F-150

Make
Ford
Segment
Sports Car

Dearborn's big brute is setting sail for the Great Southern Land, with the Blue Oval confirming the legendary Ford F-150 will be made available in Australia in 2023. The announcement should be music to the ears of myriad Australians who, like Americans, adore the pickup truck - or ute, as it's known over there.

Currently, Ford Australia has just the Ranger which remains the country's best-selling 4x4 vehicle. But with Ram able to offer the 1500 full-size truck down under, the Blue Oval couldn't just sit around doing nothing. As such, the CrewCab will be offered with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine and 10-speed transmission in XLT or Lariat trim.

"We've listened hard to fans and dealers and found a way to bring F-150 to Australia. As the pinnacle of 'Built Ford Tough', it will give our customers even more choice when they're in the market for a pick-up. We just can't wait to unleash it," said Andrew Birkic, President and CEO of Ford Australia and New Zealand.

As it is a right-hand-drive market, the F-150 will have to go through an extensive process before being sold in Australia. RMA Automotive will assume responsibility for converting the LHD trucks to strict and exacting local requirements. With Ford Australia's engineering head office sited nearby, the pair will work together closely to ensure the F-150s are configured to the Blue Oval's standards.

Interestingly, the subsidiary has elected not to bring the V8-equipped derivative in, noting that the torquier V6 represents the best of the bunch. "When we began looking at F-150 for an Australian return, there was one engine that stood out for us - the 3.5L EcoBoost, which gives F-150 immense power and torque, more than many of its V8 competitors," said Ford's Natalie Manariti.

The specification looks generous, with a full suite of tech and safety features. Australian models will gain Ford's Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Reverse Brake Assist, Ford SYNC4, and much more. The Australian division is yet to announce pricing, but we'd guess it will be more expensive than it is here. After all, the F-150 is seen as a status symbol outside of America, and a left-to-right-hand-drive conversion isn't cheap.

"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 F-150 came from," said Birkic. It's great that other markets are receiving America's best-selling pickup truck.

But as a thank you, maybe we could get some of the Blue Oval's forbidden fruit? The Everest would be a great start.