I don't know how much more "complex" it really is from a mold standpoint.  You'd have the upper portion bolt to the hood, which would have a recessed/pre-stamped mounting area for it.     Correct....I agree it's hood surfacing.......my point was that was about the only thing you could potentially point to in order to support the theory of that channel approach.

Agreed on sticking to the game plan.  The pendulum just seems to swing one way then the other, with each group undoing what the last did instead of a more cohesive long term vision.  I'm sure many regulations that've been rolled back now will be reinstated in a future/next administration, so it's smart to keep "efficient" options open (which Ford is doing with CE1 and hybrid offerings), while taking advantage short term with more higher performance options (V8s etc).  I don't think the China one will change, though. I'm not exactly sure what Duffy/the admin expects Ford to do when they've already announced reshoring products......these things don't happen overnight in the auto industry (or really any industry).

Meanwhile Flat Rock waiting for its paint shop to produce taller models.....

Ford needs to just stay the course, I have a lot more to say but I would be banned from this group. So politics will remain out of it as instructed.

I see what you guys are referring to. But this just looks like a bit of hood surfacing. It looks a lot like the middle surfacing of my 5th gen explorer hood. 

Congrats to Kentucky Truck. The plant will be retooled within the next year or 2 for all new 2029 Super Duty.

I would personally love it if that's the direction they went in. But it doesn't seem to line up with the winter mule that essentially showed us the angle of the front end.    This is a sort of styling element I'd love to see on future bronco, truck, and mustang models. Stuff where it needs to be blocky and muscular really look it's best.    But I don't know if we'll get it for this affordable EV. How much more expensive would it be to have a more complex sheet metal mold for a hood shape like that compared to a more conventional hood?

https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/en/articles/2026/ford-new-investment-kentucky-truck-plant

He seems about as out of place in his position as his predecessor was. How the heck is he so unaware of what was just publicly said just days before he sent his ill-advised letter? 

https://fordauthority.com/2026/09/ford-catches-whiplash-over-trump-admins-attack-on-chinese-ties/