P.S. — Stroke length of 97.2 mm would also round off to a 428 cubic inch 7-liter engine using existing 107.2 mm Godzilla bore diameter.  However, if Ford creates an aluminum variant, they may use a slightly different bore diameter for various reasons; or not.  For example, they may want slightly thicker cylinder walls.  If that happens a different stroke length would be required anyway to match 428 displacement.   Honestly, I’m not sure how important matching a legendary engine displacement is to Ford to start with, except they seem to try with 5.0L V8 matching legendary 302, which was later called a 5.0L though exact dimensions were actually 4.9L when rounded.  And today’s 5.0 Coyote is not even close to 302 so maybe it doesn’t matter at all, or at least doesn’t have to be exact.

I haven’t spent much time on hydrostats, but every geared tractor I’ve ever driven has had “cruise control”—it’s called a hand throttle and a governor. 

Link to one of the articles: https://fordauthority.com/2025/03/ford-mustang-mach-e-class-action-lawsuit-launched-over-door-locks/   I recently got locked in my gas car when the battery shifted after hitting a pothole.  I called my wife, released the hood latch and instructed her to jiggle the battery.  She was too inept to do so, but a man and his son's at the gas station I was stuck at lent a manly hand and I was able to get out.   I'm just saying these sort of issues are not exclusive to this Ford product.

I wish that I could say the more GM screws the pooch, the more Ford will succeed, but Toyota and Honda look to be the winners.   Americans are conservative, hybrids are the way to go.

The Mazda EREV is facing similar issues introducing a new technology.   In my opinion, more batteries are not the solution, supercapacitors are, and Tesla recently bought the industry leader.

I’m pretty sure the main difference between 7.3 and 6.8 liter Godzilla is stroke length.  It requires different crankshaft and probably rod length, unless pistons and or block are different which seems unlikely, so weight difference should be insignificant between 6.8 and 7.3 Godzilla variants  On the other hand reports suggest going to aluminum block could save as much as 100 pounds which would make weight in same range as Coyote and close to 3.5L EcoBoost.  For F-150 in particular I don’t see a little added engine weight being too critical from a performance or safety standpoint because diesel was heavier IIRC when it was available.  Wikipedia states stroke length was reduced from 101 to 93.5 mm.  For what it’s worth, a 428 Godzilla would require a 97.1 mm stroke which should be easy to accomplish.

Cruise control on an electric tractor adds very little cost since motor speed has to be controlled anyway, which is probably why they add it.  Makes sense from business standpoint.  On the other hand it still adds an additional item that can fail, no matter how unlikely.  What I find a pain is that when things go wrong, it’s one more thing to troubleshoot.  One or two items isn’t a big deal, but 100s can be.   I get your point that vehicles have gotten more complicated than some owners need or want.  Unfortunately, so much of costs are in research, development, engineering, testing, certification, etc. that by the time a new option is production ready, it costs manufacturers very little more to add to all vehicles.  Variable costs are sometimes so low that it soon makes more sense to make it standard rather than an option.  Remember the Chrysler minivan when driver-side sliding door became standard because it cost more than leaving it off?  Not exactly the same but similar.   In a way I miss the ultra simplicity of my first two cars, purchased used while I was in high school, which had no power anything, but there’s no going back.  I suppose if a car was made light enough I could get away without power steering and brakes again, but I’d want air conditioning at the very least.  And a few others niceties. 😀

I believe there's this motor the 6.8 which is Godzilla based, but apparently lighter. A few years ago, high ranking credible sources said it was gonna be offered in the mustang and f-150, then nothing came of it. 

The Transit plug- in hybrid van: 5,000lb curb weight, 0-60 seven seconds.   Dang, physics sucks.   If the Mach-4 could get down to 4,500lbs, and 0-60 in just under five seconds it might stand a chance.   Could this be done for under $30,000 though?   Nobody wants Ford to do a Jeep Wagoneer style face plant on pricing out of market.   EDIT:  BMW i3 REX needed bigger than a 600cc scooter engine and fewer batteries, but then it would not have qualified as an EV in California.     Has Ford filed any capacitor patents lately?  Need a tech break through.   Mazda and Ram have EREV's, sounds like Ford is planning similar.   https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a63704691/ford-range-extended-plug-in-hybrids-plans/

Good point if thinking of a living legend versus a historical one which is what I assumed, and may not be the case.  Still think Ford should build aluminum variant of Godzilla if at all practical and offer in various vehicles including F-150, Expedition, and Mustang; as options of course and let buyers decide.  Efficiency and emissions regulations are the biggest drawbacks I see, so waiting to see what current administration does.