rmc523

The business neighbor across from the place I work at runs a landscaping company and he just recently got a new Isuzu crew cab LCF with one of the big bed things (not a dump bed just the tall sides). Never thought about a Transit cab for that type of application.....could be an interesting offering.

2016-2019 Ford Explorer Recalled Over Roof Rail Cover Detachments Ford Motor Company is recalling select 2016-2019 Ford Explorer models over an issue with roof rail cover detachments. The defect: in affected vehicles, the roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle. The hazards: detached roof rail covers can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Components: roof rail covers Affected vehicles: select 2016-2019 Ford Explorer models built at the Chicago Assembly Plant between September 19th, 2014, and March 3rd, 2019. Number of vehicles affected: 288,314 The fix: dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge.

This next one might be the most interesting... https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-12679487-B2?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI0N2EwODZkMC0xMzAyLTQ4MzQtYWEwOC1jMmZiOTc5ZTc5MDIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI5MjQxZjg0NC1mY2MzLTQwOTAtYTRlZi00YWQwNWMyZDFiYzkiLCJleHAiOjB9 This is NOT a Mach E, because the rear window shape is different. But it's an EV.....and seems very detailed body/construction wise to be something not "real". The dash is definitely something new, because it's showing a full width screen at the base of the windshield similar to the Lincoln setups, and seems to be the new form of construction of pre-assembled modules coming together.

This is a US patent though. Might not mean anything, but interesting to note.

A new round of interesting patents.... Does Ford currently offer a Transit crew cab on an open frame rear? https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-12680843-B1?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI0N2EwODZkMC0xMzAyLTQ4MzQtYWEwOC1jMmZiOTc5ZTc5MDIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI5MjQxZjg0NC1mY2MzLTQwOTAtYTRlZi00YWQwNWMyZDFiYzkiLCJleHAiOjB9 The patent is actually for a bumper sensor system, but found the cab interesting... Possible hints at exhaust designs for the next F-150.... https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-12680493-B2?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI0N2EwODZkMC0xMzAyLTQ4MzQtYWEwOC1jMmZiOTc5ZTc5MDIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI5MjQxZjg0NC1mY2MzLTQwOTAtYTRlZi00YWQwNWMyZDFiYzkiLCJleHAiOjB9 I remember the rumors for the T3 Lightning were that it'd have 3 rows......this patent for reversible seats in what looks like a truck cab (flat/upright rear seats).....or maybe it's just a 3-row model with reversible 2nd row. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-12679251-B2?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI0N2EwODZkMC0xMzAyLTQ4MzQtYWEwOC1jMmZiOTc5ZTc5MDIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI5MjQxZjg0NC1mY2MzLTQwOTAtYTRlZi00YWQwNWMyZDFiYzkiLCJleHAiOjB9 A lightbar setup for the top of the cab on F-series: https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-20260194202-A1?source=US-PGPUB&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI0N2EwODZkMC0xMzAyLTQ4MzQtYWEwOC1jMmZiOTc5ZTc5MDIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI5MjQxZjg0NC1mY2MzLTQwOTAtYTRlZi00YWQwNWMyZDFiYzkiLCJleHAiOjB9

And we've said this truck looks "too low" to be a truck......they're going to call them whatever they want. They can make a low "Escape" for aero. Ford is trying to keep costs low on this thing, why would they not copy/paste as much as they can to have two models (front end, dash, etc)? They've done it before with the original Expedition and F-150.... You're using your BORG vision with that analysis lol.

I think it's perhaps important to also note, with how low the skunktruck seems to be, it's possible the crossover could wind up looking like a hatch (presumably design wise, it's the skunk trunk with the bed filled in as a cab).

Right....it wasn't necessarily that Mulally was against RWD or BOF construction, more that those were the "low hanging fruit" options to go with while the company was struggling vs. some new RWD/BOF platform.

Yes, we know lol. The quote is saying "under $30k", nothing to do with platform construction... Yes, we've already known they're working on the truck and crossover at least, and at one point a van was on the table, with a sedan also rumored. Yeah, I think that's just a slip up.

Was it truly "against" BOF vehicles, or more that Ford's BOF platforms at the time were outdated, and with the money issues, it just made more sense to consolidate to only a couple of platforms?

I honestly don't know much about the vehicle.......what does it do better than other competitors?

Interesting catch.

Bill Ford Confirms Midsize EV Pickup's Launch Timeframe Now, Blue Oval Executive Chair Bill Ford has confirmed that timeline, via a recent interview with Axios co-founder Mike Allen. "So, we are developing, we have a 'Skunkworks,' but it's kind of out of the closet now, in California to take on the Chinese in the EV area, to sell profitably an EV under $30,000, and we're going to launch that next year. And it'll have several what we call 'top hats' on it," Ford said.

Right? Even Frontier is more of a stretch because it's a midsize, but at least I get it because that's the entry level price, but then throwing in the top of the line model two segments up like huh?

Well, that is the point of a fire, no?