Why We’re Doubting the Next Ford F-150 Will Have an Aluminum Body

You can call it an open secret—or the rumor that won't die. "Ford Plans New Pickup With Aluminum Body to Boost Mileage," the Wall Street Journal said last night. It echoed a January story from Ward's Auto: "Ford Puts Pedal to Metal With Aluminum F-Series Body Panels." Both had been beaten to the punch by PickupTrucks.com, which ran a similar—if less certain—piece in November of 2011. So will Ford actually hang aluminum bodywork on its steel-framed F-150? Yes. No. Sure. Why not? It's like trying to give an answer to Schrödinger's cat paradox—both opposite possibilities are true at the same time. We're skeptical that the next F-150 will be a workman's Jaguar XJ or Audi A8, with aluminum sheetmetal covering the side of the bed, the back of the cab, and the doors. It'd be great if Ford could cut several hundred pounds by ditching some steel, but we're not optimistic. Here's why: Read full story » from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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