Four new stylized trucks set to debut in Las Vegas

America’s best-selling pickup for 31 consecutive years also happens to be one of the most accessorized vehicles in the aftermarket, and the 2008 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, running from November 4-7, brings new options aplenty for the 2009 Ford F-150. Four F-150 project trucks – running the gamut from a rolling work shop to a functional fun machine – are set to debut at the show...

DEWALT CONTRACTOR CONCEPT The first of these four trucks, is the F-150 Heavy-Duty DEWALT Contractor Concept, designed to be the “ultimate contractor’s truck,” according to Jennifer Ervin, director of Business Development for DEWALT. “At DEWALT, we are obsessed with developing innovative solutions for the professional contractor that will deliver productivity on the job site,” she said. “We have given a lot of thought about how a contractor actually uses his or her truck on the job, and we’ve worked hard to integrate every application imaginable into the truck.” The DEWALT Contractor includes features such as a built-in charger for battery-powered tools that is hidden in the center console, a customized storage area beneath the second-row seat and Ford Works Solutions™ Tool Link™ from DEWALT, that's already available on production 2009 F-150s. “Tool Link will enable contractors to know if they have the right tools for the job in the truck when they leave in the morning, and it also helps prevent loss of tools at the end of the day,” said Ervin.

FAHRENHEIT F-150° Mike Duval, owner of X’Treme Toyz, had something else in mind for the F-150 he dubbed “Fahrenheit F-150°.” “I ride motorcycles, mountain bikes and four wheelers, and I like to go camping,” he said. “I wanted to transform the truck into a functional, fun vehicle for outdoorsmen like myself.” In addition to “hot flame” exterior graphics, the Fahrenheit F-150° includes features including a 9,000 lb. winch hidden behind the license plate at the front and rear of the truck; a bike rack across the top rail; and a Bedslide sliding cargo drawer equipped with a toolbox, tire and small compressor. “You can basically put all of your toys in the truck, hook up the trailer and go,” said Duval. “And with the winch on both ends of the truck, you can get pulled in either direction if you get stuck.” Duval says he usually “goes crazy” with the interiors of his show cars, but he didn’t see a reason to tamper with the interior of the 2009 F-150. “I didn’t do a whole lot to the interior because the factory did such a fantastic job with the vehicle right out of the gate,” he said. “It’s got a great stereo system, Ford SYNC and a variety of other creature comforts,” he says. In addition to a well-appointed interior, the 2009 F-150 offers customizers like Duval a variety of different options straight from the factory to build upon. The vehicle is available with three cab styles, four box options and seven unique trim levels -a total of 35 different configurations in all. Ford Designer Melvin Betancourt says he believes the F-150 is so popular in the aftermarket because in addition to all the “built-in” options available on the vehicle, there are still countless ways for customization enthusiasts to change it up. “Whether it’s adding big tires for off-roading or lowering the truck to give it more of a street performance look, the F-150 is like a blank canvas that you can do almost anything with,” said Betancourt. “It all depends on the personality of the owner.”

STREET SCENE EQUIPMENT F-150 Drawing on years of experience and success in the sport truck market, Street Scene Equipment has taken the no-compromise attitude of the 2009 F-150 Lariat Supercrew to the next level. The result is a well matched combination of head-turning style and tough performance with the level of comfort now expected by today’s demanding truck owners. Whether it’s putting in a hard day at work, towing a large boat to the lake for a weekend of family fun or a taking friends to a black tie event, the Ford F-150 by Street Scene was conceived, not only to get you noticed, but also to arrive at your destination in comfort and luxury.

HI-PA DRIVE F-150 Our final member of the SEMA Fab Four is quite different to the rest. What’s been taken out of this Ford F-150 hinges on what’s been put in. The engine and entire driveline have been removed and replaced with the game-changing Hi-Pa Drive system. The four electric in-wheel motors that power the fully-electric Hi-Pa Drive F-150 will deliver more than 600 horsepower as well as more torque than the 320 horsepower V-8 engine it replaced. Hi-Pa Drive is designed to help eliminate oil dependency, carbon emissions and costs, while adding more power, room, performance and design options.