Spied! Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Testing Daytime LED Running Lights

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-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Fw: Spied! Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Testing Daytime LED Running
Lights
From: "Thomas Ieracitano" <Thomas@RobertHutson.com>
Date: Tue, January 25, 2011 11:30 am
To: <Thomas@Ieracitano.com>

 

From: Mike Levine

Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 1:17 AM

Subject: Spied! Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Testing Daytime LED Running Lights

Photos by Chris Doane for Brenda Priddy & Company

It looks like Ford is contemplating adding LED daytime running lights to the F-150 SVT Raptor, as seen in our latest spy photos.

The Raptor is Ford's only half-ton pickup that uses exterior LED lighting because its extra track width (for off-road stability) has to adhere to federal regulations mandating illuminated marker lamps at night. There are three bright-orange LEDs mounted in the Raptor's grille, three in the center high-mounted stoplight and two each at the corners of the front and rear bumpers.

The white lights on this manufacturer-plated test truck supplement the existing LEDs, with unique placement between the front bumper and fenders.

The move to front LED daytime running lamps mirrors the design cues of Ford's latest cars. The Taurus sedan and Fiesta compact both feature the durable, bright lights that consume up to 70 percent less power than conventional incandescent bulbs.

It's possible the new LEDs could appear on 2011.5 "Job 2" Raptors but they are most likely slated for the 2012 model year.

Other future improvements rumored for Raptor may include an electronic locking front differential for increased capability in low-speed off-road maneuvers. A front e-locker is available for the limited edition Ford Racing Raptor XT pre-runner. There's also chatter that the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty's heated and cooled seats will find their way inside the Raptor's cabin too. The 411 horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 is expected to remain the sole engine choice.

But what is certain is that exterior LED lights in pickup trucks are about to have their day. The GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD Concept featured edge-lit LED lighting in its cargo box that we expect to be offered in next-generation Ford and GM pickups. The Raptor happens to be first out the door.

Report: Parts Shortage Forces Production Pause at Ford F-150 Plant

From: Mike Levine

Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 10:53 AM

Subject: Report: Parts Shortage Forces Production Pause at Ford F-150 Plant

Ford is halting production of the F-150 light-duty pickup for a week due to a shortage of parts for its new 3.7-liter and 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engines, according to a report in the Detroit Free Press.

"Suppliers took a lot of capacity out to get through the downturn," said Ford spokesman Todd Nissen. "As volumes have increased for our new, high-volume products, suppliers have had some issues keeping up."

Nissen did not identify the suppliers or parts that caused the shortage.

3,000 workers at the plant will also go on hiatus for seven days.

F-Series pickup sales grew 27.7 percent in 2010 over 2009, as the U.S. economy continued to slowly recover from its slump and businesses and core truck buyers replaced their aging pickups with new trucks. Ford has also been successful gaining market share at the expense of its competitors in the last year with a steady cadence of product improvements.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Fw: Spied! Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Testing Daytime LED Running Lights

 

From: Mike Levine

Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 1:17 AM

Subject: Spied! Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Testing Daytime LED Running Lights

Photos by Chris Doane for Brenda Priddy & Company

It looks like Ford is contemplating adding LED daytime running lights to the F-150 SVT Raptor, as seen in our latest spy photos.

The Raptor is Ford's only half-ton pickup that uses exterior LED lighting because its extra track width (for off-road stability) has to adhere to federal regulations mandating illuminated marker lamps at night. There are three bright-orange LEDs mounted in the Raptor's grille, three in the center high-mounted stoplight and two each at the corners of the front and rear bumpers.

The white lights on this manufacturer-plated test truck supplement the existing LEDs, with unique placement between the front bumper and fenders.

The move to front LED daytime running lamps mirrors the design cues of Ford's latest cars. The Taurus sedan and Fiesta compact both feature the durable, bright lights that consume up to 70 percent less power than conventional incandescent bulbs.

It's possible the new LEDs could appear on 2011.5 "Job 2" Raptors but they are most likely slated for the 2012 model year.

Other future improvements rumored for Raptor may include an electronic locking front differential for increased capability in low-speed off-road maneuvers. A front e-locker is available for the limited edition Ford Racing Raptor XT pre-runner. There's also chatter that the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty's heated and cooled seats will find their way inside the Raptor's cabin too. The 411 horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 is expected to remain the sole engine choice.

But what is certain is that exterior LED lights in pickup trucks are about to have their day. The GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD Concept featured edge-lit LED lighting in its cargo box that we expect to be offered in next-generation Ford and GM pickups. The Raptor happens to be first out the door.

Fw: GM Increasing Jobs, Production to Meet Demand for Heavy Duty Pickup Trucks

 

From: Mike Levine

Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 10:47 AM

Subject: GM Increasing Jobs, Production to Meet Demand for Heavy Duty Pickup Trucks

General Motors plans to add a third shift at its heavy-duty truck plant in Flint, Mich., to meet increased demand for Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 HD pickups, according to an announcement by the company this morning.

The additional shift is expected to create 750 jobs. Flint Assembly currently employs nearly 2,100 workers operating two production shifts.

In 2010, the plant produced 115,000 trucks, most of them regular and crew-cab versions of the heavy-duty Silverado and Sierra. Last year, the plant added production of regular and crew-cab versions of the light-duty Silverado.

"Adding a third shift is a response to customer demand for heavy-duty pickups, which most people use to tow, haul and plow," said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. "Equally important, it brings jobs and a needed economic boost to the Flint area."

The first wave of employees is expected to arrive at Flint Assembly in the second quarter with more waves arriving until the plant starts the third shift in the third quarter. Initial openings will be filled by recalled laid-off Flint Assembly employees currently working at other facilities, primarily in Lansing. Remaining openings will be filled by laid-off employees in the area, including those from Orion, Willow Run and Warren in accordance with the UAW GM National Agreement. No new employees are expected to be hired.

[Source: General Motors]