The public has been asking ‘when’ for years and we finally have an answer. Ford has officially announced that the F150 will be available in Australian showrooms by mid-2023 through a right-hand drive, local remanufacturing program with engineering specialists, RMA Automotive.
What the top dog at Ford has to say
President and CEO of Ford Australia and New Zealand, Andrew Birkic said, “We’ve listened hard to fans and dealers and found a way to bring F150 to Australia. As the pinnacle of ‘Built Ford Tough’, it will give our customers even more choice when they’re in the market for a pick-up. We just can’t wait to unleash it.”
“F150 has been part of F-Series, America’s best-selling vehicle line for the past 40 years, with more than 40 million F-Series Trucks produced to date. With such a local fan base, and with full-size truck sales in Australia tripling in recent years, we just knew we had to find a way to bring it back to Australia.”
Local expertise
Ford Australia’s product development engineers will collaborate with RMA Automotive to ensure a seamless conversion. With over 30 years of engineering expertise, RMA is one of the world’s leading suppliers of modified vehicles.
The remanufacturing from left-hand to right-hand drive will take place in Mickleham, north of Melbourne. This RMA leased facility is in the same precinct as Ford’s new parts supply and logistics hub. Additionally, it’s also close to Ford’s engineering head office in Campbellfield.
The Ford F150 in Australia
Australian F150s will be offered in the fully-equipped XLT and premium Lariat. Both variants have a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine under the bonnet delivering 298Kw of power and 678Nm of torque. Mated with a 10-speed transmission, the Aussie F150 will be offered exclusively in crew cab style boasting a 4.5-tonne tow rating. All of this will be backed by a five-year unlimited km warranty.
This engine is the most popular in America and according to Natalie Manariti, Ford Australia’s Global Trucks Enterprise Product Line Manager, it boasts more power and torque than many of its V8 competitors.
Tech and safety features include:
- Ford SYNC4
- Collision assist with auto emergency braking
- Blind-spot information system with cross-traffic alerts
- Lane-keeping systems
- Rearview cameras
- Auto high beam
- Reverse brake assist
- Reverse sensing system
- Post-collision braking
“It’s smart, as well as tough and powerful. The F150 is purpose-built to be the toughest, most productive F150 ever, and raises the standard for all trucks,” said Manariti.
Pricing and specifications
Further specification and pricing will become available closer to launch in mid-2023.
I dunno, looks like any other ute to me. The F100 was always different. It stood out cos it was BIG with high ground clearance!
We had an F100 back in the 1970s. There were F100’s with no 4×4; F250’s with 4×4 and F350’s which had duellies.
But they were very obviously trucks. You could buy a style side but most people had a timber and steel trayback.
They had a big Ford 6 under the bonnet. The F250 had a V8.
The one shown in this article could be anything and the badging isn’t enough to displace that thought.
It’s interesting that there are almost none to be seen these days. They had no longevity, unlike the Landcruisers.
I wonder why that is?