Fair question, I believe there's some sort of clause or something that low volume manufacturers don't have to go through formal crash and emissions testing. I can't recall the exact number, but I want to say it's something like if a brand makes fewer than 5,000 cars a year. 

I wonder how that works with crash standards? Then again they are only building 150 of them too. 

https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/boreham-ford-escort-restomod-specs-pictures/   Same people who will be doing an updated RS 200 in the near future as well as 5 other classic Ford model revivals. Should Ford ever decide to bring back smaller car models, they should lean into iconic passion products like this. 

We should usually take our lawyer's advice, but not always.  It just reminds me of the Specialized bicycle company's overly aggressive trademark defense, and I know that many in the cycling community who had no opinion one way or the other about that company will never own a Specialized bike because of it.  I'm in that group.  I'd hate to see Ford make the same mistake.  Just because it's within your legal rights does not make it a good business decision.   https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/specializeds-disastrous-trademark-case-is-unnecessary-to-defend-the-brand/

Here's my update/lack of update on my 2025 F450 Lariat order:   9/30 Ordered Confirmed.  Scheduled for week of 12/9 11/27 Updated to "In Production" with a note saying "this could take a few days" 12/12 No change to it's status since 11/27 Still no window sticker.   I got excited thinking they were ahead of schedule.  Wrong. Oh well.  My 2017 F350 is still serving me well.

Here's my update/lack of update on my 2025 F450 Lariat order:   9/30 Ordered Confirmed.  Scheduled for week of 12/9 11/27 Updated to "In Production" with a note saying "this could take a few days" 12/12 No change to it's status since 11/27 Still no window sticker.   I got excited thinking they were ahead of schedule.  Wrong. Oh well.  My 2017 F350 is still serving me well.    

I'll agree with you regarding the Hybrid with Pro Power Onboard but won't be surprised if it's not available for at least a year or couple of years yet. The Hybrid with Pro Power Onboard has already established itself on the F-150's and would be a logical step for the Super Duty models. As for any BEV version, I think that's still years down the road.   

In sharp contrast to my 2010 Dodge Challenger, which is still on the original battery... F350 battery looks to be going bad   Is AGM worth the extra $100?

This makes the most sense to me. Ford has talked about a larger push into HEV’s.  This could help bring the cost down and finally give ford the supply they need for hybrids.    Wouldn’t surprise me if all future non-EV’s go hybrid only. Except for the big trucks. 

Impressive. I don't know why it shows a blank text box when I'm trying to quote you, but there you go lol.