Photo: Ford
Global research company UBS has made a study about what potential buyers think about the 2015 Ford F-150's aluminum construction. After sampling 800 truck drivers, more than half of them declared that they're likely to buy the all-new lightweight truck.
Before we go further into specifics, let us remind you than compared to the 2014 model year light-duty Ford F-Series pickup, the new-gen will weigh about 700 pounds (317 kilograms) less thanks to the light yet military-grade strong aluminum alloy employed. The study that was ordered by the Detroit News shows that about a third of questioned truck owners don't actually care about what material their pickup is made out of if it doesn't affect performance. But the aluminum construction does modify some figures.
Specifically, a lower curb weight will improve both towing capacity and power delivery throughout the rev range, all while consuming less fuel. As if that wasn't good enough, another huge plus is that aluminum is more resistant to rust than conventional steel, so the 2015 Ford F-150's bed can take almost all the wear and tear you can throw at it. Only 19 percent of the 800 truck drivers involved in the study have told that they would rather a good ol' steel truck, while 17 percent prefer a steel-aluminum mix and 25 percent needed more data to make a decision.
Speaking to the previously mentioned publication, Colin Langan, an UBS analyst, declared that: "Educated consumers tend to see this as an asset. There were steel loyalists, but once you gave them details, the preference for aluminum switches.” According to estimates, the use of aluminum will hike the price of the all-new Ford F-150 by $600 or so per truck, but the study found that customers willing to buy the 2015 model year truck made by the Blue Oval are OK with paying an average premium of $3,138 per truck.
Specifically, a lower curb weight will improve both towing capacity and power delivery throughout the rev range, all while consuming less fuel. As if that wasn't good enough, another huge plus is that aluminum is more resistant to rust than conventional steel, so the 2015 Ford F-150's bed can take almost all the wear and tear you can throw at it. Only 19 percent of the 800 truck drivers involved in the study have told that they would rather a good ol' steel truck, while 17 percent prefer a steel-aluminum mix and 25 percent needed more data to make a decision.
Speaking to the previously mentioned publication, Colin Langan, an UBS analyst, declared that: "Educated consumers tend to see this as an asset. There were steel loyalists, but once you gave them details, the preference for aluminum switches.” According to estimates, the use of aluminum will hike the price of the all-new Ford F-150 by $600 or so per truck, but the study found that customers willing to buy the 2015 model year truck made by the Blue Oval are OK with paying an average premium of $3,138 per truck.
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