2002 Ford Mighty F-350 Tonka - AllCarIndex

MIGHTY F-350 TONKA CONCEPT LEADS FORD TRUCKS INTO FUTURE

DETROIT, Mich., Jan. 6, 2002 – It’s big. It’s bold. It showcases an advanced new powertrain. DETROIT, Jan. 6, 2002 – It’s bold. It’s strong. It’s a hint of what’s to come for the next generation Ford F-Series pickup – America’s best-selling vehicle for 20 years running and best-selling truck for the past 25 years.

It’s the Ford Mighty F-350 TONKA, a vibrant yellow and chrome concept pickup showcasing an advanced new powertrain and a fresh design approach from the world’s truck authority. It’s the Ford Mighty F-350 Tonka concept, a vibrant yellow truck that pairs a distinctive design with innovative technologies worthy of the Built Ford Tough badge.

"Ford has long been and will continue to be the leading truck brand – not just in sales figures, but in ingenious ideas, bold design and customer satisfaction," says James Padilla, group vice president, Ford North America, who helped pull the wraps off the new concept at the 2002 North American International Auto Show. "With the Mighty

F-350 TONKA, we’ve created a truck that’s worthy of the ‘Built Ford Tough’ badge. It’s as spirited as it is rugged, a blend you’re likely to see on Ford trucks down the road."

FUN YOU NEVER OUTGROW

The Mighty F-350 TONKA concept celebrates the spirit of the trucks that, for many, first sparked an appreciation for ruggedness and resilience in a vehicle.

For more than 50 years, TONKA® – which means "great" in Sioux – has been synonymous with durability and lasting play value for children around the world. Now, the Mighty F-350 TONKA concept brings together the playfulness of the legendaryis child’s toy – with the strength, reliability and value key to the Ford truck tradition of leadership.

"We’ve had fun bringing to life a full-size pickup that reminds kids of all ages of the trucks they used to loved to punish in their sandboxes," says J Mays, vice president, Design, Ford Motor Companypany vice president, Design.

"This truck is unmistakably a Ford and signals the direction we will take Tough Truck design in the future," he says.

RUGGED AND CLEAN

The Mighty F-350 TONKA concept draws strength from its Ford Tough Truck lineage, accentuating instantly recognizable F-Series hallmarks. Its confidentconfident stance, drop-down beltline, round wheel openings and oversize grille with side nostrils complement the personality of the Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup. Clean, sheer surfaces with distinctive geometric forms and strong lines introduce a modernized, highly structured look, emphasizing the an overall sense of power.

An open, B-pillarless design with rear-hinged rear doors extends an uninhibited welcome into the Mighty F-350’s extended cabin. Dual rear wheels with 22-inch rims and custom Goodyear tires and a shortened, six-foot open bed give the Mighty F-350 a refined ruggedness designed with the truck enthusiast in mind. Chrome is featured generously, creating a striking profile on this concept derived from the popular F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab.

TOUGH LUXURY

Like a high-quality tool, the Mighty F-350 TONKA concept truck's interior is designed to be functional and sophisticated – to , placeing the driver in full command. Modular, customizable snap-on gauges and oversize, aircraft-inspired toggle switches deliver versatility and durability. A manual Torquemaster controller allows the driver to shift torque left or right, front or back.

The Commander’s Seat, built on a full-floating suspension, is inspired by the seats used in heavy-duty, long-distance Class 8 rigs. It is completely adjustable and introduces a new level of total comfort for pickup trucks.

A combined storage system and "smart box jump seat" positioned between the center stack console and the front passenger seat allow ample room for a sixth passenger. Folding rear seats maximize usable space in the cabin and house removable "tool box" luggage. Rear head restraints fold up into the ceiling, allowing a clear view of the road.

CLEANER, MORE EFFICIENT POWER

The Mighty F-350 TONKA introduces a unique combination of technologies that deliver a cleaner, more efficient ride. The vehicle’s Power Stroke® Diesel Super-600 cConcept diesel V-8 engine is teamed with the five-speed PowerTorq™ transmission, marking in Ford’s first application of a five-speed automatic with a diesel engine. The 6.0-liter, 32-valve, turbocharged V-8 concept engine concept is rated at 350 horsepower and delivers up to 600 foot-pounds of torque when teamed with the PowerTorq automatic.

With lower emissions and better fuel economy than any V-8 diesel truck engine on the road today, this concept powertrain also features Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA).

The HLA system, currently under research, is designed to improve fuel economy in large trucks by an estimated 25 to 35 percent in city driving. It A reversible pump/motor attached to the driveshaft through a clutch system and an energy storage module work in tandem with the traditional powertrain. The HLA system recovers energy normally lost during vehicle deceleration, stores it in the form of hydraulic pressure and then reuses it during acceleration.

"We’re committed to pushing the envelope and exploring ways to provide our customers with leading-edge powertrain technologies that are fully capable and socially responsible," says Richard Parry-Jones, Ford Motor Company group vice president, Global Product Development, and Chief Technical Officer, Ford Motor Companyand Chief Technical Officer. "Our commitment to innovation doesn’t end with the gearbox or the powertrainengine."

BRIGHT IDEAS

The Mighty F-350 TONKA concept truck features several technologies designed to deliver value and convenience.

The truck’s vehicle’s air suspension – with sophisticated air springs replacing the conventional rear leaf and front coil springs – enables a "kneeling" function to ease entry and exit and assists in loading the truck bed. As the doors are opened, the Mighty F-350 lowers five inches and the running boards deploy. The truck reverts to its raised position once the doors are closed.

A camera-operated lane departure warning system helps keep the driver alert by emitting a soft audible sound signal if the vehicle unintentionally drifts outside of the lane. Additional cameras mounted within the bed help the driver monitor truck-to-trailer coupling, as well as reversing.

The Mighty F-350 TONKA concept also marks the debut of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in headlamp application, introducing new opportunities for advanced lighting technology. High intensity LED lights are featured prominently throughout the vehicle’s interior and exterior: in low beam and fog lamps and in all of the signal lights, including rear combination lamps, the center high-mounted stop light, front turn signals, and marker lights.

This advanced lighting technology can deliver better distributedbetter-distributed illumination on the road than conventional halogen lights, as well as providing a means to reduce electrical power and emissions. While halogen bulbs take a fraction of a second to respond to an electrical input, LEDs respond instantly, giving valuable extra warning time for following traffic.

LEDs also are very efficient, using up to 50 percent less electricity than halogen lights. With thinner packaging than conventional lights, LEDs offer weight savings, create new possibilities for signature lighting, and allow for more flexibility in design.

TONKA is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc. Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.

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FORD MIGHTY F-350 TONKA DESIGN: A MODEL OF ‘TOUGH LUXURY’

DETROIT, Jan. 6, 2002 – Designed to draw attention and demonstrate future design possibilities for Ford’s F-Series line of best-selling trucks, the Mighty F-350 TONKA concept is a brawny vehicle true to its "Built Ford Tough" heritage. Its striking yellow hue, a tribute to the traditional TONKA® palette, is as eye-catching as its impressive size and distinctive styling.

"The Mighty F-350 TONKA makes an emotional connection between the beloved metal toy that’s able to withstand the toughest play and the generations of Ford trucks millions have counted on to get the job done," says J Mays, ,vice president, Design, Ford Motor Company. "This concept blends the ruggedness of a truck with a tough, luxurious interior."

Clean, chiseled lines and sheer surfaces define the Mighty F-350 TONKA concept truck's bold exterior. Its confident stance, drop-down belt-line and round wheel openings are unmistakable signature marks of all Ford trucks. The pronounced power dome hood emphasizes the Mighty F-350’s overall strength and power, driven by a 6.0-liter concept V-8 diesel engine.

The massive, sharply defined chrome grille with side nostrils makes a definite Ford F-350 Super Duty statement.

Chrome has been applied generously throughout the Mighty F-350 TONKA, extending to the dramatic fenders, deployable running boards, as well as the 22-inch wheels, door handles and tow hooks.

Extruded headlamps and taillamps exude strength, underscoring the architectural feel of the steel beneath the Mighty F-350’s skin. Light Emitting Diodes provide a crisp and efficient light source in the headlamps and taillights, as well as along the fenders and tailgate, within the embossed badging, and throughout the interior. Powerful wheel arches house custom Goodyear tires. The dual rear-wheel design and open bed are designed for fifth-wheel towing.

"This truck is the ultimate expression of strength and style exercise in strength, meaning every aspect of the design should exude the ideas of "Built Ford Tough" – from the chiseled exterior to the high-end industrial interior," says Patrick Schiavone, design director, Ford Tough Trucks.

The absence of a B-pillar allows the full-size rear-hinged rear doors to extend an uninhibited welcome into the expanded cabin. Inside, the Commander’s Seat, a defining part of the Tough Luxury environment, puts the driver in total control. Powered by a closed-loop hydraulic system, the Commander’s Seat features an all-terrain shock-resistant, full-floating suspension that provides the driver with maximum comfort even on the most punishing roads.

A rich, Midnight Blue leather interior complements the bold exterior. Aluminum alloy and stainless steel are used throughout the interior, creating an aircraft-inspired look. All of the interior elements are built to last and will acquire a natural patina over time.

A combined storage system and "smart box jump seat" positioned between the center console and the front passenger seat allows ample room for a sixth passenger. The smart box is wired for both power and data, featuring an integrated navigation system. Folding rear seats maximize usable space in the cabin and house removable "tool box" luggage. Rear head restraints fold up into the ceiling, allowing a clear view of the road.

Toggle switches and oversize knobs provide a highly tactile experience. The center console unit places the gear shifter, HVAC control, and Torquemaster torque controller within easy reach of the driver. Using the Torquemaster, the driver can manually shift torque left or right, fore or aft.

Snap-on accessories clamp securely onto a blade atop the primary instrument display. These interchangeable gauges can be selected to suit any occasion, work or play. The tachometer is linked with the Torquemaster system and gives shift advice to maximize performance, economy and off-road control. The fully floating compass, with an automatic bearing indicator, complements the navigation system. The tilt-o-meter provides information on pitch and roll, showing degrees of elevation and recording extreme angles during off-road driving.

"The vision was that every man or woman could make the Mighty F-350 TONKA his or her own," says Mays. "It’s an approach we believe people will like, and, who knows, maybe someday you might find a truck like this in your driveway."

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FORD MIGHTY F-350 TONKA CONCEPT TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions

Length: 242 inches

Width: 93 inches

Height: 84 inches

Wheelbase: 165 inches

Track width, front: 74 inches

Track width, rear: 80 inches

Engine

Power Stroke® Super-600 concept: 32-valve, turbocharged, 6.0-liter V-8 diesel with cast iron block and heads and forged steel crankshaft

Displacement: 363 cubic inches / 5,954 cc

Bore: 3.74 inches / 95.0 mm

Stroke: 4.13 inches /105.0 mm

Compression Ratio: 18.0:1

Injection: Electro-hydraulic w/Generation 2 fuel injection

Turbo: Electronic Variable Response Turbocharger (EVRTTM)

Emission Controls: Diesel oxidation catalyst, electronically controlled exhaust-gas recirculation

Horsepower: 350 @ 3,300 rpm (estimate)

Torque: 600 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm (estimate)

Transmission

PowerTorq™ five-speed automatic concept

Gear Ratios:

1^st 3.09

2nd 2.20

3rd 1.54

4th 1.00

5th 0.71

Reverse: 2.88

Shift control: Fully electronic solenoid control of clutches with adaptive learning capability

Four-wheel-drive system

Rear- or four-wheel drive with low-range transfer case and limited-slip rear differential.

Manual Torquemaster override

Suspension

Front: Live axle with air springs, stabilizer bar

Rear: Live axle with air springs

Brakes

Four-wheel disc brakes

Four-wheel anti-lock brake system

Wheels and Tires

22 x 11-inch chrome wheels

315/60R-22 Goodyear tires

Dual rear wheels

SOURCE: Ford