fordmantpw

We are getting to the point where GPF (gasoline particulate filters) are becoming a necessary too. I think the new Nautilus has one IIRC.

Not to mention, modern diesels are VERY complex with EGR, particulate filters, after treatment etc. This is a much much simpler solution.

But to completely remove it from everything, even on Platinum and Limited Platinum Plus? Maybe...

More decontenting by Ford. Removing the tailgate-down sensors and camera are a big change. Industry-first, very helpful feature, and now it's gone. Also, the keyless entry keypad is now a dealer installed option, so I'm sure it's the ugly black plastic stick-on thing that's ugly as can be. Very frustrating for a $100k vehicle. Come on, Ford, you're better than that!

Out here in the sticks, most of my Amazon packages are delivered by USPS.

I don't think the 2.3L would be up to the task of supplying enough power for towing 12-15k lbs. if the battery is depleted. Not to mention, the turbo engines are less efficient than their NA counterparts when running under load

Good point. Run at the most efficient for normal charging, crank up to max output when it's needed for climbing hills.

The V8 doesn't need a wide powerband either. It'll run at a fixed RPM where it's most efficient.

Legitimate concern based on the article: The system could easily calculate the energy you are using, and determine the available capacity to keep on hand. So, say, keep a minimum of 25 miles of battery capacity, which could provide enough energy along with the ICE to climb any long grade in the US. That 25 miles of capacity could be 10kWh or it may be 50kWh, depending on the size of the load you are towing. (I'm throwing numbers around here as a concept, not actual values) There could also be a way for the driver to select extra capacity if they want to keep some spare range on hand. For instance, if they are going to be boondocking in their RV and want the battery charged fully when they reach their destination so they can use the truck for power. I'm hoping they make this a reality because this is exactly what I want in my next Super Duty!

Wow, not a contest you want to win, Jerryr, that sucks! I thought my 14 month wait for my '22 (ordered 9/21, delivered 11/22) was long.

Cat exited the on-road engine market in 2010 before the 2011 emissions hit. I'm not saying them building their own pickup isn't possible, but I'd give it about 0.0001% chance of actually happening. And to say they have a price range nailed down but they don't even have mockups of the truck? Seems kinda fishy to me.

That's what I was thinking they may have meant too.

Not good at math, are they? 7 out of 10 is 70%. F-Series "only" accounted for 40.8% of the Ford Brand (taking Lincoln out of the picture) total. That's roughly 4 out of 10.

The point of that group of software engineers is to come up with the "next big thing." It may not be this, or the next thing, but maybe the cool thing they come up with after that is the next big thing. It's called R&D, and Ford spends money in all different departments for R&D. Software development is one of them. It's not taking money away from desirable features, it's contributing to helping find those features. My hunch is that things like parallel park assist and 360 degree camera views have come out of results from this (or a similar) R&D group. If they didn't fund this group, maybe the 360 degree camera would have been 3-4 years later (just using it as an example).

But if another brand has done it, it's too late to patent it and you lose out. That's the problem with waiting. Personally, I don't see this as being a reasonable feature in the near future, but if it happens, guess who will be sitting pretty with the patent! Also, as @silvrsvt pointed out, not doing this isn't going to pay for big features. There is likely a group of software engineers at Ford whose sole purpose is to come up with ideas like this to patent. Their budget is miniscule compared to a vehicle development team's budget.