Ford Plans New F-150 Pickup Truck With Aluminum Body - WSJ

Besides weight and gas mileage aluminum can't ever rust.

 

This article is from 2012. Already rolling them out with the 2015 model year. They actually just released the towing ratings using SAE standards for the first time. 12,200 lbs with a 3300lbs payload! Ford's marketing department has to be loving those numbers. I'll wait to see what the axles are rated for before I even think about hauling around that much weight with an f150.

 

Another interesting thing automakers are doing to shave weight and increase mileage numbers.

Some cars don't come with a spare tire now. They have a small air compressor. You can get the old donut spare, at an added cost. Some have the more expensive run flat tires.

A nail in a parking lot, maybe that will work. A blowout on the highway? Now you get to pay for a too.

 

The towing and carry should stay good since it just the body that is aluminum the frame and drivetrain is still steel.

Good for the salted winter roads up here in Canada. Never seen a rusty aluminum anything before.

They changed the style a bit also.

 

It's not the steel vs aluminum switch that I"m referring to. In fact, the switch to aluminum is what is being credited for the stout towing figures. While they sound impressive, towing involves much more than just asking "what is my tow rating". I'm a fan of the ecoboost engines and the F150 specifically but I'll hold off until the release of all the ratings until I form an opinion one way or the other. I will say though, she does look puuuurdy.