Some Experts Question Advantages Gained from Ford F-150's Aluminum Construction

Concerns over high repair costs were the first signs that not everyone had a positive view on Ford’s decision to make most of its new F-150pickup out of lightweight aluminum. The Blue Oval obviously argued for the move, listing the advantages it has over steel, boasting that it was the first manufacturer to use the metal in this kind of application.

Now, additional question marks are being raised by (and discussed at length on) WardsAuto, as they put together the quoted opinions of industry voices.

Mike Levine, a Ford spokesman explains their side of the story: “We used high-strength, military-grade aluminum alloy throughout the body, which improves dent and ding resistance while saving as much as 700 lbs. (317 kg), giving our customers improved towing, improved payload and better fuel efficiency.”

However, his certainty is dented by the words of chairman emeritus of the Center for Automotive Research, David Cole: “It’s a big roll of the dice. Whether it’s an advantage or not is yet to be determined,” he said.

The latter goes on to ask if the tradeoff is really worth it from the end consumer’s perspective, when other alternative materials like carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) are coming into focus, along with more advanced steels and increasingly efficient powertrains.

“There are programs going on for every (technology), but it is not clear what the (winner) will be,” Cole said. “It may be that there is not just one solution. Other (automakers) may think having a steel body with a modified engine or diesel is equivalent to a twin-turbo, aluminum-bodied vehicle.”

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