• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Auto Trends Magazine

Car reviews, industry news, & advice.

FORD F SERIES

Ford F-150: Phil Collareno, Vehicle Line Director, Weighs In

July 22, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

1950 Ford F-3
1950 Ford F-3.

The full-size pickup truck market has been rebounding since sinking to historic lows in 2009. The market is led by the Ford F-150 with models from Chevrolet, GMC, Ram, Toyota and Nissan rounding out the segment.

The Ford Motor Company will debut the next generation F-150 next year, a model that it hopes will help this truck builder retain its top position in the market. Auto Trends interviewed Phil Collareno, Vehicle Line Director for the F-150, to discuss the history of the Ford F-Series, where it is today and what plans the company has for its future.

Auto Trends:

Ford launched the F-Series beginning with the 1948 model year. What defining models have set this truck apart from the pack? For instance, the F-150 Raptor.

Phil Collareno:

There have been many models that have set the F-Series apart. Certain milestones stand out including the following:

1948: F-Series pickups debut: F-1, F-2, F-3

F-1501975: F-150 introduced

In recent times, there’s been:

1993: Ford F-150 SVT Lightning debuts ­ kicking off what would become the benchmark of high performance sport trucks

2000: Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson: First true premium luxury truck

2001: Ford F-150 King Ranch: Set the benchmark for truck luxury that others have followed. Also was the first light-duty pickup under 8,500 lbs. GVW with four full-size doors

2009: Ford F-150 Platinum ­ introduced a whole new contemporary luxury feel to Ford Trucks

2010: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor ­ Continues to set the benchmark among all vehicles as one of the most capable and fun off-road trucks

Auto Trends:

Specifically, what have these “halo” models done for the F-150 brand?

Phil Collareno:

Phil Collareno

Phil Collareno

These models have enhanced the F-150 brand. They’re aspirational trucks, vehicles that our customers choose to reward their hard work while still every bit “Built Ford Tough” and capable of getting the job done.

Auto Trends:

Ford has always offered a variety of engines to power the F-150. Today’s buyers are flocking to the EcoBoost. What engine(s) have had the most impact on F-150 buyers down through the years?

Phil Collareno:

EcoBoost has clearly been adopted by F-150 buyers, who appreciate its excellent combination of torque, towing capability and fuel economy. EcoBoost provides the power of a V-8 with the fuel economy of a V-6. Last year, 43 percent of F-150 buyers chose EcoBoost. 

Our standard 3.7-liter V-6 has also done well with customers who appreciate its fuel economy and ability to tow up to 6,700 pounds. 

The 6.2-liter V-8 proved itself as the most powerful half-ton truck engine at 411 horsepower and 434 foot-pounds of torque. 

Another strong and popular engine in recent years was the 5.4-liter V-8, which was retired after 2010.

Auto Trends:

Given that Ford has led the market since the late 1970s, its position going forward seems assured. Knowing that Ford won’t take its customers for granted, what experiences can Ford give its current owners and future shoppers to persuade them to stick with or move to Ford?

Phil Collareno:

Ford F-150 delivers the segment’s best combination of power, capability, safety and fuel economy. Now in its 65th year, the F-Series has been the best-selling truck in America for 36 consecutive years, the best-selling vehicle in America for 31 consecutive years and the brand with the most trucks on the road with more than 250,000 miles, as certified by Polk.

The F-150 also boasts leading safety ratings. The F-150’s fully boxed frame, made from high-strength hydroformed steel, provides a backbone built for increased durability and safety. This truck has earned top safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Ford F-150 also features an unrivaled four engine choices, including the advanced 3.5-liter EcoBoost, to help customers find the most fuel-efficient and capable engine to meet their needs. Ford’s patented EcoBoost engine delivers an unmatched combination of best-in-class towing and payload, torque and fuel economy. More than 300,000 EcoBoost engines have been sold for the F-150 and it is now Ford¹s best-selling truck engine.

Auto Trends:

In 2011, Ford scrapped the F-150 engine’s line and introduced four new engines as well as making the six-speed automatic transmission standard across the model line. What did that do for Ford besides increasing sales year over year?

Phil Collareno:

The latest engine lineup met the needs of customers looking for fuel-efficient engines that didn’t require compromise or unreasonable price premiums.   The introduction of the EcoBoost engine now gives our customers the best combination of performance and fuel economy with 22 mpg and 11,700 pounds of towing.

Auto Trends:

Specifically, what does Ford have that keeps customers coming back?

Phil Collareno:

Only Ford Trucks are Built Ford Tough. The durability of our trucks keeps customers coming back because they know they can trust their Ford Truck to get the job done. The Ford F-150 also delivers the best-in-class combination of power, capability, safety and fuel economy.  The F-150 features an unrivaled four engine choices, including Ford’s patented EcoBoost engine, which delivers an unmatched combination of best-in-class towing, payload, torque and fuel economy.

Auto Trends:

Ford lost some small truck buyers when the Ranger was canceled. Certainly, some buyers moved up to the F-150, but what is the company doing to reach these owners? Will the global Ranger come to America? If not, will Ford offer a short wheelbase F-150 model, perhaps an F-100?

Phil Collareno:

We are investing in and expanding our F-Series lineup for the North American market with new powertrains and improved performance, including fuel efficiency. The compact pickup segment in the U.S. has been declining ­ from almost 8 percent of total industry sales in 1994 to 2 percent of industry sales in 2012.  The F-Series works best for customers in North America. The global Ranger works best in markets outside of North America, where we do not sell the F-Series.

Ford Atlas

Ford Atlas

 

Auto Trends:

Why is the Ford Atlas important to the company? Given Ford’s position in the market, won’t the next generation F-150 be a slam-dunk for current enthusiasts?

Phil Collareno:

The Ford Atlas Concept showcases the design, capability, fuel efficiency and smart technologies that will define future pickups.

Auto Trends:

Ford Super Duty trucks can be outfitted with a diesel engine. What plans does Ford have to introduce a diesel to the F-150 line?

Phil Collareno:

Diesel engines make the most sense for our commercial truck customers, particularly those with easy access to diesel fuel, established heavy-duty driving routines or long periods of idle time, such as ambulances.

Auto Trends:

Ford and Toyota are collaborating on hybrid technology with the purpose of bringing a hybrid truck to the market. Will we see a Ford F-150 hybrid and if so when? What else can you tell us about this model?

Phil Collareno:

We are absolutely committed to top fuel economy with every new vehicle we introduce. It is too soon to discuss specific future product plans.

Auto Trends:

F-150 buyers choose these trucks for payload, towing and for work reasons. What can Ford do to improve the cabin going forward? Will we see a continued advancement in in-cabin technologies and what limits are there to rolling out these technologies?

Phil Collareno:

We are constantly looking at multiple ways to improve our cars and trucks with innovative technology that improves fuel efficiency and capability. It is premature, however, to discuss specific approaches or solutions that we might use for future products. Our current trucks have innovative technologies designed with truck customers in mind, including a specially designed interface for MyFordTouch and Ford Works Solutions, a suite of truck-exclusive technologies for productivity.

Auto Trends:

What other engineering changes can we expect in future Ford trucks? We know that Ford plans to reduce vehicle weight by making use of carbon fiber, aluminum and other lightweight materials. Will Ford trucks get a 10-speed transmission? Will cylinder deactivation be used? How else will Ford deliver a more efficient truck without compromising on performance?

Phil Collareno:

We are constantly looking at multiple ways to improve our cars and trucks with innovative technology that improves fuel efficiency and capability. It is premature, however, to discuss specific approaches or solutions that we might use for future products.

About Phil Collareno

Phil Collareno has been with the Ford Motor Company since 1979. Besides overseeing product development for the F-150, he does the same for the company’s chassis cabs, large SUVs, vans and heavy-duty products. Collareno has held several positions with Ford in North and South America, and in Europe where he served as the vehicle line director for commercial vehicles. He holds bachelor and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan.


See Also — Sporty Ford F-150 Tremor Priced From $38,000

Filed Under: Special Tagged With: EcoBoost, FORD F SERIES, FORD F-150, Ford Motor Company, Ford trucks, PHIL COLLARENO, PICKUP TRUCKS

Ford Makes Claim to Best Selling Truck and Car Models

January 7, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

Two winning models for the Blue Oval.

2013 Ford F-150 XLT
For 36 straight years the F-Series reigns supreme.

The Ford Motor Company claims two best selling vehicles: its F-150 pickup truck and its compact Focus car. The former is no surprise as it has been Americas top selling pickup truck for 36 consecutive years. The latter is a best seller too, but not in the United States that distinction belongs to the Toyota Camry. Globally, however, the Ford Focus has supplanted the Toyota Corolla as the best selling vehicle in the world.

Two Winners

For 2012, Ford moved 645,316 units of its F-Series pickup trucks in the U.S. market alone. That number easily outpaced the Chevrolet Silverado. Indeed, with GMC Sierra sales included, Ford still managed to build more large trucks than GM.

On the other end of the vehicle spectrum are Fords small cars including its compact Focus line. US sales for the Ford Focus rose by 40 percent to 245,922 units, but still well behind its segment competitors: the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.

One Ford Policy

Ford FocusThat the Focus is even a player is a tribute to company management that decided in 2008 to invoke a One Ford product strategy where similar vehicles are sold globally. That move brought the subcompact Fiesta to the US market followed by the European-designed Focus.

The new Focus replaced an American-designed model that was far different from the European model indeed the class leader that is taking the world by storm right now. By offering a single model across its many markets, Ford has cut costs and improved vehicle quality. North American drivers clearly have taken to the new model.

Polk Data

We don’t have official figures yet proving Fords assertion that the Focus has surged past the Toyota Corolla. Ford is basing its claims on sales numbers through September 2012, pegged at 737,856 units reports AutoExpress. If that pace has held steady then nearly 1 million Focus sales would have been made globally in 2012. R.L. Polk estimates that 966,000 Toyota Corolla models were sold last year reports AOL Autos.

The Ford Motor Company is more profitable today because of its One Ford policy. Some vehicles such as the F-150 and Taurus sedan have limited appeal beyond its home market, but still help Ford round out is vehicle line. Fords strategy is working and once again the blue oval sold more than 2 million new vehicles in the US.


See Also — Pickup Truck Wars: Chevy Claims Mileage Edge Over Ford

Photos courtesy of the Ford Motor Company.

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: FORD F SERIES, FORD FOCUS, Ford Motor Company, PICKUP TRUCKS, Toyota Corolla, US SALES

  • « Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • …
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Social Media

Visit our social media pages:
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest

Where is Matt Currently Published?

CARFAX (new car reviews)
NAPA Know How Blog
On the Road Again

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS

Pages

  • About
  • Automotive Brochures
  • Contact
  • Write
    • Style Guide

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Rivian Automotive Draws Interest From GM, Amazon
  • All-New 2020 Subaru Legacy Steps Up
  • Ram Chassis Cab is Here and Brings With it Class-Leading Numbers
  • 5 Tools To Help Safer Driving In Winter Weather
  • Live! From the 2019 Chicago Auto Show!
  • The Sedan is Dead:
    Long Live the 2019 Nissan Altima!
  • About the 2020 Toyota Supra
  • The Last Hurrah: Hyundai Santa Fe XL
  • Off-Road Warrior:
    Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
  • A Trio of Cadillac Crossovers
  • Compact Luxury Crossover: Cadillac XT4
  • At a Glance: 2020 Ford Explorer
  • Longer Range Nissan Leaf Debuts at CES
  • Going Rogue in Nissan’s Popular Crossover
  • It’s a Wrap: 2018 in Review
  • The Fifth-Generation Subaru Forester Remains a Strong Contender
  • Where Luxury Meets Performance:
    Audi SQ5 SUV
  • The All-New Toyota Avalon Hybrid Combines Luxury With Efficiency
  • Generation Four: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
  • Handsome Wagon: 2019 Volvo V60
  • Book Review: Mustang by Design
  • New and Improved! 2019 Infiniti QX50
  • Highlights of a 2019 Toyota C-HR
  • Return of the First-Generation Ford Bronco
  • 2014-2018 Jaguar F-Type Buyer’s Guide
  • Family Efficiency: 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
  • Polestar Powered: 2019 Volvo S60
  • Small Nissan Crossover SUVs:
    Kicks, Rogue Sport and Rogue
  • Like a Rock: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado
  • New and Improved: 2019 Acura RDX
  • A Cut Above: 2019 Mazda CX-9
  • These Car Models May Soon Get the Axe
  • How to Save Money on Car Insurance
  • The Luxurious and Capable
    2019 Infiniti QX80
  • Compact Value: 2019 Kia Forte Sedan
  • Raise the Stakes: 2019 Genesis G70
  • 7 Facts About the Volkswagen Beetle
  • Fuel Types and Your Car
  • SUV Zenith: 2019 Subaru Ascent
  • SEMA Shock Yellow Chevy Camaro Dazzles
  • Keogh to Volkswagen: A Brilliant Move
  • Rogue Sport Delivers a Difference for Nissan
  • Hold Fast: VinFast Does Paris
  • After the Crash: Replace the Car Seat?
  • Volkswagen Rabbit Reprise: Again!
  • At a Glance: 2019 Kia K900
  • About the 2019 Cadillac XT4
  • Chrysler: Out With the 300,
    In With the Portal?
  • Ram Gets a Midsize Pickup Truck
  • A Whole Lot of Awesome:
    Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison
February 2019
S M T W T F S
« Jan    
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
2425262728  

Copyright © 2019 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in