Size does matter! 2023 Ford F-150 confirmed for Australia to sit above Ranger and take down Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado

Ford Australia will reintroduce the full-sized F-150 into local showrooms from mid-2023, positioning it above the Ranger ute, and against the likes of the hot-selling Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado.

Two Crew Cab grades will be offered from launch in mid-2023, the XLT and Lariat, both powered exclusively by Ford’s 3.5-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost petrol V6 outputting 298kW of power and 678Nm of torque.

With drive sent to all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission, the 2023 F-150 will sport a towing capacity of 4.5 tonnes.

Safety systems is also front of mind for Ford and the F-150, with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, a reversing camera, automatic high beams and rear cross-traffic alert included as standard.

Full pricing and specification details are yet to be revealed, but each F-150 XLT from the US comes equipped with an 8.0-inch Sync4 multimedia touchscreen, a 4.0-inch driver display, 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome front and rear bumpers, heated side-mirrors, and rear privacy glass.

The Lariat meanwhile, differentiates itself with a larger 12.0-inch Sync4 system, push-button start, LED foglamps and tail-lights, 18-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and heated and cooled front seats.

However, the F-150 won’t be built in right-hand drive from the Ford factory, it will instead be remanufactured for Aussie roads by RMA Automotive Holdings, similar to how ASV and GMSV convert the 1500 and Silverado respectively.

The RMA Automotive Holdings team worked in conjunction with Ford Australia engineers on the conversion, which will take place in the Melbourne suburb of Mickleham near Ford’s engineering base.

Around three quarters of the Ford truck will be remanufactured for the Aussie market, and each F-150 sold locally will be fully ADR certified and compliant, as well as coming with the Blue Oval brand’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.

“Whenever I speak to our dealers, they tell me that customers consistently ask about F-150, ask when it is coming, so I am very proud to now be able to say it’s heading our way,” said Ford Australia boss Andrew Birkic.

“There are just so many passionate F-150 fans out there and we’re all thrilled to be able to bring this iconic truck to our roads with locally remanufactured right hand drive models.

“With the introduction of F-150, alongside our Ranger line-up, Ford’s comprehensive pick-up truck range will offer a vehicle for every situation.”

The last time an F-150 was available in Ford Australia showrooms was 1993, while the F-250 and F-350 trucks disappeared in 2006.