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2006 Ford F-250 Super Chief Concept

Ford Creates the First Truly Premium Full-Size Pickup

Out of dozens of vehicles that made their debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Fords F-250 Super Chief Concept is easily one of the most interesting, as well as the most controversial of vehicles. Inspired by the Super Chief trains which criss-crossed the American expanse in the 40s and 50s, their bold image, combined with unparalleled levels of comfort, have been infused into this super-sized concept truck, thats sure to be the topic of conversation among thousands of show-goers.

Based off Fords F-250 four-door pickup, the blue-oval design team, led by head of North American design Peter Horbury, has completely reworked this heavy-duty truck. Gone is the standard production body in favor of one thats bigger, taller, and far more intimidating. The upright, square nose features a power-dome and chiseled

The Super Chief Concept is so big, you couldnt have possibly missed it at the Detroit auto show if you tried. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

edges to yield a shape that is reminiscent of the steamlined train engines, while the fascias features, such as the vertical LED lamps and the largest variation on the Ford three-bar grille work with the train-inspired design.

Compared to the standard F-250, the Super Chiefs body has been tailored to provide a larger cabin. Two feet from the original trucks eight foot bed have been donated to stretch the body itself for greater rear legroom, all of which have been reworked in historic locomotive style. The high metal to glass ratio on the Super Chiefs side profile mimics the trains passenger cars, while

It is so big, in fact that even with a wide-angle lens, I couldnt capture the vehicle whole, hence the extensive use of press photos.? (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

the thin metal strips on the trucks bed function as tail lamps. Tow-hooks, front fender vents and the 24-inch polished alloy wheels all build on the Super Chiefs eye-catching bullet-like look.  

Given that every dimension of the Super Chief including ride height has grown from the regular F-250, Ford included new Blocker Beam technology for better crash compatibility with regular passenger cars and minivans. The passive system employs L-shaped brackets positioned low on the trucks frame that make contact with the frame rails of low-riding vehicles, preventing them from being cannibalized by sliding under the frame of the gigantic Super Chief in a head-on or offset crash. Expect to see this system implemented on future full-size

The interior is jaw-dropping; fine-quality woods, leathers and overall design are inspired. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

trucks from Ford.

Once youve made the climb up the oversized, electrically assisted front and rear-hinged doors, the effort to get in is well worth it: the interior is absolutely beautiful. Fords design team has worked hard to make the Super Chief the worlds first truly premium pickup truck, and not just a workhorse outfitted with leather trim. The Super Chiefs interior starts with artfully crafted modern American design, such as the ultra-thin instrument cluster and dashboard, mated with rugged retro touches like the oversized armchair sized bucket seats, all of which are brought to life through rich, aniline-dyed brown leather, American walnut and polished aluminum; materials Ford thinks are as American as the trucks train-based heritage.
From floor to ceiling, the Super Chief is brimming with details that would shame a Maybach, Rolls Royce and even

You can think of it as the Rolls Royce of pickups. No joke. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

the opulent Super Chief trains. The cabins floor - as well as bed - are lined in strips of walnut bisected by aluminum, as are the frames of the four individual seats. Key features in the Super Chief include the panoramic grid vista roof, while rear-seat passengers benefit from a flip-up ottoman and slide-out cooler integrated between the seats. The Super Chief exudes a sense of occasion, and when combined with its spacious cabin, this concept could very well be the limousine of pickup trucks.

While the Super Chiefs interior and bodywork are undoubtedly cool in true concept car style, the most innovative part about this truck can be found under its hood. Unlatch the front-hinged hood and the hand-crafted, polished metal V10 engine comes into view. Yet this is no ordinary engine; it is the first vehicle to feature Fords new Tri-Flex fuel technology. The three fuels that the Tri-Flex system features are E85, an 85 percent ethanol-enriched blend of gasoline, plus regular gasoline and hydrogen.

While

Supercharged V10 Tri-Flex engine, which runs on gasoline, E85 or hydrogen, makes light work of moving this beast. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

Ford has long offered flex-fuel vehicles that run on E85 or gasoline, the addition of hydrogen capability brings new levels of efficiency and performance into the realm of pickups. Though the fuels are stored in different tanks, the transition from hydrogen to gasoline/E85 is as simple as flipping a switch mounted on the dashboard, and can be done while the vehicle is in motion. From gasoline/E85 to hydrogen requires the engine speed to be at idle to ensure proper engagement of the supercharger, which operates only when the engine runs on hydrogen.

The benefits of the flexible system are numerous, particularly when it concerns fuel consumption and emissions - problems that designers of full-size pickups are struggling to overcome. Firstly, when the Super Chief operates in hydrogen mode, it provides 12 percent greater efficiency than a similarly-sized engine running on gasoline, which enables it to have a range of over 500 miles. Also, when running on hydrogen, the Super Chief emits 99 percent less carbon dioxide, making it the first environmentally friendly luxury pickup.

Despite the sudden influx of

A shame, but it wont get built due to excessive cost. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

popularity with ethanol and E85 (i.e. Saab BioPower, GM Flex-Fuel, etc.), Ford is an experienced veteran in this field. Since it started making E85 capable vehicles in 1996, Dearborn has built 1.66 million flex-fuel automobiles, and with the recent announcement of the Flex-Fuel F-150, Ford is expected to bump production to an expected 250,000 E85 capable vehicles in 2006. Ford also hopes that with the introduction of the Tri-Flex system, which integrates hydrogen into the mix, it will encourage governments across the globe to hasten in the creation of a viable hydrogen infrastructure.

Though the Super Chief Concept is wild and wacky, if not a truly inspired creation from Ford, the automaker is dead certain that it will never get the green light. Its simply too big, too luxurious, and too distinctive to adapt to the worlds most popular vehicle segment. Instead, look for some of the concepts creative design aspects, such as the tri-bar grille and high metal to glass ratio, to be featured on full-size Ford pickups of the future. Even more likely to end up in production are the technological innovations featured on the F-250 concept, which show that even triple XL-sized vehicles can be demonstrations of green, environmentally-friendly mobility.

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