By Carr Winn
CEO and Founder of West Coast Customs, Ryan Friedlinghaus talks with SEMA News about its all-new world headquarters in Burbank, California.
All-new episodes of West Coast Customs begin airing Sunday, November 23, on FOX Sports 2. For more information and for specific show times, visit www.westcoastcustoms.com.
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The shooters at KGP Photography spotted this interesting Ford F-150 prototype—based on the all-new ’15 model—which had them wondering if a new F-150 "rock-crawler" might be under consideration.
This prototype is wearing proper manufacturer's M-plates, and starts out right, as it appears to be outfitted with the FX4 Off-Road performance package. The FX4 package can now be added across all model designations (instead of the stand-alone appearance package on previous F-150s), adding meaningful off-road aids, such as underbody skid plates, hill descent control and off-road-tuned shock absorbers. But this prototype seems to take things a step further, with a mysterious wheel and tire setup completely devoid of any external branding, or any designations for wheel or tire size. After a thorough Internet check of a wide array of off-road truck tires, the tread and sidewall design never appeared. The lack of any distinguishing, identifying characteristics seems to suggest that this might be a special tire being developed between an unnamed manufacturer and Ford Motor Co.
While there are no size designations to reveal the tire's specifications, it seems clear that this is a small wheel, allowing a massive sidewall design, which would aid in something geared more toward serious off-roading. The first mules for the second-generation Raptors are wearing clearly labeled BFGoodrich All-Terrian T/A with a sidewall and tread design that looks more attuned to the Raptor's mission of high-speed, Baja-busting off-road jaunts. This prototype looks like it's spec'd out for something else entirely.
This prototype also has a unique exhaust treatment, with single side-exit exhaust tips routed to each side of the truck, aft of the rear wheels. The new exhaust setup looks like it could be created to allow for the best ground clearance, providing the most favorable approach and departure angles for optimum off-road effectiveness.
Ford representatives have remained mum on any details about the make up of this particular F-150. It's uncertain exactly what's in the works, but there are some very interesting anomalies on this prototype that suggest a new F-150 variant may be in the pipeline.
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Photo credit: KGP Photography
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The shooters at KGP Photography spotted this interesting Ford F-150 prototype—based on the all-new ’15 model—which had them wondering if a new F-150 "rock-crawler" might be under consideration.
This prototype is wearing proper manufacturer's M-plates, and starts out right, as it appears to be outfitted with the FX4 Off-Road performance package. The FX4 package can now be added across all model designations (instead of the stand-alone appearance package on previous F-150s), adding meaningful off-road aids, such as underbody skid plates, hill descent control and off-road-tuned shock absorbers. But this prototype seems to take things a step further, with a mysterious wheel and tire setup completely devoid of any external branding, or any designations for wheel or tire size. After a thorough Internet check of a wide array of off-road truck tires, the tread and sidewall design never appeared. The lack of any distinguishing, identifying characteristics seems to suggest that this might be a special tire being developed between an unnamed manufacturer and Ford Motor Co.
While there are no size designations to reveal the tire's specifications, it seems clear that this is a small wheel, allowing a massive sidewall design, which would aid in something geared more toward serious off-roading. The first mules for the second-generation Raptors are wearing clearly labeled BFGoodrich All-Terrian T/A with a sidewall and tread design that looks more attuned to the Raptor's mission of high-speed, Baja-busting off-road jaunts. This prototype looks like it's spec'd out for something else entirely.
This prototype also has a unique exhaust treatment, with single side-exit exhaust tips routed to each side of the truck, aft of the rear wheels. The new exhaust setup looks like it could be created to allow for the best ground clearance, providing the most favorable approach and departure angles for optimum off-road effectiveness.
Ford representatives have remained mum on any details about the make up of this particular F-150. It's uncertain exactly what's in the works, but there are some very interesting anomalies on this prototype that suggest a new F-150 variant may be in the pipeline.
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Photo credit: KGP Photography
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The shooters at KGP Photography spotted this interesting Ford F-150 prototype—based on the all-new ’15 model—which had them wondering if a new F-150 "rock-crawler" might be under consideration.
This prototype is wearing proper manufacturer's M-plates, and starts out right, as it appears to be outfitted with the FX4 Off-Road performance package. The FX4 package can now be added across all model designations (instead of the stand-alone appearance package on previous F-150s), adding meaningful off-road aids, such as underbody skid plates, hill descent control and off-road-tuned shock absorbers. But this prototype seems to take things a step further, with a mysterious wheel and tire setup completely devoid of any external branding, or any designations for wheel or tire size. After a thorough Internet check of a wide array of off-road truck tires, the tread and sidewall design never appeared. The lack of any distinguishing, identifying characteristics seems to suggest that this might be a special tire being developed between an unnamed manufacturer and Ford Motor Co.
While there are no size designations to reveal the tire's specifications, it seems clear that this is a small wheel, allowing a massive sidewall design, which would aid in something geared more toward serious off-roading. The first mules for the second-generation Raptors are wearing clearly labeled BFGoodrich All-Terrian T/A with a sidewall and tread design that looks more attuned to the Raptor's mission of high-speed, Baja-busting off-road jaunts. This prototype looks like it's spec'd out for something else entirely.
This prototype also has a unique exhaust treatment, with single side-exit exhaust tips routed to each side of the truck, aft of the rear wheels. The new exhaust setup looks like it could be created to allow for the best ground clearance, providing the most favorable approach and departure angles for optimum off-road effectiveness.
Ford representatives have remained mum on any details about the make up of this particular F-150. It's uncertain exactly what's in the works, but there are some very interesting anomalies on this prototype that suggest a new F-150 variant may be in the pipeline.
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Photo credit: KGP Photography
Nicknamed The King, NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty stopped by to visit with Dennis Pittsenbarger, host of Discovery Channel’s “Highway to Sell,” to talk about the Petty’s Garage and Victory Junction.
The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world—annually drawing the industry’s brightest innovators and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. As part of Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW), the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries for unlimited profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, powersports, and RV markets.
The 2015 SEMA Show will be held November 3–November 6. For more information on the 2015 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.
Nicknamed The King, NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty stopped by to visit with Dennis Pittsenbarger, host of Discovery Channel’s “Highway to Sell,” to talk about the Petty’s Garage and Victory Junction.
The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world—annually drawing the industry’s brightest innovators and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. As part of Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW), the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries for unlimited profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, powersports, and RV markets.
The 2015 SEMA Show will be held November 3–November 6. For more information on the 2015 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.
 Automotive journalists considered this RAM truck lowrider one of the hottest vehicles from the 2014 SEMA Show. |
| Automotive journalists considered this RAM truck lowrider one of the hottest vehicles from the 2014 SEMA Show. |
 The SEMA Data Co-op has moved into new offices in Kansas City, Kansas. | |
The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) completed its move into new offices in Kansas City, Kansas, last week, bringing the local team of six together under one roof. This location will serve as the hub for a growing team of member recruitment and help desk services, which is slated to expand significantly over the next 12 months. SDC technology development and systems support will continue to operate with a virtual team, with members in Utah, Southern California and New Jersey.
All SEMA companies are invited to drop in and see the new facility, located at 11414 W. 79th St., Lenexa, KS.
The SEMA Data Co-op is an industry-owned and -operated product data management solution. To learn more about how you can take control of your product data and manage it at the lowest possible cost, contact Jim Graven, SDC's director of membership, via e-mail at JimG@SemaDataCoop.org or by phone at 888-958-6698, ext. 4.
The SEMA Data Co-op has moved into new offices in Kansas City, Kansas. | |
The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) completed its move into new offices in Kansas City, Kansas, last week, bringing the local team of six together under one roof. This location will serve as the hub for a growing team of member recruitment and help desk services, which is slated to expand significantly over the next 12 months. SDC technology development and systems support will continue to operate with a virtual team, with members in Utah, Southern California and New Jersey.
All SEMA companies are invited to drop in and see the new facility, located at 11414 W. 79th St., Lenexa, KS.
The SEMA Data Co-op is an industry-owned and -operated product data management solution. To learn more about how you can take control of your product data and manage it at the lowest possible cost, contact Jim Graven, SDC's director of membership, via e-mail at JimG@SemaDataCoop.org or by phone at 888-958-6698, ext. 4.