Could Ford’s 2015 F-150 SEMA big-tired off-roader win 5th straight ‘Hottest Truck’?

By Stephen Edelstein October 20, 2014

2015 Ford F-150 Vaughn Gittin Jr. SEMA truck — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Break out the 20-inch wheels and vinyl, because it’s SEMA season.

The annual Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas causes carmakers to alter their products in all kinds of interesting ways, and Ford is going all out this year.

The Dearborn company just launched its all-new 2015 F-150 pickup truck, and hopes to show the new model is just as modifiable as before. Ford wants a fifth consecutive “Hottest Truck” award this year, and wants to show the aftermarket that there’s plenty to like about this aluminum-bodied truck.

Two customized F-150s will grace the Ford booth, including the obligatory big-tired off-roader.

The Deegan 38 truck was created with input from off-road and rally driver Brian Deegan. It gets a meaner look courtesy of lifted suspension, Mickey Thompson wheels and tires, and an LED light bar, but with a twist.

2015 Ford F-150 Deegan 38 SEMA truck — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Related: Customized Chevrolet Cruze and Sonic are ready for SEMA 2014

Instead of the V8 one would normally expect to find in a truck like this, the Deegan 38 sports a 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6, making it green as well as mean.

Speaking of mean and green, Ford and Monster Energy-sponsored drift star Vaughn Gittin Jr. contributed a custom F-150 of his own. This “street truck” is optimized for on-road performance, with a slammed suspension that makes one wonder why professional truck drifting isn’t a thing.

Ford didn’t say what is under the hood, but claims the truck was designed to take advantage of the weight savings afforded by the 2015 F-150’s aluminum body. That should mean fast straight-line speeds and – thanks to five Recaro seats – a chance to take four of your closest friends (or worst enemies) for a wild ride.

Hopefully we’ll get see exactly how wild both of these trucks can get when the 2014 SEMA show opens in November.

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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