Dive Brief:

• Ford plans a 2015 F-150 pickup that will need less energy because it will be 700 pounds lighter, but it also will be tougher, according to reports from the auto show in Detroit.
• The truck will use military-grade aluminum alloys that are high-strength, weigh less than comparable steel body parts and, Ford says, are more resistant to dings and dents.
• An engineering innovation in the truck is a boxed frame that will be 77% 70,000-psi steel instead of the current 23% but also will weigh less.

Dive Insight:

Ford certainly seems to be feeling confidence of its market-leading position with the F-150. The stiffer but lighter boxed frame resulted from finding "exclusive, industry-first engineering techniques," Ford said. Sales success contributes to corporate decisions to put money into looking for new techniques and materials.