Mighty F-350 Tonka Concept Leads Ford Trucks Into Future

Automotive Intelligence, the web for automotive professionals

This Week:

© 1998 - 2002 Copyright &
Disclaimer
Automotive Intelligence,
www.autointell.com
All Rights Reserved .
For questions please contact
editor@autointell.com

News of January 09, 2002

Mighty F-350 Tonka Concept Leads Ford Trucks Into Future

Photo: Automotive Intelligence

DETROIT, Mich. - It's big. It's bold. It showcases an advanced new powertrain. DETROIT, Jan. 6, 2002 - It's bold. It's strong. It's a hint of what's to come for the next generation Ford F-Series pickup - America's best-selling vehicle for 20 years running and best-selling truck for the past 25 years.

It's the Ford Mighty F-350 TONKA, a vibrant yellow and chrome concept pickup showcasing an advanced new powertrain and a fresh design approach from the world's truck authority. It's the Ford Mighty F-350 Tonka concept, a vibrant yellow truck that pairs a distinctive design with innovative technologies worthy of the Built Ford Tough badge.

"Ford has long been and will continue to be the leading truck brand - not just in sales figures, but in ingenious ideas, bold design and customer satisfaction," says James Padilla, group vice president, Ford North America, who helped pull the wraps off the new concept at the 2002 North American International Auto Show. "With the Mighty F-350 TONKA, we've created a truck that's worthy of the 'Built Ford Tough' badge. It's as spirited as it is rugged, a blend you're likely to see on Ford trucks down the road."

The Mighty F-350 TONKA concept celebrates the spirit of the trucks that, for many, first sparked an appreciation for ruggedness and resilience in a vehicle.

For more than 50 years, TONKA® - which means "great" in Sioux - has been synonymous with durability and lasting play value for children around the world. Now, the Mighty F-350 TONKA concept brings together the playfulness of the legendaries child's toy - with the strength, reliability and value key to the Ford truck tradition of leadership.

"We've had fun bringing to life a full-size pickup that reminds kids of all ages of the trucks they used to loved to punish in their sandboxes," says J Mays, vice president, Design, Ford Motor Companypany vice president, Design.

The Mighty F-350 TONKA introduces a unique combination of technologies that deliver a cleaner, more efficient ride. The vehicle's Power Stroke® Diesel Super-600 cConcept diesel V-8 engine is teamed with the five-speed PowerTorq™ transmission, marking in Ford's first application of a five-speed automatic with a diesel engine. The 6.0-liter, 32-valve, turbocharged V-8 concept engine concept is rated at 350 horsepower and delivers up to 600 foot-pounds of torque when teamed with the PowerTorq automatic.

With lower emissions and better fuel economy than any V-8 diesel truck engine on the road today, this concept powertrain also features Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA).

The HLA system, currently under research, is designed to improve fuel economy in large trucks by an estimated 25 to 35 percent in city driving. It A reversible pump/motor attached to the driveshaft through a clutch system and an energy storage module work in tandem with the traditional powertrain. The HLA system recovers energy normally lost during vehicle deceleration, stores it in the form of hydraulic pressure and then reuses it during acceleration.

(Jan. 6, 2002)

[Homepage] [ News] [ Companies] [ Management] [ Publications] [ Events] [ Careers]
[Services] [Discussion] [ Guestbook] [ Search]