Towards the end of last year, Ford’s Team Fordzilla esports team unveiled a full-scale model of the P1 racing car that had been designed in collaboration with gamers. Now, it’s giving people the chance to get behind the wheel and take to the virtual track by turning it into the ultimate racing simulator.
The P1 racer – now with vivid new gaming-inspired livery – is powered by an HP Z4 Workstation Intel Xeon W2295 3.00Ghz with 18 cores and the graphic card Nvidia RTX A6000 48GB. Players control the game via a built-in gaming steering wheel and pedals. Upgraded lighting, both front and back, pulses gently like the breath of a sleeping person when the P1 is waiting for the next race. They then come alive during race time as the rear lights synchronise with braking moments during gameplay to connect viewers outside with the action
Aural stimulation is also catered for, with a built-in audio system channelling a realistic, bespoke sound design to the driver to take the racing simulator experience to a completely new level.
Following the success of the P1 project, Team Fordzilla is now also launching a second series as it looks to work with gamers and Ford’s designers once again to create a new Supervan. Ford has a tradition of building race-inspired Supervans based on its Transit models, with the first appearing 50 years ago in 1971.
A Ford Transit Supervan at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.
The new Supervan Vision Concept, will imagine what an extreme performance model of future Transit vans may look like as it takes the Supervan story into a new dimension. The project will follow a similar format to the P1 racer, with gamers asked to vote on the different elements of the design throughout the process. This will be kicked-off during Team Fordzilla’s live show at gamescom 2021, with viewers polled whether they want a track-focused racer or an off-road rally van.
This all comes as Ford’s involvement and dedication to gaming is highlighted by the announcement that a Ford Bronco model – the 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands – will be one of two vehicles to feature on the cover of the new Forza Horizon 5 game. The Forza franchise by Xbox Game Studios is one of the most popular for racing fans globally; in 2016, Ford of Europe went to gamescom with Forza and set a new Guinness World Records title for ‘Longest video marathon on a racing game’ using Forza Motorsport 6.
Latest Bronco appears as one of the vehicles available in Forza Horizon 5 game.
“For the past 50 years, Supervan has been the most extreme expression of what a Transit Van can be. So we thought, instead of developing the next Supervan on the existing Transit, why don’t we create the Transit Supervan of the future? It should be a fascinating project and I can’t wait to see how the gaming community helps to shape it,” said Hans Schep, General Manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe.
Bertone, ItalDesign and Pininfarina are well known names in the auto world, having been the design studios that created many exotic models – as concepts as well as production cars – for companies like Ferrari and Lamborghini. Also included among these historical Italian design houses is Ghia, which is owned by Ford today.
Ghia began as an independent company in 1916 and like companies involved in automobiles then, it specialized in coachwork (carrozzeria) and its founder Giacinto Ghia, was a master-builder of wooden models as well as skilled at styling. His talent was apparent in the models he styled with the best known said to be the Fiat 508 Ballilla sports coupe which was displayed at an exhibition in Turin in 1933. Back then, in the period before World War II, such companies were commissioned by carmakers to design some models for them.
The building that Ghia had was demolished during the war, and while it was being rebuilt in 1944, Ghia had a heart attack and died. His widow offered the company to a couple of good friends who saw the value of the Ghia name and chose to retain it for the name of the company. One of the two friends was a stylist named Felice Mario Boano whose designs were characterised by wheels which were enveloped.
Alfa Romeo 1900 Supersonic Conrero designed by Ghia in 1953.
How Ghia connected with Chrysler
In the early 1950s, Luigi Segre, a designer in the company as well as its owner from 1954, visited the USA and looked for new business opportunities there. He came in contact with Virgil Exner, who was a designer in the American company. Exner was also in charge of Chrysler’s showcar division and had to come up with models to display at motorshows. As he was busy with design work, he decided to let Ghia work on the showcars.
One of the many concept cars Ghia did for Chrysler. This was the Chrysler Ghia Streamline X Gilda which appeared at motorshows in 1955.
Segre got on well with Chrysler executives and his close relationship with Exner was strong. The partnership went on for 15 years, during which time Ghia produced numerous models. Eighteen of them even carried the company name as Chrysler Ghia Specials.
The Karmann-Ghia
The 1950s saw many more Ghia creations and one of the most famous was the Karmann-Ghia. Karmann was approached by Volkswagen in 1953 to come up with a sporty model which would use the Beetle platform. Volkswagen had in mind a roadster with an open top but when Karmann got Ghia to develop the model, the Italian studio came out with a coupe.
The Karmann-Ghia was unveiled at the 1955 Frankfurt International Motor Show. Ghia provided the Italian sportscar design, Karmann built it and Volkswagen provided the Beetle platform. The Karmann-Ghia was unveiled at the 1955 Frankfurt International Motor Show.
It took Ghia about 5 months to build a prototype and, in fact, the design team was able to come up with 3 designs within days of being told of the ‘unofficial’ project. Fortunately, when Karmann presented the coupe design to Volkswagen management, it was well received and a decision to build the car was made within the same day.
Karmann had planned to do 3,000 units but in the first year of production, 10,000 units of the car – named the Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia (Type 14) were made and delivered to customers. Between 1955 and 1969, 485,987 units were produced and those still in existence today are cherished collectors’ items.
Unlike Bertone and Pininfarina, however, Ghia never ventured into making cars for sale in any significant way. It remained as a styling studio, offering some very memorable designs which are still admired today.
Although it is described as having ‘Italian styling’, Ghia is not mentioned in official Volvo documents related to the P1800 coupe. However, the Italian studio did have an indirect involvement in the design of the car driven by ‘The Saint’ in the 1960s TV series.
Ghia and the Volvo used by ‘The Saint’
One of these was the Volvo P1800 coupe, the car used by ‘The Saint’ in the TV series of the 1960s. The Volvo designers were busy working on the Amazon (121/122) at that time and had no time to think of a sports model. The consultant for Volvo, Helmer Pettersson, who was given the project decided to pass it on to his son, Pelle, who was working for Ghia as a designer at that time. And that is how Ghia got involved in that memorable car.
Ghia’s relationship with Chrysler came to an end in the early 1960s, by which time Exner had left and Segre passed away. Between 1963 and 1967, Ghia changed owners a few times and then Alejandro de Tomaso bought it over in 1967. De Tomaso was an arrogant and unforgiving man, perhaps due to his background from a wealthy and influential family in Argentina where he grew up. Under de Tomaso, Ghia lost many of its designers and one of them was Giorgio Giugiaro who would start his own company called ItalDesign and go on to also become a famous name in the auto world.
Alejandro de Tomaso bought over Ghia in 1967 and then sold it to Ford in 1973 when his company was in financial difficulties.
In August 1969, Lee Iacocca, who was a rising Ford executive destined to become company president, visited Ghia. The flamboyant Iacocca was impressed by de Tomaso’s sportscars and asked the studio to do some engineering prototypes and concept models, as well as some special editions.
One of the first projects was a running prototype of a small sportscar. It was adapted from the Ford Mustang, the car Iacocca was closely associated with. It was a smaller version and eventually became the Mustang II. Ghia’s designers took just 53 days to complete their assignment which also provided Ford with a new direction in thinking.
The ‘baby’ Ford Mustang II designed by Ghia came out in time for the energy crisis decade when the auto industry had to downsize its cars.
Ford buys over Ghia
The effort impressed Ford and in 1973, when de Tomaso ran into financial difficulties, the American carmaker decided to buy over Ghia. The idea was to have a professional studio as an external design house to work on specialized and advanced projects.
The man who headed it was Filipo Sapino who was a designer at a smaller Ford studio which was also located in Italy. Actually, he had also worked for Ghia earlier (as well as having a short stint with Pininfarina where he was involved in Ferrari styling) and by 1976, Sapino was given the position of Managing Director of Ghia. He would hold that position for the next 25 years.
Ghia versions of production models
Besides being used as an advanced styling studio by Ford, Ghia was also tasked to refine production models. These refinements were aimed at creating luxurious versions with higher-quality trim levels and equipment, mainly for models sold by Ford of Europe, starting with the Granada in 1974. This was followed by Ghia versions of popular models like the Escort, Capri and Cortina. The Ghia image was so strong that some Malaysians even referred to the late 1970s Escort Ghia as just a ‘Ford Ghia’. However, after 2010, Ford decided to drop the Ghia name and replaced it with ‘Titanium’ for the top versions.
The Ford Lynx Ghia was the last Ghia-badged model sold in Malaysia in the early 2000s.The Streetka was a showcar that Ford decided to turn into a production model.
Some Ghia concept models were also turned into production cars, usually sporty models. For example, the Barchetta was the basis for the reincarnation of the Ford Capri in the 1980s, a product which was made in Australia using a Mazda 323 platform. The Streetka, which started off as a concept, also became a production model.
Today, Ghia is not prominent outside Ford and is part of the global network of studios which share work and combine efforts and resources. It does however have a major role in designing concept cars, just as it did when Chrysler’s Exner first appointed the studio to do showcars in the 1950s and 1960s.
If you saw the 2019 movie ‘Ford vs Ferrari’, you will know that in the 1960s, Ford entered the Le Mans 24-Hour races and won, the only American racing car to win the classic endurance event. Now, as a tribute to the Ford GT prototype that was used to develop the racing cars, Ford is introducing a Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition.
6th Heritage Edition model
The limited-edition mid-engine supercar comes as the model enters its the final year of production. It is the sixth in the ultra limited production series related to the Le Mans cars. Many of the cars have the Gulf paint scheme that was distinctive in that era of motorsport.
Another version in the Ford GT Heritage Edition, this one inspired by the 1966 GT40 MK II in the background.
This latest Heritage Edition is based on the 1964 Ford GT prototype that debuted at the New York International Auto Show in April 1964. It has Wimbledon White paint with Antimatter Blue graphics, including an over-the-roof triple racing stripe. Exposed carbonfibre components are prominent, including 20-inch Antimatter Blue-painted carbonfibre wheels, a touch unique to Ford GT, as well as an exposed carbonfibre front splitter, side sills, mirror stalks, engine louvers and rear diffuser finished in gloss. Brembo brake calipers lacquered in silver with black graphics, plus black lug nuts further modernize the aesthetic.
The world’s first mass-produced carbonfibre wheel application that debuted as standard equipment on the 2015 Shelby GT350R Mustang is also available for the Ford GT.
Carbonfibre all over
Carbonfibre is also used around the cabin, for the door sills, lower A-pillars and console, along with matte registers, and Lightspeed Blue Alcantara-wrapped seats featuring silver stitching. The instrument panel is wrapped in Ebony leather and Lightspeed Blue Alcantara, while pillars and headliner are wrapped in Ebony Alcantara. Antimatter Blue appliques on the instrument panel, door register bezels and seat X-brace are coordinated with the unique wheels. The steering wheel is finished in Ebony Alcantara with black stitching, while dual-clutch paddle shifters are clear and polished.
The narrow-profile canopy reduces frontal area and caps a purposeful interior that provides state-of-the-art technology to ensure control, comfort and safety. The 2-seat cockpit is accessed by upward-swinging doors, and features driver and passenger seats integrated directly into the carbonfibre passenger cell.
This configuration significantly reduces seating hardware and weight, and provides a consistent and direct sensory connection to the chassis. The fixed seating is combined with adjustable pedals and steering column to accommodate a very wide range of driver heights.
An F1-style steering wheel integrates all necessary driver controls, creating a stalkless steering column that allows uncluttered access to the transmission paddle-shift controls. A fully digital and configurable instrument cluster provides a wealth of driver-focused data. The display is configurable for multiple driving environments and different driving modes.
700 ps EcoBoost engine
The engine behind the cockpit is a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged Ford EcoBoost V6 with a power output of up to 700 ps and around 750 Nm of torque. The Powershift transmission is a dual-clutch unit made by Getrag. Ford’s high-performance division, Ford Performance, has been directly involved in the car’s development.
The current Ford GT is actually the second time Ford has built such a model. The first one was produced between 2005 and 2006 to celebrate the company’s centenary, with 4,038 units built. The second generation was introduced at the end of 2016 and production was planned to be 250 units a year until 2022. It is built at the factory of Canadian-based Multimatic, a specialist manufacturer.
During 2005 and 2006, Ford built around 4,000 units of the first generation Ford GT which was for the company’s centenary celebration.
Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) is constantly looking for ways to give its customers a better deal and for those who are interested in buying a new Ford Ranger WildTrak or XLT Plus model, there is now free scheduled servicing for the first two years of ownership.
Available for 2021 model year units, the 2-year free servicing package (terms and conditions apply) is available on a first come, first served basis (while stocks last). As with all Ranger models, the WildTrak and XLT Plus are backed by Ford’s new 5-year/160,000 kms manufacturer’s warranty.
“We’re constantly evolving to find ways to deliver more value-add to customers. The 2-year free service offer aims to provide peace of mind for customers, especially in these challenging times,” said Turse Zuhair, MD of Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.
“Additionally, virtual consultations with a Ford Ranger Specialist not only ensures customer safety amidst the ongoing pandemic, it also raises the level of personalised experience and convenience that customers are looking for,” he said.
He was referring to the company’s recent enhancement of its customer service with the introduction of the Ford Ranger Specialists. These are dedicated experts on the products who can help new and existing customers to be more familiar with the many vehicle features and benefits. By knowing more about their vehicle, they will be able to get the most out of their Rangers and enjoy using the pick-up truck.
There are two powertrain choices – a 213 ps/500 Nm 2-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission with the Ranger Wildtrak, and a 180 ps/420 Nm 2-litre Single-Turbo diesel engine with the Ranger XLT Plus.
Besides refinement that is above average for a pick-up truck, the Ranger Wildtrak also comes with very high safety standards. The smart safety technologies include first in-class features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking with Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning and Semi-Automatic Parallel Parking. There are also convenience features such as keyless entry with pushstart button and the Easy Lift Tailgate.
For more information, visit www.sdacford.com.my or send a WhatsApp message to +6019 204 1200. A Ford Ranger Specialist will respond to the message and provide assistance and information. Test-drives and viewing at showrooms are not available at this time due to ongoing MCO restrictions.
Electric vehicles run on electricity, so they will not give off smells that have been associated with the motorcar for over 100 years. Those smells are typically the fumes of the fuel, exhaust gases and also lubricants in some cases.
In a Ford-commissioned survey, one in five drivers said the smell of petrol is what they would miss most if they switched to an electric vehicle, with almost 70% claiming they would miss the smell of petrol to some degree. Petrol also ranked as a more popular scent than both wine and cheese, and almost identically to the smell of new books.
Association with the Mustang
This led Ford to look for a way to help those with a fondness for the evocative smells of traditional petrol cars to make the transition. Their solution: a high-end fragrance that fuses smokiness, aspects of rubber and even an ‘animal’ element to associate with the Ford Mustang heritage.
The Mustang connection is because Ford is now selling an electrically-powered variant of the bestselling sportscar in the world – the Mustang Mach-E GT. It was revealed over last weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England. However, it’s not for sale and is part of the carmaker’s ongoing mission to help dispel myths around electric cars and convince traditional car enthusiasts of the potential of electric vehicles.
Created by a perfume specialist
Known as ‘Mach-Eau’, the fragrance was created by British fragrance specialist, Olfiction, with ingredients that each add a specific element of the scent’s story. Olfiction’s Pia Long, an Associate Perfumer in the British Society of Perfumers, has been creating fragrances for some of the most famous perfume brands and was instrumental in its inception.
Her starting point was to look into the chemicals that are emitted from car interiors, engines and petrol. This included benzaldehyde, which is an almond-like scent given off by car interiors, and para-cresol which is key in creating the rubbery scent of tyres. These were blended with ingredients like blue ginger, lavender, geranium and sandalwood that added metallic, smoky and further rubbery accents. An ‘animal’ element was also included, giving an impression of horses to underline the Mustang heritage. The bottle also comes in a container shaped like a fuel pump.
The all-electric Mustang Mach-E GT.
“Judging by our survey findings, the sensory appeal of petrol cars is still something drivers are reluctant to give up. The Mach Eau fragrance is designed to give them a hint of that fuel-fragrance they still crave. It should linger long enough for the GT’s performance to make any other doubts vaporise too,” said Jay Ward, director, Ford of Europe Product Communications.
Other carmakers have perfumes too
While Ford has no plans to commercialise the Mach Eau fragrance, other carmakers have licensed the use of their brand names on perfumes for many years. Exotic carmakers like Lamborghini and Ferrari have a line of perfumes though they are essentially perfumes without that ‘connection’ the car smells.
Mazda Design also got involved in the carmaker’s first perfume product in 2017. The perfume, with a blend of wood, rose and leather fragrances, was intended to be associated with Mazda’s KODO: Soul of Motion design concept. While the bottle was typical of such products, the outer case that it was stored in was meant to symbolize the KODO design and won a gold award in Germany’s iF Design Awards.
Mazda’s KODO: Soul of Motion perfume (left) and two of the many Ferrari perfumes in the market.
Ford, in partnership with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, is one of the three major manufacturers participating in the World Rally Championship (WRC). The team, based in Britain, has so far been using the Fiesta WRC rallycar but from the 2022 season, it will switch to a Puma Hybrid. The first event it will compete in will be the 2022 Monte Carlo Rally in January next year.
Replacement for Fiesta WRC
The new rallycar replaces the Fiesta WRC which has won three world championship titles since 2017. Since 1997, Ford has been working with M-Sport to compete in the WRC, and the partnership has a total of 7 world championship titles.
Based on EcoBoost Hybrid system
The prototype of the all-wheel drive Puma Rally1 has a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine and plug-in hybrid system with 100 kW (136 ps) additional power and 3.9 kWh battery capacity. The new plug-in hybrid powertrain will provide competition-level performance as well as the ability to travel through towns, cities and service parks between stages using pure-electric power and therefore zero emissions.
The Puma Rally1’s hybrid system operates using similar principles to the Puma EcoBoost Hybrid road car. The powertrain captures energy normally lost during braking and coasting (regeneration) and stores it in the battery pack to power the electric motor. While this can be used to improve fuel efficiency, the rally drivers are likely to use it for a performance boost – as much as 100 kW for multiple boosts of up to 3 seconds during competitive driving.
The battery pack can also be recharged using an external power source at service points between stages, with a recharge taking approximately 25 minutes. Weighing 95 kgs, the hybrid system is liquid-cooled as well as air-cooled and housed in a ballistic-strength casing to resist the impact of debris and g-forces in the event of an accident, an important consideration in rallies.
In addition, FIA WRC Rally1 competitors must use a fossil-free fuel from the 2022 season, blending synthetic and bio-degradable elements to produce an E-fuel that is 100% sustainable.
Big technological advancement in WRC
“The new era of WRC cars is one of the biggest technological advancements in WRC to date. The introduction of the hybrid means that the cars will be more powerful than ever whilst also directly reflecting the powertrains within their road going counterparts,” said Malcolm Wilson, Managing Director of M-Sport who was formerly a work WRC driver as well.
The Puma Rally1 will replace the Fiesta WRC which the Ford M-Sport Team is currently using in the WRC.
Sime Darby Motors and e-Commerce partner SpareXHub is having a 10-day long clearance sale with discounts up to 90% on selected aged genuine Ford and Hyundai vehicle spare parts. The virtual sale is taking place online at www.sparexhub.comuntil June 10, 2021.
“Our partnership with SpareXHub acts as a vehicle for Sime Darby Motors to provide our loyal customers access to over 3,000 Hyundai and 4,000 Ford genuine aged spare parts, ranging from service items such as filters and sensors, to body parts, such as bumpers and windscreens,” said Alan Scott Gascoyne, Head of Aftersales, Malaysia Retail & Distribution, Sime Darby Motors.
“Sime Darby Motors has embarked on the digital transformation journey in many aspects of our business and is integrating digital retail options into our existing operations. This hybrid initiative with SpareXHub helps us meet the needs of online customers and aftermarket players to purchase selected genuine aged spare parts,” added Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director, Retail and Distribution for Malaysia, Sime Darby Motors.
Mr. Gan added that aftersales is an important part of the company’s business, and this initiative will allow customers to continue to maintain their vehicles with the manufacturer’s recommended genuine spare parts even after the warranty period has expired. “Additionally, customers can continue to enjoy the performance, comfort and safety aspects of their vehicle without compromise due to parts pricing,” Mr. Gan said.
Get genuine rear suspension parts for less money.
About SpareX Hub
SpareXHub is a trusted e-commerce platform for discounted, genuine auto spare parts. With more than 100+ years of combined experience, the team can curate and pick the right spare parts for customers seamlessly. Using the B2B2C approach, SpareXHub is ready to cater to the needs of automotive stockists, independent workshops and even individual vehicle owners. There is no compromise on quality as all the parts are 100% genuine and original, ideal for those vehicles that have finished their warranty period.
For more information on product and pricing and to take advantage of this grand clearance sale, visit www.sparexhub.com or leave a message on SpareXHub’s website or Facebook page.
The National Vaccination Program in Malaysia is free of charge.
It’s not surprising that Ford will start selling an electrically-powered truck from early 2022, the new version of the F-150 range which is to be called the Lightning. After all, it’s been making pick-up trucks since 1917 and over more than 100 years of making such vehicles, it has built up vast experience. Now, it is using all that experience plus new EV technology to continue the journey forward.
“For both Ford and the American auto industry, F-150 Lightning represents a defining moment as we progress toward a zero-emissions, digitally connected future,” said Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company. “F-Series is America’s best-selling truck for 44 years, the backbone of work across the country, and a trusted icon for generations of customers. Now we are revolutionizing it for a new generation.”
The F-150 Lightning is one of the outcomes from the company’s more than US$22 billion global electric vehicle plan to lead electrification in areas of strength. Other fully electrified models developed in recent times have been the Mustang and Transit.
Pricing for the new electric truck will start from US$39,974 (about RM165,550) before any incentives (in the USA) and can rise to US$52,974 (about RM220,000) in versions equipped with the extensive range of features, technology and accessories.
Most aerodynamic F-150
The F-150 Lightning is the most aerodynamic F-150 ever developed. While it started from the current F-150, it has improvements like newly shaped running boards, a sculpted bonnet to reduce drag, and grilles that replace air intake holes with a smoother, textured surface. Even more functional design delivers optional enhanced 360-degree Zone Lighting, which can light up a specific zone or the entire area around the vehicle.
The electric platform unlocks new capabilities as well – such as being a mobile power generation that can supply electricity to power an entire home. Besides providing electrical power when camping, it can also be valuable when in disaster-struck area where emergency power supplies are needed. The added advantage is that the F-150 Lightning will also have the capability to travel through all kinds of terrain, just like other Ford trucks.
The powertrain has dual in-board motors expected to generate the equivalent of 563 hp with up to 1,050 Nm of torque available from almost standstill. That’s more torque than any F-150 have ever offered and will give a claimed 0 – 60 mph (96 km/h) time in the mid 4-second range.
Two battery pack choices
There will be two choices of next-generation lithium-ion battery packs for the F-150 Lightning: a standard-range pack targeting 370 kms and an extended-range pack 480 kms. As with other EVs, charging time depends on the type of charging equipment used. Ford is the only automaker to offer an 80A charge station as standard equipment, allowing owners to recharge easily at home. This system takes advantage of the only dual onboard charging system on an electric truck in the industry for even faster home charging.
With this approach, the F-150 Lightning adds an average range of about 50 kms per charging hour, fully charging an extended-range pack from 15% to 100% in about 8 hours. With a 150-kW DC fast-charger, up to 87 kms of range can be available in 10 minutes and from 15% to 80% will take about 41 minutes, it is claimed.
Considering the sort of conditions that the aluminium-bodied F-150 Lightning will be used in, ‘Built Ford Tough’ has never been more important as the battery pack cannot be damaged. Rugged underbody protection keeps it safe, with metal skid plates shielding both the battery pack and inboard motors from. The battery pack itself is secured inside waterproof casing surrounded by crash-absorption protection and has been tested at temperatures as extreme as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Huge front storage area
Just as front-wheel drive with transverse engine orientation liberated space that could be allocated to the cabin, the electric powertrain allows for a versatile, high-tech mega power dedicated storage space that’s secure, lockable and easily accessible by a powered open and close system. This spacious area under the bonnet will have 400 litres of volume and can take 180 kgs of payload. It is water-resistant and has 4 electrical outlets, 2 USB chargers and a drainable floor that can double as a food and beverage container. With 2.4 kW of power, there’s enough capability to plug in power tools, TVs, laptops, speakers, crockpots and more.
Talking of payload, a feature called Onboard Scales uses the front boot space sensors to estimate payload and tell customers how much they’re hauling. And since payload can impact range, Onboard Scales is integrated with Intelligent Range to help ensure an accurate estimate.
Smart and connected
Like the Ranger, the F-150 Lightning is packed with intelligent features, combining advanced digital technologies with proven engineering know-how. As part of the optional Ford Co-Pilot360 technology, BlueCruise allows for true hands-free driving on more than 160,000 kms of pre-qualified divided highways in North America, – with more Hands-Free Blue Zones to come in the future.
Owners will find that, like their smartphone, the software running certain systems can be updated without going to the service centre. Ford Power-Up software updates will come over the air and improve performance, update existing features or even add all-new functions and capabilities. The majority of updates will be completed in under 2 minutes and whenever the owner chooses.
SYNC gets more advanced
Making its truck debut on F-150 Lightning is SYNC 4A – the latest version of Ford’s interface supported by a 15.5-inch touchscreen and designed to adapt to driver behaviour. SYNC 4A employs natural voice control, cloud-connected navigation and wireless access to favourite services with connectivity that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
“It really is the smartest F-150 we’ve ever made,” said Darren Palmer, General Manager, Battery Electric Vehicles, Ford Motor Company. “F-150 Lightning offers an immersive touchscreen, giving our customers all the info they want in an instant – a real-time view of where they’re going, what they’re hauling or how much real-world range they’ve got banked. And with Ford Power-Up software updates, the experience is only going to get better.”
The Ford F-Series pick-up truck has been America’s best-selling vehicle since the 1970s, and though it is hardly seen outside North America, it has also been among the bestselling vehicles in the world due to the sheer numbers with over 1 million sold in 2018.
The success of the F-Series can be attributed to many decades of experience in making such vehicles. As far back as 1917, Henry Ford produced the Model TT which would be the first pick-up truck although it was essentially a Model T with a truck bed attached behind.
1917 Model TT was the granddaddy of today’s Ford pick-up trucks like the F-Series and Ranger.
‘Serious capable, purpose-built tool’
Just over a hundred years later, as the electric era dawns, Ford will offer a fully-electric F-Series model which it says ‘will be a seriously capable, purpose-built tool for serious truck customers. Besides new technology, the electric F-150 Lightning (as it will be known) will also be able to serve as a mobile power generator. It will be able to supply electricity at campsites or construction sites, or even disaster-struck areas.
Prototypes have been undergoing tens of thousands of hours of torture testing and targeting millions of kilometres of driving – simulated, laboratory and real-world. The dual electric motor powertrain will deliver more horsepower and torque than any F-150 available today, which means faster acceleration than what F-Series owners have been used to.
Lower operating and running costs
F-Series truck powertrains typically have large displacements – even the smallest has been 2.7 litres – and that has obviously meant high fuel consumption. With the F-150 Lighting which offers higher performance, including strong towing capability, there will be no such consumption penalty at all. Furthermore, Ford claims that it will have the lowest expected lifetime total cost of operation among F-Series trucks with less maintenance than a typical petrol engine.
“Every so often, a new vehicle comes along that disrupts the status quo and changes the game… Model T, Mustang, Prius, Model 3. Now comes the F-150 Lightning,” said Ford President & CEO, Jim Farley. “America’s favourite vehicle for nearly half a century is going digital and fully electric. F-150 Lightning can power your home during an outage; it’s even quicker than the original F-150 Lightning performance truck; and it will constantly improve through over-the-air updates.”
The new F-150 Lightning will be unveiled at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn on the night of May 19 (morning of May 20 in Malaysia) and the event will be broadcast live online.
An earlier Ford pick-up EV
While the F-150 Lightning is a significant new development, it is not Ford’s first electric pick-up. Back in the late 1990s, when the company had brief burst of EV activity, it engineered a Ranger to be powered by electric motors. The battery packs were initially heavy lead-acid types and then switched to nickel-metal hydride, and factory testing showed that a range of up to 132 kms was possible.
Between 1998 and 2002, Ford produced a Ranger EV which was leased for fleet customers.
The Ranger EV was produced between 1998 and 2002 and was leased instead of sold. As interest in EVs faded, Ford didn’t make plans to follow up on the Ranger EV and instead focussed on developing EcoBoost technology for combustion engines.
The built-in headlights in every car today have been around for about 100 years and over the decades, the lighting systems have evolved to make the illumination stronger, giving a better view of the road or ground ahead. From making headlights more powerful, the engineers have also been making them operate ‘intelligently so that optimum illumination is achieved with changing conditions.
Driving in the dark can be stressful, especially on unfamiliar, winding roads. Ford is therefore working on a new technology to increase comfort and safety when driving after sunset. The company has already done pioneering work in the camera-based recognition of traffic signs and lane markings to optimize headlights in order to better illuminate streets in the dark, especially at intersections.
Now, engineers from Ford Research and Advanced Engineering Europe are testing technology that uses real-time location data to effectively show the car the way to go. The predictive ‘smart’ headlight system directs beams into upcoming corners – even before drivers may have seen them, illuminating hazards and other road-users more quickly and effectively.
How it works
The prototype advanced lighting system uses GPS location data, advanced technologies and highly accurate street geometry information to accurately identify turns in the road ahead. An algorithm calculates the trajectory and speed of the vehicle to proactively adjust the direction of its headlights, providing optimal light coverage of bends, junctions – and even hazards lurking around the corner.
If the vehicle encounters a stretch of road where location data is not available, the system will work alongside camera and steering‑based dynamic headlight-bending technologies to continue to intelligently light the road until the location data improves.
Researchers have made extensive use of ‘digital twin’ simulation that recreates the physical world in a virtual environment. The simulator accurately calculates how light falls and reflects in the real world, enabling researchers to better visualise and optimise the technology for drivers. The Ford researchers used a simulation that reproduces the real world in a virtual environment. The simulation environment calculates the correct reflection of the headlights as in the real world, so that the researchers can visualize the lighting technology realistically and optimize it in terms of traffic safety.
“The predictive lighting technology we are now developing could one day make driving in the dark so easy that the driver basically just has to follow his headlights,” said Michael Koherr, Lighting Research Engineer, Ford of Europe. “This new map and location-based system is the next step in our search for how we can make driving at night as easy as it is during the day.”
Road Edge Detection – available today
The advanced lighting technology will complement another new technology that Ford has developed which can be especially useful on rural roads at night – Road Edge Detection. Roads in rural areas can be tricky as they may not only lack proper lane markings but also give way to open land, muddy ditches and sheer drops.
Ford’s new technology can help make rural driving easier as Road Edge Detection scans the road ahead and can gently steer the vehicle back on track when needed. Designed for use at speeds of 70 – 110 km/h, Road Edge Detection relies on a camera located below the rearview mirror to monitor road edges 50 metres in front of the vehicle and 7 metres to the side.
How it works
Where a paved road becomes a soft side, gravel hard shoulder or grass, the system provides gentle steering support as required to prevent the vehicle from drifting off the carriageway. The system features an advanced algorithm that determines when there are clear structural changes from the road to the area beside the road. It can also provide steering support on marked roads when the lane marking is obscured or hidden by snow, leaves or rain.
If the driver is still close to the edge following initial steering support, the system vibrates the steering wheel, to prompt the driver to steer. At night, the system uses the illumination from the headlights and functions as effectively as during the day.
While predictive lighting technology is still under development, Road Edge Detection is already available in Europe on certain models and will be offered in more models in future the way advanced safety systems like Pre-Collision Assist and Automatic Emergency Braking have been progressively included in almost all models.
To experience Ford’s safety technologies, ask any authorised Ford dealer for a test-drive. To locate a dealership in Malaysia, visit www.sdacford.com.my.
