Boys and their toys - the 2016 Tonka F-750

[kscarbel2]

Diesel News Australia / March 4, 2015

The ideal gift for the man who hasn’t quite grown up has gone on show at the Work Truck Show in the US. This is the Ford F 750 Tonka truck which is now on show at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.

The joint creation of Ford and Tonka truck manufacturer Funrise Toy Corporation is now on show and getting a lot of attention from both adults and children. The 15 tonne GVM truck has a payload of 7.75 tonnes and is based on a common tipping set up in the USA.

“From Generation Z to the Greatest Generation, Ford and Tonka continue to set the standards for tough trucks,” said John Ruppert, General Manager, Ford Commercial Vehicle Sales and Marketing. “People of all ages have been counting on Ford F-Series and Tonka trucks to get the job done, from construction site to sandbox, for more than 60 years.”

Power for the Tonka toy comes from a 6.7 litre Power Stroke®\ V8 turbo diesel with a six-speed TorqShift HD automatic transmission.

Unfortunately, for all those truck nuts out there who haven’t quite grown up, this is the only one planned for production. However, you can be certain if the show truck creates enough genuine interest, the Ford team may reconsider.

[kscarbel2]

Ford: “Big trucks are big fun”

Fleet Owner / March 3, 2015

Ford Motor Co. reached back to the days of yesteryear during its press conference Tuesday night to kick off the NTEA’s Work Truck Show here. Back to a time when kids played in the sandbox dreaming of one day owning their own construction vehicles. A time when the only concern was whether mom thought the ground was too wet to play outside.

Quite simply, it was a time of playing with Tonka trucks.

To celebrate its new F-650 and F-750 models, which are entering production launch said John Davis, chief programming engineer-commercial vehicles, Ford, in partnership with Funrise Toys (which owns the licensing rights to the Tonka name), has created a special-edition F-750 Tonka dump truck.

The one-of-a-kind version will tour the country at truck shows and toy shows to promote the F-750.

“Remember, big trucks are big fun,” said John Ruppert, general manager-commercial vehicle sales & marketing.

The truck is painted in the signature Tonka yellow with a custom blackout nostril grille and fully functional dump body from Truck Tech Engineers.

Aside from the “wow” factor of the Tonka design, Ruppert and Davis took time during the event to detail Ford’s market leadership (43.2% 2014 market share in Classes 1-7, “more than the next four competitors combined,” said Ruppert), hit on a few highlights of its all-aluminum 2015 F-150 and the Transit van.

The company also announced its next-generation telematics solution, Ford Telematics powered by Telogis, which will replace its current Crew Chief solution. The new solution, which will provide Ford-specific data in addition to mobile connectivity, data reporting, workflow and information gateways, in-cab alerts, driver scorecards and fuel management, will be available globally, Ruppert said.

As to the Class 6 F-650 and Class 7 F-750 2016 models that will be available for purchase, Ford said it will offer 8 configurations, including a tractor model. The vehicles will be available in regular cab, SuperCab and crew cab versions and in straight frame and dock-height.

“We’re leveraging our space in engineering and manufacturing and that is allowing us to take the (F-Series) to new places,” said Davis.

The vehicles, which Ruppert said will be ideal for beverage, parcel delivery, towing and dump applications, will be “upfitter-friendly” and feature a 6.7L V8 PowerStroke diesel engine. The engine will offer three power ratings: 270 hp. and 675 lbs.-ft. of torque; 300 hp. and 700 lbs.-ft.; and 330 hp. and 725 lbs.-ft.

The PowerStroke engine includes a 5-year/250,000-mi. warranty.

Also available is a 6.8L V-10 gasoline engine producing 320 hp. and 460 lbs.-ft. of torque.

The engines are mated to a 6-speed TorqShift HD automatic transmission with available power take-off provision. It is rated for 50,000 GCWR.

According to Davis, the vehicles feature less noise, producing 45% less interior noise at idle, 35% less exterior noise at idle, and is 25% quieter inside the cab at 60 mph.

The trucks will be available this summer and built at the company’s Ohio Assembly Plant.

Wrapping up other Ford news, Ruppert noted that the Transit full-sized van has sold 23,000 units in the past three months and that December was the best-selling month for Ford vans since June 1999.

That quick start to the Transit is also happening with the F-150.

“Like the Transit, it’s off to a great start, selling four times faster than the segment,” said Ruppert.

The F-150 is built at the Dearborn Truck Plant, which is producing them at capacity, he added. The truck will be built in Kansas City as well, starting this summer.

[Red Horse]

With all due respects to Mr. Ruppert, I guess his last job was Flex marketing manager. I can't think of a poorer connection than the one they picked- what is a Tonka? A toy! This might appeal to the yuppie who is buying a 50 grand F-150 to haul his boat-or his wife's horse, but to a truck guy? I don't get it. Mr Ruppert has given the Hino, International, F'liner and Paccar class 6/7 sales guys the best tag line they need- ..."You are comparing my truck to a Tonka???

Clueless is what Ford marketing people are when it comes to anything beyond pick ups.

"It's part of the language....Built like a Mack" Now THAT was a meaningful tagline-but I date myself.