By Deepa Seetharaman

DETROIT | Tue Jul 23, 2013 8:57pm EDT

DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co will produce both its current F-150 pickup and a new model for about six months to avoid disrupting sales of the top-selling U.S. vehicle and safeguard against potential kinks tied to the truck's extensive overhaul, people familiar with the plans said.

The second-largest U.S. automaker aims to start production of the new truck around July 2014, sources said. Ford will continue to build the older model for the first six months of the new F-150's launch.

link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...96M0V120130724

 

what that really means is that they will continue production of the current trucks while they build their test vehicles for the new models.

Most plants just shut down for a couple months to do the changeovers and they build the test vehicles at the beginning of the shut down.

Its doubtful that they will be building saleable vehicles from both model years at the same time

 

From reading the article they made it sound that way. With two plants the very well could do that.

Also read that the 1Fiddy will be getting a hybrid powertrain by 2020, not surprising at all. I am also not surprised that they broke off their combined R&D with Yota.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/...ntcmp=features

 

... but why?

By the time they need to start to build saleable 2014 F150s they won't need the 2013s any more.

This is all just to avoid the typical plant shutdown when they make major model changes.

For instance - the Toledo North Jeep plant was shut down for several months this spring while they prepped it to build the all new Jeep Cherokee. They needed this time to build test vehicles and to test the assembly lines. There are usually multiple builds to provide test vehicles and to try out the assembly process. This is the sort of shutdown that Ford is trying to avoid.

Once they launch 2014 F150 production it will be non-stop 2014 F150s

 

Not sure why... Just stating what the article says.

I tend to agree with you that there is no real reason for making both.

**** Once they launch 2015 F150 production it will be non-stop 2015 F150s

 

I think that they will in fact build both for a while - just like with the 04's - Heritage and NBS. This will be easy with 2 plants - switch one over for the new ones then switch the other one over later.

 

Exactly, it is not the first time they have done this. Also with the new manufacturing process they have, it could be done on the same exact line.

 

Don't forget they did this for the 96-97 models too. Actually they started the 97's early and kept building the 96's until the normal model year end IIRC.

 

Yes, they will. Ford also did it in '96 and '03 when switching to the '97 and '04 models.

They do this so that they can keep up with demands. When there is such a huge change in the truck, you shut down one plant (DTP goes down first) to retool and start producing the new model. You keep the other plant (KC) running to enable you to keep up with demand while you troubleshoot and work out the kinks at the other plant. When all kinks are worked out and the first plant is up to speed, you shut down the second plant to retool it.

It's actually quite common, so I'm not sure why this is 'exclusive' news.

 

Ford done it before. Back in 96 they built the old trucks and the new 97 trucks. And again in 04 they built the new 04 to 08 style and the old 97 to 03 style truck and called it an 04 Heratige.

 

They gave you the choice of both the Heritage and the new F-150 for 2004, but options were very limited on the Heritage. How will Ford put together the options for the 2015 old body style? In 2004 it was RC or SuperCab only. XL or XLT. Lightning. No Lariat. No FX4. No King Ranch. No Payload Package. No leather. It looks like they limited the engines back then, too. However, it would be great if Ford brought back the two tone color for 2015. I love this burgundy red metallic and black paint color.



FLASHBACK: What's New for 2004: F-150 Heritage....
(page 26)
https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...atsnew2004.pdf

F-150 HERITAGE
2004 MAJOR PRODUCT FEATURE CHANGES
■ Lightning Package
■ STX Edition F-150 option
■ 4.2L Engine
OVERVIEW
The 2004 Ford F-150 Heritage will continue to be produced concurrent with the launch of the all-new 2004
F-150. Ford will continue to offer Regular Cab and SuperCab models based off of 2003 body-styles and
product offerings. Offering the new and existing body styles at the same time, will allow a seamless transition
to the all-new truck. Production of both the Heritage and new F-150 provides customers the choice of either.
The F-150 Heritage is available in both XL, with and without the Work Truck Group Option, and XLT. These
trucks have the proven functionality and capability of the Ford F-150 along with the 50 plus years of work
truck heritage. In addition, the successful 4.2L V6 engine, with either the manual or automatic transmission,
will only be offered in these Regular and SuperCab units for 2004.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS SUMMARY
Feature Benefit
■ Continues to be available in F-150 Heritage only
■ Distinctive exterior appearance provides increased
pride of ownership
■ The 4.2L engine is available only in the 2004 F-150
Heritage Model, and is available with either manual or
automatic transmission

OTHER FEATURES AND BENEFITS
MODEL/TRIM
• F-150 is offered as Regular Cab or SuperCab model in
XL or XLT trim level
• STX Edition Package is offered for either Regular Cab
or SuperCab, and with either XL or XLT trim level
27

• Options No Longer Available on F-150 Heritage:
– Heated Seats
– Power Moonroof
– Pickup Bed Extender
– Power Sliding Rear Window
– Rear Seat Entertainment System

• Packages No Longer Available on F-150 Heritage:
– 7700Payload Plus Group B
– Snow Plow Prep
– FX4 Off-Road Equipment Group
– XL/XLT Sport Groups
– “Top 3” Accessories Group
– Lariat Upgrade Accessories Group
– King Ranch
– Harley-Davidson
– Heritage edition

Seats
• No Longer Available on F-150 Heritage:
– 40/60 Leather Trimmed Split Bench
– Captain’s Chairs, Leather Trimmed w/Console
– 40/60 (Castano) King Ranch Leather Split
Rear Bench

Stand Alone Options
• No Longer Available on F-150 Heritage:
– 17" Cast Aluminum Wheels – 5-spoke
– 17" Cast Aluminum Wheels – 10-spoke
– 17" Chrome Styled Steel Wheels – 7 lug
– LT265/70R17 OWL A/T tires

POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS:
Engine/Transmission
• F-150 Heritage is available with 4.2L engine and
either a manual or automatic transmission. This
combination is not available in new F-150 model
• 4.6L with automatic transmission optional and 5.4L
with automatic transmission and 7,700-lb. Payload
Group is available with NGV or Bi-fuel applications
only

EXTERIOR:
Paint/Trim:
• One carryover color available on STX Edition only:
Burgundy Red Clearcoat Metallic
• Three deleted colors: Estate Green Clearcoat
Metallic, Charcoal Blue Clearcoat Metallic and
Chestnut Clearcoat Metallic
• New “F-150 Heritage” badge on LH side of tailgate
• Black exterior door handles on XLT, replacing body
color
• Black mirror caps on XLT 4x4 replacing body color
• Wheel lip moldings deleted on 4x4 models

 

I had an 04 Lightning- old body style too.

 

I loved that two-tone on the Heritage! I doubt we'll be seeing it again for a while, though, as two-tone seems to be a style of the past. For now, at least, until it comes back around again.


However, I don't think we'll be seeing that separate (Heritage) truck this time around. KCAP is only supposed to produce until December '14, so there will be no need for another model year on the old style. I don't think we will see a '15 and '15 Heritage like we did in '04.

 

I agree - it looks to me like all this will be is a model year production overlap, like back in 96 with the OBS 96 and NBS 97 models. It will be interesting to see how much overlap there is - when they open the 15 order books and close the 14 order books.

I may be wrong, but I'm under the impression that the 04 Heritage was offered just to use up excess parts that were already produced for the 03's.

 

I would imagine 3-4 months of overlap on the ordering. DTP is supposed to start production of the '15 in July and KCAP is supposed to shut down to retool in December.