Project T3 Electric Truck Design Previewed in Ford Patent Filing?

Ford has filed a patent for a robotic "crossbar-mounted lift assist" arm in future pickup trucks. While most of the patent images show its use in the current generation F-150, other drawings notably show a futuristic pickup design with a cab forward configuration and wraparound headlights and tail lights.

Given the date of the filing, it's unlikely that the images show the final design of Ford's upcoming Project T3 EV truck, it could signal the general design direction that Ford is exploring.

Not thanks. Ill Keep my “Vintage” Lightning.

I think the engineer was just really bad at art and/or using the cad program. Notice how the wheel wells in the bed of the truck are lower than the wheel on the outside? That must be magic. The tailgate drops more than 90 degrees and is extendable for towing the motorcycle up...Not even mentioned as part of the patent. Must be more magic.

So it's either bad artwork, magic, or a futuristic truck design. I'm going with bad artwork.

I told you the Lightning would be a classic

Back before we knew what the Cybertruck looked like, this was one of the leading contenders for everyone everyone thought the Cybertruck would look like. Probably a better design for aerodynamics and cab space.

Idk, this seems reaching. Clearly the patent is focused on the lift and not the truck itself.

Maybe I'm old. Looks like a Corvair pickup.

Skidrowe said:

I think the engineer was just really bad at art and/or using the cad program. Notice how the wheel wells in the bed of the truck are lower than the wheel on the outside? That must be magic. The tailgate drops more than 90 degrees and is extendable for towing the motorcycle up...Not even mentioned as part of the patent. Must be more magic.

So it's either bad artwork, magic, or a futuristic truck design. I'm going with bad artwork.

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No doors or door handles either. How do you get inside? Must be more magic

Administrator said:

other drawings notably show a futuristic pickup design with a cab forward configuration and wraparound headlights and tail lights.

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Click bait me also by saying patent shows Ford will eliminate side mirrors.
It's lazy artwork.

Hard no to T3 unibody bulls$&@!

Super Crew with an 8' bed would be much shorter than a traditional design. Anyone remember the half van half pickups? I loved the Little Red Wagon drag vehicle.

Administrator said:

it could signal the general design direction that Ford is exploring

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I’d love for fewer forums to go down this nothingburger rabbit hole.

bmwhitetx said:

It's lazy artwork.

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No it’s not, it’s a patent filing. It serves its function as it should.

Cab forward design does make the most sense. The T3 will be more like that than we think. I’m here for it. Remember when Ford introduced the Taurus and GM laughed at “melted candy bar” and then summarily became a dinosaur.

Toby57 said:

Maybe I'm old. Looks like a Corvair pickup.

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Haha! Way back ... I built a dune buggy out of a Corvair car running gear. There was truth to the saying "check the gas and fill it up with oil".

Pod said:

Cab forward design does make the most sense. The T3 will be more like that than we think. I’m here for it. Remember when Ford introduced the Taurus and GM laughed at “melted candy bar” and then summarily became a dinosaur.

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Here's the thing, you're thinking logically. Let's be real, if buyers were logical, 90% of buyers would buy the truck I have because it gives them all the capability they need. It's affordable, reliable, gets great fuel economy, is fast, and has a payload higher than many full size trucks.

But we need to take into account the cultural shift surrounding trucks. They're more of a status symbol these days than they are a utilitarian tool. What matters when something is a status symbol? Looks, and that thing has super polarizing looks. It wouldn't appeal to many conventional truck buyers, they would probably write it off as being too radical. They wouldn't care if it had an 8 foot bed if it looked like that.

For many truck buyers, it's not a logical purchase. It's based on how they're perceived. Many of them don't want to be seen in something like that. How many of these truck owners would insult my maverick because they don't perceive it as "manly" enough, even though it's payload of 1,500 lbs is literally higher than certain trims of the ram 1500, and tundra. Granted, it can't tow much, but if you're just hauling, 1,500 lbs is more than most people will need.

To some people, perception trumps logic. You have to take that into account when designing a product.