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Next Ford Raptor spotted wearing aluminum skin

Well, look at what we have here. Judging from these spy shots, Ford is indeed working on the next generation of its off-road-ready F-150 Raptor pickup truck. We've made no attempt to hide our appreciation for the Baja-style truck, which combines most of the usability of a fullsize truck with heavy-duty suspension components to make a kind of performance vehicle that is unique in the market.
What we haven't known, until now, is whether Ford would push forward with its Raptor program now that it has a completely new F-150 to serve as its base. And that's especially true since Ford made the bold move of switching the bodywork of its best-seller from tried-and-true steel to aluminum. As you can see above, the front and rear of this silver truck are clad in current-gen Raptor bodywork, while the center section that houses the occupants appears to come from the upcoming 2015 F-150.
Dissecting the views above, we note a few interesting tidbits. First, there looks to be a bulge in the truck's hood. Second, we see a new grille between the current Raptor's headlights, sporting a mesh finish and two horizontal bars. Lastly, our eyes can't help but lock in on those burly A-arm suspension pieces down below, not to mention all that ground clearance the specialty suspenders bring to the table.

You can now Uber a Ford F-150 for tailgating at NFL games

The Ford F-Series has been named as the official truck of the NFL, whatever that means. To kick things off, the automaker is giving fans in New York the ability to order a "Built Ford Tough Tailgate Truck" on demand through Uber. The NFL-backed tailgate F-Series trucks will bring fans tailgate food, tickets, and merchandise. The ability to get a tailgate truck through Uber is currently limited to New York, but Ford will also offer a tailgate tour in various cities where NFL fans can win tailgate parties, tickets to games, and access to their own Ford tailgate truck. The sponsorship is for three years and includes America's best-selling truck, the Ford F-150, along with the automaker's Super Duty trucks. Ford is also giving NFL fans the ability to enter the "Built Ford Tough Toughest Ticket" sweepstakes for a chance to win Super Bowl LI tickets, along with a new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty decked out to showcase the winner's favorite football team. The NFL has partnered with various automakers in the past, with the most recent being a four-year deal with Hyundai in 2015. The Korean automaker is currently the official car, SUV, and luxury vehicle of the NFL, which conveniently leaves a spot for Ford's F-Series trucks to slot into. Hyundai took the sponsorship from General Motors, which had been a sponsor since 2001. Ford's new sponsorship comes at the perfect time as the new season official starts tomorrow with the Carolina Panthers taking on the Denver Broncos. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Ford F-Series NFL Sponsorship News Source: FordImage Credit: Ford Celebrities Marketing/Advertising Ford Hyundai Truck Special and Limited Editions sponsorship

Ford Explorer gets appearance pack for 2015

Remember when Ford launched the totally new Explorer in late 2010, and people were skeptical about how the now-crossover would fare, after ditching its traditional SUV roots? Well, we're several years in, and I think we can assuredly say that Ford made the right decision. Sales are better than ever (in fact, May was the current Explorer's best month yet), and the crossover is finding its way into the hands of a whole host of new Ford buyers.
A wholly refreshed Explorer is still forthcoming, but to keep its strong-selling crossover fresh, Ford is offering a host of improvements for the 2015 model year, including the attractive appearance package available on the XLT trim level, pictured above. Outside, the pack gets you goodies like 20-inch machined aluminum wheels, black bodyside cladding and roof rack rails. Contrasting Magnetic Metallic accents are found on the grille, mirror caps and liftgate appliqué, and there's an "Explorer" hood badge and body-colored door handles. Inside, there are new Miko suede inserts in the seats, and the package includes the automaker's Sync connectivity with MyFord Touch infotainment.
Elsewhere in the Explorer range, the Class III trailer tow pack is now standard on the Sport, base models get new 18-inch aluminum wheels, and there are three new colors on offer: Bronze Fire Metallic and Magnetic Metallic.