Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupes, Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Trucks/Pickups, Dodge, Ford, Mitsubishi
NY Times jumps the gun: 2009 Ford F-150, others revealed!
by Alex Nunez on Jan 12th 2008 at 1:29AM 
Click image for a look at the other model debuts by the NYT
The Old Grey Lady has officially kicked off the Detroit Auto Show 24 hours early, and they brought some party favors for all their readers to boot. The New York Times' Automobiles section has a Detroit preview article (dated 1/13, incidentally) in its feature spot. No longer under wraps are the 2009 Dodge Ram, 2009 Ford F-150 Platinum, Mitsubishi Concept-RA, Ford Verve sedan concept, and the Fisker plug-in luxo-hybrid, as all are featured prominently in the piece's accompanying new vehicle gallery.
The biggest fish in the tank are the two full-size trucks. While Chrysler inadvertently gave us a sneak preview of the Ram last month, Ford has kept the new F-150 well under wraps until now. The model pictured is the tip-top-of-the line F-150 Platinum, in case you were wondering. As for the others, the snazzy blue Ram Sport is looking good to these eyes (more on the '09 Ram here), while the Verve concept looks to be a slightly tweaked version of the one shown in China, updated with a coat of red paint and a modified fascia (note the differences in the foglamps). The Mitsubishi Concept-RA has us hankering for a new Eclipse, while the shapely Fisker PHEV looks like a green vehicle we'd be more than happy to pilot daily. You can read the Times' full preview here. Team Autoblog will assemble in Motown starting tomorrow, but it looks like the fun's begun in earnest already.[Source: The New York Times]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
why not the LS2LS7? 2:25AM (1/12/2008)
That just proves it more. I'm not a Ford truck man. Ugly after ugly.
How long did it take Mitsu to cut the front off an RX-8 and weld it to the back half of a Z8?
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Robert 2:29AM (1/12/2008)
I quite like the new F-150. Although, I'm waiting for the lower end models to show themselves. I think that's the most telling of a model's appeal.
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jason 2:35AM (1/12/2008)
not for sure if i like this model or not. i think the XLT or FX4 will look better. i know when new silverado pics were leaked i heard a lot of people call them ugly but they have seemed to sold well.
Matt 2:46AM (1/12/2008)
Wow...the front of the Ford looks really aerodynamic.
NOT...
Is it just me, or do I see A LOT of "Sport Trac" in the new 150?
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amastadon 12:46AM (1/14/2008)
That exactly what I thought.
First thing I thought it was, was a updated Sport Trac.
JPorter 3:04AM (1/12/2008)
I think the truck looks pretty good myself. I'd like to see the different variations and how they adapted each to the new overall style direction. I guess we'll see soon!
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NT 3:07AM (1/12/2008)
the front end of the new F150 reminds me of one of those electric razors.
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andrew 8:56AM (1/12/2008)
thats what it was! I knew it reminded me of something
steve.ricken 11:26AM (1/12/2008)
Good point! Now they have a full line of razors, from the Gillette... I mean, Ford Fusion to the F150!
Lopez 3:30AM (1/12/2008)
This may be the year that Ford is unseated from the best selling list...this is UGLY!
Ford needs to work on refinement in general, but damn!
That grille is cheap! straight off a sport trac, and that shouldn't be a role model! No wonder Ford is tanking! If you haven't looked at ford lately...you're looking the right direction!
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Rene Curry 10:44AM (1/12/2008)
I agree with you.
Before I thought the F150 was the best looking truck out there. By adding that grillework it now looks like a "bling" aftermarket kit gone wrong!
I compare the refinement of the Escalade to the Navigator. No comparison, the Escalade wins. All the chrome & grillework kills the Navigator.
This new grillework will do the same to the F150.
Aki 3:39AM (1/12/2008)
I'm always baffled at the aesthetic comments about trucks--I mean, trucks aren't supposed to look pretty. They're supposed to haul loads, tow trailers and get dirty. Looking at the wrong type of vehicle if you want to travel the town (or local home depot) in style.
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Blake 4:03AM (1/12/2008)
But the thing is this new F-150 is trying it's hardest to be the absolute prettiest truck around. And it fails miserably. Trucks should be able to haul loads and not look bad doing it.
Paul P. 3:52AM (1/12/2008)
Any info on the F150 drivetrain yet? While I think it looks pretty good (though not as good as the new Ram) I agree with what Aki said. Trucks are more about working performance over looks. I want to know what this new F150 is bringing to the table. Hopefully a replacement for the gas "mod-motors" and a solid small diesel, maybe a Hybrid too since Dodge has one in the works.
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far jr 11:21AM (1/12/2008)
Add one more to that.
I do like a vehicle to look nice, but there's a whole lot more to a good truck than apretty shell.
JJC 4:43AM (1/12/2008)
The new F150 is one F U G LY truck.... sorry ford you failed. NEXT
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Yago Bal 5:11AM (1/12/2008)
Ohhhhhh that Mitsubishi Concept-RA!!!
That rear-end looks even better than I could antecipate from the sketch Mitsubishi released earlier... It's clean, athletic, and even a bit feminine like a 60's Ferrari.
If it's small and not to expensive, I'll be crazy.
I just want to see what they did with the front. :)
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Cornholio 12:41PM (1/12/2008)
+1.
That's a good looking concept, at least from the rear 3/4 view.
Now lets see if they choose to build it as the new Eclipse, and if they can refrain from watering it down to bland in the process.
Dave 5:26AM (1/12/2008)
badass, I like the new Ram but this looks better then anything else out there. I wonder if all 20,000 dealers/press members who where invited to that earlier release/preview of these new Ford's saw this up close and what their reactions where.
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yaroukh 5:51AM (1/12/2008)
Dear FoMoCo,
FIRE. YOUR. "DESIGNERS". NOW.
For god's sake, anything less than "AWESOME!" is just not enough in your situation.
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