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Ford only dropped the 6.8L from the pickups (i.e. delivered with a bed). 6.8 is, was and always has been available on class 3, 4, 5 delivered as cab/chassis. I see many class 4 and 5 utility trucks running around with the V10. The F550 seems to be a favorite for a small bucket lift.

I the press release for the Jan 9 reveal Ford specifically mentions this explorer as “most advanced and adventure-ready version ever”. I’m thinking maybe this is where the timberline trim is utilized to create something slightly more off road capable. Not bronco level but maybe Grand Cherokee level. The drivetrain change has me curious as to options available. Thoughts?

I wouldn't say Ford's sales of gasoline class 3/4/5 trucks is 'practically zero'. Also remember that the upcoming 7X gasoline engine will be available in at least the 450 and 550. Isuzu currently sells a lot of gasoline fueled class 4/5 NPR's and will soon have a gasoline class 6 FTR. Ford needs to be in that growing market.

Today's turbos are vastly improved over those old days in every way. The center housings are now cooled to eliminate coking. The bearings are improved. The oiling system is improved. The lubricants used are improved. Control of boost is gnat's ass on, so compressor stall (a real killer) doesn't happen. Do we replace turbos occasionally? Yes. But the majority of those are too long on the oil change intervals or stuck/sticking wastegates and bypasses that are not serviced by Ford (but the aftermarket does). No need to fret. Follow your maintenance intervals and drive it.

The first one are arriving at dealerships now.

Thank you all. No more fretting here.

Wanna know what else wasn't built well in the 70s? The entire damned car. We could all rhyme off 100s of components that failed after 60k. These new Ford turbos have hundreds of millions of real life miles in field. They've worked out the issues. No need to fret.

Yep. I said that. That and TC are all that will have a 1.5 after Fusion is gone

They build much faster than they’re shipped, not to mention a lot of the shipping companies are shut down for the holidays just like the plant.

I wonder if the price difference between Ford and Ram will disappear when Ram starts building their trucks in the US. I think Ram building their trucks in Mexico gave them a price advantage over the competition which they obviously passed on to the consumer. I do find it funny that Ford sells nearly as many trucks as Ram does even at a higher price. Ive said this elsewhere but everybody that I know of that switched to Ram during the 6.0 and 6.4 debacle have switched back and are happy with their purchase. If the price advantage Ram has is lessened or eliminated, combined with the new 10 speed transmission and 7.3 gasser, I think Ford could be the most competitive of the lot.

....”Although the U.S. population has been growing steadily since 1975, the rate of crash deaths per 100,000 population in 2016 is about half of what it was 40 years ago....” https://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/overview-of-fatality-facts

I'll bite. What is in the works for the US Transit other that the new diesel that is in the F150 ? I still can not believe that Ford is ignoring the upscale van market, a-la the old Chateau Club Wagon. I will never buy a Transit passenger van with those RIDICULOUS second row seats ! My 21 year old E150 is slowing dying from "cancer".

Ford has humped this football for so long, will Vaporware... Whoops! I mean Bronco... ever actually be produced?

Gotta hit that 8%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at all costs.