we’re all thrilled to be able to bring this iconic truck to our roads.”
V6 petrol engine, 4500kg towing
The Australian-market 2023 Ford F-150 will be offered at launch only in Crew Cab body configuration, in two model grades (XLT and Lariat) and with just one powertrain – a 3.5-litre EcoBoost turbo-petrol V6.
So there will be no V8, but the F-150 will be backed by Ford’s standard five-year/unlimited-km factory warranty and supported by Ford’s national dealer network.
The twin-turbo V6 produces 298kW (400hp) of power at 6000rpm and 678Nm of torque at 3100rpm, which is down a couple of cylinders but still compares favourably to the Silverado 1500’s 313kW/624Nm 6.2-litre V8 and the RAM 1500’s 291kW/556Nm 5.7-litre V8.
Described by Ford Australia as the “tow and haul engine of choice” from the F-150 portfolio, the engine combines with a 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission and will enable a 4500kg maximum braked towing capacity – a tonne more than the 3500kg max in the Aussie-developed Ranger.
The US F-150’s 5.0-litre V8 (298kW/556Nm), 3.5-litre V6 hybrid (321kW/773Nm), 3.0-litre V6 diesel (186kW/596Nm) and other powertrains were ruled out, but there’s every chance the Ford F-150 Raptor, which packs a higher-output circa-340kW version of the EcoBoost V6, will be offered later on.
Similarly, the V8-powered F-150 Raptor R and the full-electric F-150 Lightning will be studied, but have not yet received the green light (see our separate story ).
“When we began looking at F-150 for an Australian return, there was one engine that stood out for us – the 3.5-litre EcoBoost, which gives F-150 immense power and torque, more than many of its V8 competitors,” said Ford Australia’s global trucks enterprise product line manager Natalie Manariti.
“F-150 is an audacious vehicle for customers that don’t want to be restricted or limited, so we are bringing the best of the best with the 3.5-litre EcoBoost.”
Take it as read that heavier-duty F-Series Super Duty trucks – F-250 and F-350 – will be considered in due course as well, if the demand from Aussie customers is there.
Two trim levels, $100K-plus pricing
Local pricing and specification details are still under wraps, but Ford promises the 2023 Ford F-150 will be competitive against the latest RAM 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado.
That suggests a circa-$120,000 starting point for the XLT and a $125,000-plus opening marker for the Lariat, lining them up close to the top-selling DT-series RAM 1500 that kicks off from $123,900 plus on-road costs.
GMSV’s Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss starts at $106,990 plus ORCs but we expect F-150 pricing to start closer to the LTZ at $113,990.
Ford has confirmed the vehicles bound for our market will be remanufactured Canadian-spec F-150 models in terms of their trim features, on account of the common usage of the metric system.
With this in mind, the base Australian-spec XLT model should come as standard with climate-control air-conditioning, an 8.0-inch SYNC4 infotainment system, parking sensors, cruise control, an active front air-dam, automatic high-beam, rear privacy glass and 17-inch alloy wheels.
The top-spec Lariat should add LED exterior lighting, automatic headlights and wipers, a 12.0-inch digital cockpit, ambient interior lighting, 12.0-inch infotainment interface, dual-zone climate control, a B&O sound system, power-adjustable front seats and bigger 18-inch alloys.
Headline safety features will comprise collision assist with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot monitoring with cross traffic alert, a lane keeping system, rear-view camera, reverse brake assist and post-collision braking.
A full range of aftermarket products and accessories will be offered, sourced from official Ford suppliers including local partners like ARB, which has played a key role in the new-generation Ford Ranger.
Delivering the long-awaited news that the F-150 was returning Down Under with factory endorsement, Birkic said the company was confident the new venture would be a success – but wouldn’t be drawn on production targets and sales forecasts.
It’s safe to say that Ford Oz would love to be racking up more than 4000 sales a year, which is the benchmark that RAM Trucks Australia set in 2021.
“We’re pretty confident in our truck,” said Birkic, who doesn’t anticipate much, if any, cannibalisation of sales between F-150 and Ranger.
“There’s obviously a market out there; there’s some really stiff competition, we recognise that.
“What we’re really going to focus on is the engineering, getting that right, getting the remanufacturing set-up right, and then we’ll pivot towards the sales.
“But certainly there’s a market there and we know we’ve got a very competitive truck.”
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Keyword: Official: Ford F-150 confirmed for Australia