[pics] Ford Mighty F-350 Tonka

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Remember the good times you had playing in the dirt with your Tonka trucks when you were a kid? Chances are, the mere mention of the word Tonka brings a smile to your face and a warm, happy sort of feeling to your heart. That sort of positive association is, of course, highly prized by big-business types eager to exploit the consumer in you to fatten their bottom lines. Hoping to capitalize on fond recollections to make its latest flight of fancy an instant standout, Ford has teamed with the Tonka brand to dream up the Mighty F-350 Tonka concept, a truck whose pugnacious styling makes it look like a grown-ups-only version of the venerable toy after which it was named.

Ford says that the eye-catching concept (its bright-yellow hue ensures that this truck will never be a wallflower) was designed to illustrate future design possibilities for its enduringly successful F-Series line.

The Mighty F-350 Tonka concept's lines are brawny and aggressive. In front, a king-sized chrome grille with side nostrils is flanked by extruded, high-intensity LED headlamps; an exaggerated power-dome hood hints at high-performance horsepower whinnying just beneath. The truck's profile is shot with chrome, which gleams from can't-miss-'em fenders, deployable running boards, door handles and 22-inch wheels. In back, a dual rear-wheel design and open bed facilitate easy towing.

Getting into the truck is easy; the absence of a B-pillar permits its rear-hinged rear doors to open wide. Once inside, the driver can get comfortable in what Ford has dubbed a Commander's Seat; the seat is powered by a closed-loop hydraulic system and boasts an all-terrain shock-resistant, full-floating suspension that, Ford claims, makes for a gentle ride on even the harshest road surfaces. Midnight-blue leather and industrial-themed aluminum and stainless steel trim keep aesthetics within the vehicle's cabin as striking and bold as those of its exterior. Between the center console and the front passenger seat, there's a combined storage system and "smart box jump seat" (the smart box boasts an integrated navigation system and is wired for both power and data) that offers space for a sixth passenger. Usable space is optimized thanks to folding rear seats, and rear head restraints fold into the ceiling to grant an unobstructed view of the road. Driver alertness is supported via a camera-operated lane departure warning system that issues a sound signal if the truck unintentionally travels outside its lane. Reversing and truck-to-trailer coupling are also aided via additional cameras positioned within the bed.

The Mighty F-350 Tonka concept gallops both quickly and cleanly thanks to its 6.0-liter Power Stroke Super-600 V8 turbocharged diesel engine, which cranks out 350 horsepower and a staggering 600 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to Ford's five-speed PowerTorq automatic tranny. The concept's powertrain also features Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA); this system, which is still in development, improves fuel economy in large trucks by 25 to 35 percent by recovering energy typically lost during deceleration, storing it as hydraulic pressure and reusing it during acceleration. The truck boasts a state-of-the-art suspension; air springs take the place of traditional rear leaf and front coil springs, and allow the vehicle to "kneel" 5 inches once the truck's doors are opened, facilitating ingress and egress. Along with an easy-to-reach gear shifter and climate controls, the truck's center console features a Torquemaster torque controller, which allows the driver to shift torque left or right and fore or aft manually.

Tonka means "great" in Sioux, and, in many ways, that's exactly what this innovative concept is. While the truck doesn't seem destined for production, it does offer an intriguing preview of design cues and powertrain technology sure to make it into Ford's F-Series in the near future.

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Dit is toch gewoon tsjonge wat een monster van een truck, zo gaat de toekomstige f-serie van Ford eruit zien. ze komen alleen niet in europa. Maar ja daar heeft hier toch niemand geld voor, en het tankstation geen diesel

Factory Specifications
Engine: 5.4 L (330 ci) V8 supercharged/intercooled
Horsepower: 380 bhp @ 4750 rpm
Torque: 450 lb-ft @ 3250 lb-ft
0-60 mph: 5.5 sec
Top Speed: 142 mph (drag limited)
Fuel Efficiency: 13/17 mpg
Transmission: 4 spd auto (4R100)
Wheels: 18x9.5 in five-spoke cast aluminum alloy
Brakes: 12.1 / 13.1 in vented disc
Suspension: short- and long-arm type, coil springs, tubular gas-charged Bilstein shock absorbers, 31mm solid stabilizer bar / solid axle, staggered gas-charged Bilstein shock absorbers, five-leaf springs, 23 mm solid stabilizer bar
Tires: Goodyear Eagle F1-GS 295/45ZR18
Curb Weight: 4670 lb
Length: 208 in
Width: 79.1 in
Height: 70.9 in
Wheelbase: 119.8 in
Track: 65.3 in