First official 2023 Ford F-150 breaks cover

The 2023 Ford F-150 is getting closer to Aussie showrooms – and this our best view yet of what to expect when Ford Australia releases the full-size pick-up in later this year.

One of the early development cars being used to fine-tune the conversion from left- to right-hand drive was used as a tow vehicle for the 2023 Finke Desert Race, where Ford took out the Production 4WD class with its Ranger Raptor.

The black F-150 was a top-of-the-range Lariat long-wheelbase, which is priced at $140,945 plus on-road costs and will be one of four F-150 variants available from Ford in the third quarter of this year.

The prototype F-150 is part of an extensive program by Melbourne-based RMA Automotive, which is engineering and remanufacturing a local rival for the RAM 1500, Chevrolet Silverado and upcoming Toyota Tundra.

The black F-150 Lariat LWB featured Method wheels and chunkier BFGoodrich rubber.

But it otherwise looked very close to the vehicles eager buyers can expect in showrooms within months, albeit with various prototype plastics inside.

The F-150 uses the same basic dash layout as those sold in America, with the new dash looking very close to what would come out of the factory.

However, the prototype vehicle had plastics that match the shape of those destined for the production vehicle, but not the finishes. It still had shiny finishes, but they will be replaced with grained plastics more typical of those in new cars.

The audio and ventilation controls are identical to those on the US truck, which means the volume dial is closer to the passenger.

However, the external power outlets have been switched with the trailer brake controller and mode/drive selector, so that the latter two are closer to the driver.

The Pro-Trailer Backup Assist dial has also been moved from left to right, again so it’s more accessible to the driver.

The gear selector has been switched with a pair of cup-holders and the stubby selector lever reversed so that it suits its RHD configuration.

The PRNDL display has also been moved to the right so it can be seen by the driver.

The digital instrument cluster looks mostly unchanged – with the speedo at the right of the display – although obviously it displays the speed in kilometres per hour rather than miles per hour.

One thing that doesn’t appear to have made the switch from left to right is the keypad door opener that allows access to the cabin by entering a PIN. It’s still on the passenger side of the vehicle.

The F-150 Lariat was also fitted with a Bang & Olufsen sound system.

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