The RHD Ford F-150 Will Be Available In Australia In Mid-2023
Ford has officially announced it will start offering the F-150 in Australia by mid-2023 bringing good news to pickup lovers from Down Under. The F-150 will be converted to right-hand drive locally by RMA Automotive, with Ford hinting it will be followed by other models.
RMA Automotive was chosen by Ford Australia to remanufacture the F-150 in compliance with the Australian Design Rules and safety regulations, while ensuring a “seamless” conversion in line with Ford’s quality and reliability standards for commercial vehicles. The conversion will take place in Merrifield Business Park in Mickleham, north of Melbourne, which is close to Ford Australia’s engineering head office in Campbellfield.
The Aussie-spec F-150 will be offered in XLT and Lariat trim levels, exclusively in Crew Cab bodystyle. Both trims will come standard with the latest Ford SYNC4 infotainment system and an array of ADAS.
The model will be powered by the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine producing 400 hp (298 kW / 405 PS) and 678 Nm (500 lb-ft) of torque, and not by the 5.0-liter V8 which remains reserved for the US. Power will be sent to all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission, allowing a 4.5-tonne (9,921 lbs) towing capability.
Pickups are quite popular in the Australian market with the Ranger being a best seller in the past years. Thus, Ford’s decision to bring the American best-seller Down Under will meet the demand of those who want a larger and more capable truck in terms of cargo and towing capabilities. Andrew Birkic, President and CEO, Ford Australia and New Zealand, said: “We’ve listened hard to fans and dealers and found a way to bring the F-150 to Australia… With such a local fan base, and with full-size truck sales in Australia tripling in recent years, we just knew we had to find a way to bring it back to Australia.”
Ford will reveal pricing for the right-hand drive F-150 closer to its market launch. However, the “local remanufacturing program” undertaken by RMA Automotive Holdings Pty Ltd. will most likely result in a hefty premium over US prices. In any case, the AU-spec F-150 will be offered with a five-year unlimited km warranty.
The F-150 will not be the only new model to be offered in Australia, with Ford Australia’s CEO hinting at more conversions: “The F-150 is part of a new wave of Ford vehicles for our Australian customers. We’re listening to customers and breaking down barriers to give them what they want – the best of our global line-up. There’s more where the F-150 came from”.
PHOTO GALLERY
