Aussie Ford F-150 Raptor rival released

Respected Aussie Ford tuner Tickford has teamed up with American vehicle importer, Performax International, to offer a taller, bolder and more powerful version of the Ford F-150 in the Australian market.

Priced at $24,500, the upgrade kit includes a Tickford-developed engine control unit that helps hike the outputs of the twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 from 280kW/637Nm to an eye-watering 354kW/780Nm.

Fitted with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Aussie-fettled Ford F-150 also gets a high-performance cat-back exhaust system with a pair of 2.5-inch pipes culminating in twin 4.0-inch black-tipped exhaust outlets.

Other enhancements include a two-inch lift kit via uprated Fox 2.0 shocks and springs, and Tickford 20x9.0-inch sports alloy wheels shod with BF Goodrich All Terrain (305/55) tyres.

The Tickford F-150 retains its 5.0-tonne towing capacity and there are a few visual updates too, including Tickford decals on the American ute's bonnet, tailgate and flanks, plus low-profile wheel-arch guards, Tickford-branded side-steps and build plate.

Performax International's national sales manager, Kevin Thoroughgood, told carsales.com.au the company offers ready-to-register base-model Ford F-150 pick-up trucks in Australia from $95,000. With the addition of the Tickford F-150 kit, that pushes the price to $119,500 plus ORCs.

So for around $120,000, you can now get an Aussie-engineered Ford F-150 Raptor rival for well under the price of any heavy-duty US ute, such as the Ford F-250, Chevrolet Silverado 2500 or RAM 2500, which start at about $140,000 apiece.

The company offers a three-year, 100,000km warranty on its right-hand drive conversions, along with 24-hour roadside assist.

With its worked biturbo petrol V6, the Tickford F-150 pumps out considerably more power than the Ford F-150 Raptor, which generates 336kW and 691Nm.

"It's quicker than a Raptor," said Thoroughgood, who confirmed the company already has several orders for the new Tickford F-150 package.

"The whole point of the engine is to create an alternative to the [F-150] Raptor. This can tow five tonnes, the Raptor can’t."

Big US pick-up trucks and utes are going gangbusters in Australia in a large part due to the introduction of a sub-$80K RAM 1500 converted to right-hand drive by HSV and sold by ASV (American Special Vehicles).

The Melbourne production line for RAM Trucks, which are produced in the same facility as HSV's own Chevy Silverado, has moved into overdrive and is now operating 24 hours a day to meet the pent-up demand for full-size US utes. Thoroughgood says Performax is in the same boat.

"We can't keep up with demand for the F-150," he said.

"We have 10 appointed dealerships nationally, plus a showroom in Brisbane and we're that busy we don’t have to market that much.

"RAMs don't hurt us. If anything the RAM has created more awareness in the marketplace. But not everyone wants a RAM truck. It's just a Jeep with a different badge," he said.

Thoroughgood stated that the RAM 1500 is a previous-generation vehicle, while the F-150 is new and has far more technology and safety features.

2019 Dual-cab 4x4 ute comparison

The most popular utes in Australia are the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, which are smaller, less powerful and can tow less than US imports from RAM, Ford and Chevrolet, but are also much cheaper and often match their payload.

The predominantly Thai-built dual-cab utes favoured by Australians are largely purchased for between $40,000 and $60,000, but customers are clearly keen to spend more on something bigger and brawnier – and petrol-powered.

While Performax International sells new Ford F-150 utes from just under $100,000, most buyers opt for more expensive models with more features, and the same can be said of rival F-truck conversion company Harrison Trucks, which is also based in Queensland.

Kelvin Gurski, a sales consultant for Harrison Trucks in Melbourne, said the average cost of an F-150 in Australia is roughly $145,000, though like the Performax base models they can be had for much less.

"But if you want an F-150 Raptor, that comes in at around $200,000," said Gurski.

He said there are cheaper F-150 models but that most Australian buyers want the burger with the lot – or at least beetroot and bacon.

"Most people wouldn’t go base model. The XLT Sport on our website would nudge $140,000," he said.

"They do have cheap trucks but Aussies don’t want the cheap spec. No one would buy them."

The appetite for high-end dual-cab utes in Australia is exploding. Along with left-field upgrade kits like the Polish Mercedes-Benz X-Class Exy, the range-topping Shelby F-150 powered by a supercharged Coyote 5.0-litre V8 is tipped to go past $250,000.

Costing about $US100,000 in North America, Harrison Trucks is currently working on converting the 750hp (560kW) Shelby F-150 weapon to right-hand drive.

Where will it end? It won't. There's an all-electric Ford F-150 EV on the way and battery-powered utes are also coming from Tesla, Rivian, Great Wall and JMC. Indeed it will be interesting to see how Australians warm to the new wave of near-silent but super-torquey, zero-emission utes.