Ford F-150 (Photo: Bloomberg)
The American automobile manufacturer Ford announced Tuesday at the Detroit auto show (northern United States) that it would attack the utility vehicle segment with 5 new models, including a prototype pick-up, the Atlas Concept.
Ford presented four models expanding the range of its successful Transit Connect utility vehicle, banking on strong growth in this market: a van, a minivan, and two minivan models.
A new prototype of a large pick-up was also presented, nicknamed the Atlas, intended ultimately to replace the existing versions of its successful pick-up, the F-150, which largely dominates the American market with some 40% of market share.
“Our next opportunity to develop our One Ford plan is these highly profitable vehicles that have broad growth potential,” commented Managing Director Alan Mulally at the opening of the press conference.
Utility vehicles represent “nearly a third of global sales” of vehicles and, in the United States, the market is expected to grow by 8% within 5 years, underlined the chief operating officer, Mark Fields.
The Atlas Concept, for which the group has not given any time frame for production or sales, will be equipped with a more economical EcoBoost engine because “even in the heavy vehicle segment, fuel consumption is one of the “first choice criteria” for consumers, Mr. Mulally told a group of journalists.
The truck is also equipped with “innovative features” to make maneuvering easier when towing, such as a 360-degree camera or assistance telling the driver how to maneuver to a given location.
