We all know that the Manila International Auto Show, or MIAS, is underway, happening on April 2 to 5. By now different publications have already made their predictions about the cars we should be expecting at the annual motor show. Heck, even the auto show’s floor plan has been revealed, giving you a clear idea of the brands you should look out for when entering the PICC Forum — which, by the way, is a totally new venue for MIAS.
Now, if you’ve been wondering why I am talking so much about MIAS, get this — Ford Philippines is allegedly bringing in the F-150 to the country. The landing site? You’ve guessed it: Ford’s booth at the 2020 MIAS. And with the full-size pickup truck comes a special edition of the Everest midsize SUV, the Everest Sport.
This piece of information was handed over to us by a third-party source who wishes to remain unnamed at the time of this writing.
Is Ford Philippines really selling the massive full-size pickup truck? We’re not sure, but if it’s any indication, any car exhibited at the motor show normally goes on sale because, seriously, what’s the point otherwise?
While we’re still waiting for an official announcement from Ford whether this information is true or not, I want to focus my analysis on the other side of this report — the consumer side. Is the Philippines really ready for a full-size pickup truck? Let’s crunch the numbers.
The Ford F-150 is basically the big brother of the Ranger midsize pickup. Now, the latter is huge enough for its segment, measuring 5,362mm long, 1,860mm wide, and 1,821mm tall. To put things in perspective, the wildly popular Vios sedan, which looks like a shrimp beside the Ranger, measures 4,425mm long, 1,730mm wide, and 1,475mm tall. Let’s not even mention the Ranger’s snazzier brother, the Ranger Raptor, which is 44mm longer, 168mm wider, 52mm taller than a regular Ranger.
We’ve seen all these vehicles on the road and I think we can all agree that they are indeed huge by any standard, unless you’re one lucky person who stands above six feet. In my experience in testing the Ranger and Ranger Raptor, their towering ride heights gave me a sense of authority and power, but the width and length made both Rangers a challenge to park and maneuver in tight streets.
More so with the Ford F-150. As a full-size pickup truck, the F-150 measures 5,893mm long, 2,032mm wide, and 1,918mm tall. It doesn’t take a genius to know that it would be hard to handle this beast on Philippine streets, especially in Metro Manila where the size of the roads are inversely proportional to the number of vehicles on plight. Don’t even get me started with parking lots.
How about the engine? The Ford F-150 has a wide range of engine choices globally, with an array of V6 and V8 mills. The smallest of the bunch is the 3.0L PowerStroke V6 diesel that produces 250 hp and 597 Nm of torque. The biggest, on the other hand, is the 395-hp 5.0L Coyote V8 — the same engine found inside the Mustang GT. Whether Ford will be bringing in a diesel or a gasoline, or both, it’s safe to say that the F-150 isn’t exactly a vehicle you want if you’re conscious about fuel economy. And, with erratic fuel prices, that mindset isn’t foreign to Filipinos.
This one would be a bold move from Ford — if, of course, the report of the incoming Ford F-150 holds true next month, but it’s not without any merit. Filipinos love pickup trucks, and maybe, just maybe, a bigger option would be something that wealthy pickup truck buyers would aspire to own. Who knows, maybe the original F-150 Raptor also makes its way to our shores someday.
