Ford know that if they want to counter the attack that GM are soon to afflict on them with their range of new pickups showcased during the Detroit Auto Show, then they will need to deliver something very special. Thankfully the Atlas Concept could be it as this is expected to be what the next-generation Ford F-150 could look like, which is looking pretty likely to be the 2015 Ford F-150.

There are number of key design features that could help the Ford F-150 make that all-important step to be the ultimate pickup once again, and features such as that advancement with its tailgate step to allow for improved cargo options could prove very positive to the consumer.

Over the years the pickup was a symbol that Americans did not care about how much fuel these huge vehicles consumed, but all that has changed since car manufactures are now being forced to make these pickups more fuel-efficient because of the cost of gas and also the fact that there is far less disposable income. Ford’s solution is to not only improve engine technology but also improve aerodynamics in order to reduce drag, which we know is a huge factor in maintaining fuel-efficiency.

That’s not the only feature to help reduce drag; the front spoiler will also lower the faster you go, and in order to give you greater ground clearance for going off-road will raise up when driving at lower speeds. In a recent article it has been reported that the reason Ford need to make changes is because the GM RAM has been named 2013 North American Truck of the Year, and also the fact that General Motors has recently been showing off their new 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra.

Will the F-150 ever get to the top again and if so what changes does Ford need to make in order to achieve this?

Apparently so far two fires have been caused due to the straps which hold the fuel tanks in-place breaking, luckily no injuries have been caused, however the safety regulators are investigating 1997-2001 models, if a recall is announced it could potentially affect 2.7 million vehicles.

You can find out more about the possibility of another Ford F-150 recall over at Guardian.co.uk, as they point out there is a chance that a recall will never take place, however a lot of similar investigations have resulted in massive recalls due to safety concerns. Ford has revealed that they are working with the government on the matter.

The NHTSA say that there have been 243 reports of fuel tanks dropping below the vehicle, 95 of which resulted in fuel leakage and 9 of these resulted in sparks flying from the tank while it was being dragged on the road. Have you or a friend been affected by faulty Ford F-150 fuel tank straps? If so, let us know in the comments section below.

Jerry Hirsch from the Los Angeles Times is reporting that the recall is being widened to include trucks made in other factories in Dearborn, Mich., and Kansas City, Mo., in the 2004 and 2006 model years. Federal safety regulators have said there have been 269 incidents which makes it the biggest recall of its kind.

Before the problem was thought to be confined to trucks built in the now closed plant in Norfolk, Va., during 2005 and 2006. The recall is voluntary and NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said he was “pleased” with the decision by Ford.

According to the NHTSA so far there have been around 98 injuries after the airbags suddenly deploying without being involved in an accident, and two owners suffered permanent eye damage. Ford had said before they were aware of 238 incidents causing 77 injuries but no fatalities.

The Ford F-series is the biggest selling truck in America, and was the top selling vehicle of any type last year. Ford has said the airbags have gone off after a warning lamp had gone off indicating the system should be checked. A wire which had been incorrectly installed in the steering wheel has been the cause of the problems.

Owners will be contacted by Ford to bring their trucks into their local dealer for correction work, which will take around half a day. Ford is also recalling the Lincoln Mark LT for the same fault.

Do you own one of the Ford trucks affected by the recall?

The recall affects F-150s in the U.S. and Canada, and could not come at a worse time for the company. The reason we say this is for two reason, the first is because the issue that they had with Ferrari and not wanting the F150 name to be confused with their 2011 F1 title challenger, as well as the fact that the Geneva Motor Show is to begin next week.

Ford is now finally working with the NHTSA for this recall, although last month they were reluctant to do so, as the Detroit automaker thought that the proposed recall of 1.3 million trucks was too large. CNN Money says that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will take a closer look to see if recalling 144,00 is enough.

AOL News reports that there were 238 cases involving the non-deployment of the airbags, but Ford had already made changes to the F-150 for the following year. Whether the recall gets increased is tough to say, but you can be certain that we will know soon enough.

Do you think that Ford should extend the F-150 recall?

According to an article on Freep, Ford has said that the Ferrari F150 is to similar to the name used on their truck, and they believe that they did this to capitalize and try to profit on this. This is not our words, but what is written in the lawsuit that was issued yesterday.

The Italian F1 outfit said that they chose this name to celebrate the 150th Unification of Italy; we all know how passionate the team is about their country. Ford has said that Ferrari wants to increase its market share in the U.S, and by using the name F150 could confuse consumers.

I do not wish to take sides in any way, but surly consumers will know the difference between a truck and a single-seat car that can hit over 200mph? Ford is asking the courts to stop Ferrari from using the name, as well as looking for damages. The Blue Oval does not have that long to try and get the ban passed, as the F1 season is due to start next month.

Formula One website Speed TV also adds that Ford is not happy with the www.ferrariF150.com website. If Ferrari is forced to close this website and change the name of its 2011 F1 challenger this could upset thousands if not millions of Tifosi around the world.

Do you think Ford is right to sue Ferrari for using the F150 name?