Ford unveiled its new Atlas concept today at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show and don't think for a second that it's a harmless design exercise -- the Atlas will serve as the foundation for the next-generation 2015 Ford F-150 pickup, the best-selling vehicle (car or truck) in North America since the dawn of time.
Earlier in the week, GM unveiled the latest generation of its iconic Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7 sports car, an immediate hit and undoubtedly the darling of the show. However, Despite all the attention the Corvette may draw, it will be the F-series truck that will help Ford Motor Company draw all the cash.
According to Ford, the Atlas concept is built on an ultra high-strength steel frame platform that will soon be finalized for production. Reflecting its new bones, the Ford designers have presented an even more rugged exterior design as well.
Bold slabs of metal create a tough and imposing profile but for the Atlas Concept, the devils are in the details. An intelligent brute, Ford intends to make the new Ford truck as efficient as it is tough. In a revealing promo video, Ford highlights rotating shutters inside the wheel that control the airflow around the rims. What's more, a set of Venetian blinds can be found behind the new Ford's mammoth grille. A skirt will also deploy to minimize the amount of air travelling underneath the truck. With the grille blinds shut and the wheel shutters closed, and the skirts deployed, Ford expects dramatic dividends in efficiency (gaining 2 mpg on the highway) as the truck's drag coefficient gets reduced.
Underneath the hood, the manufacturer promises a new generation of the EcoBoost engine featuring start-stop technology. However, Ford is keeping most of the secrets behind the new powerplant close to the chest. As a yard stick, Ford expects more than half of the current F-150s in the market to have 3.5 liter twin-turbo V6 Ecoboost engines.
Last but not least, the Ford Atlas truck concept is apparently very good at doing truck stuff as well. Ford boasts innovative features including Dynamic Hitch Assist, which allows the truck to better line up with the trailer thanks to a camera and a screen on the center stack. Next, Trailer Backup Assist works similarly to the Ford Park Assist, autonomously pulling the truck to connect with the trailer while all the driver has to do is modulate the gas and brake. Other conveniences available on the Atlas include a tailgate step, hidden cargo ramps, and a 360 degree camera to help the truck perform low-speed off-road maneuvers.
Check out all the incredible features available in the Ford Atlas concept below. The Chevy Silverado and Ram 1500 pickups might have caught up rather closely behind the current F-150 now but if the Atlas is anything to go by for the next-generation F-truck, then GM and Chrysler have a lot to be worried about.
