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Ford Tested the 2015 F-150 In Plain View Since 2011

Yup, the Blue Oval managed to hide the all-new generation of its pickup in full public view for almost 3 years now. As it happens, a number of 2015 Ford F-150 trucks wearing the outgoing model's bodyshell were tested by unknowing real customers in the toughest working conditions imaginable.
2015 Ford F-150 pre-production mule disguised as the outgoing model 6 photos
Photo: Ford
2015 Ford F-150 pre-production mule disguised as the outgoing model2015 Ford F-150 pre-production mule disguised as the outgoing model2015 Ford F-150 pre-production mule disguised as the outgoing model2015 Ford F-150 pre-production mule disguised as the outgoing model2015 Ford F-150 pre-production mule disguised as the outgoing model
6 prototype F-150 pickups fitted with the high-strength, aluminium-alloy cargo boxes have been quietly put to the test in the hands of fleet customers. Since 2011, these vehicles were used on job sited such as a Nevada gold mine, a Pennsylvania dam, as well as servicing power lines in Appalachia. The F-150s involved were checked on site every 3 months by Denis Kansier, the prototype pickup's lead engineer.

He did so to ensure the vehicles are working properly and identify possible adjustments to the design of the 2015 Ford F-150. “This secret testing almost immediately yielded results and lessons we have rolled into the all-new F-150,” said Kansier. “For example, we made the cargo box floor thicker to improve strength, and we made modifications to the tailgate based on lessons we learned through customer usage.”

During those 3 years of real-world testing, the 6-vehicle fleet clocked in over 350,000 miles. From picking up and hauling heavy objects, to rolling over unforgiving off-road terrain and heavy towing, the prototype F-150s seen all sorts of hardships. Some of the drivers began to notice differeces compared to the typical steel truck beds as testing ensued. One of them was the lack of rust even after heavy usage scratched through the layers of paint.

Even though the customers were informed they've been given disguised pre-production trucks at the North American International Auto Show in January, the prototype pickups are still used by the aforementioned clients. “Our customers demand the highest levels of toughness and productivity – so we wanted to test the truck outside, in the harshest conditions and in the hands of real customers – with no limits,” declared Larry Queener, program manager for the new F-150.

If you're curious how the Blue Oval torture-tested the 2015 Ford F-150 truck in controlled conditions, check out this video gallery showing how the pickup was put through its paces in the most harsh environments imaginable.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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