ALL GM BRANDS IN TOP 10 IN BENCHMARK DEPENDABILITY STUDY

 

• 13 GM models place in Top 3 of their segments
• Buick ranks second among all brands in study
• Chevrolet, GMC sweep Large SUV segment and rank first and second in both large truck pickup segments

By General Motors, Detroit - For the first time, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac all rank in the top 10 among brands in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study.

"GM's customer-driven approach to quality and dependability is breaking through," said Grace Lieblein, vice president, Global Quality.  "Dependability is a top purchase consideration and key to customer loyalty.  These awards reflect our commitment to provide customers with the best overall experience in the industry."

The 2015 study tracks 2012 model year vehicles in their third year of ownership.

Buick ranks second among all brands, Cadillac ranks fourth with Chevrolet and GMC ranking 10th (in a tie).

Chevrolet ranks higher than ever in this study, led by Malibu as the segment leader in the highly competitive Midsize Car segment.  For the third year in a row, the Chevrolet Camaro ranks highest in the Midsize Sporty Car segment.

The GMC Sierra LD and Chevrolet Silverado LD rank first and second in the Large Light Duty Pickup segment and the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD rank first and second in the Large Heavy Duty Pickup segment.

GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban all rank in the Top 3 of the Large SUV segment.  These models also filled the Top 3 positions in the Large SUV segment in the 2014 JD Power Initial Quality Study, where the 2014 Chevrolet Suburban and 2014 GMC Yukon ranked highest in a tie, along with the 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe.

Model Highlights by Brand

Chevrolet

• Malibu - Segment Award, Midsize Car
• Camaro - Segment Award, Midsize Sporty Car (3rd Year in a Row)
• Silverado HD - Segment Award, Large Heavy Duty Pickup
• Tahoe - Ranks Second, Large SUV
• Suburban - Ranks Third, Large SUV
• Silverado LD - Ranks Second, Large Light Duty Pickup

Buick

• Lacrosse - Segment Award, Large Car
• Enclave - Ranks Second, Midsize SUV

GMC

• Sierra LD - Segment Award, Large Light Duty Pickup (2nd Year in a Row)
• Yukon - Segment Award, Large SUV (2nd Year in a Row)
• Terrain - Segment Award, Compact SUV
• Sierra HD - Ranks Second, Large Heavy Duty Pickup

Cadillac

• SRX - Ranks Third, Midsize Premium SUV

CHEVROLET SILVERADO WORK TRUCKS GET BLACKED OUT

 

By General Motors, Oshawa, Ontario - Chevrolet is adding a $1,795 Black Out package for regular- and double-cab 2015 Silverado 1500 WT models.  It includes 20" black painted aluminum wheels, P275/55R20 all-season blackwall tires, deep tinted glass and black bowties.  The package is available for order now, and customers can have any colour they want, as long as it is black.

CHEVROLET VOLT OWNERS GOT THEIR SAY IN NEXT-GEN MODEL

 

By General Motors, Oshawa, Ontario - To Sam Miller-Christiansen, his 2014 Chevrolet Volt is the best car he has owned.  And he was willing to tell anyone, including the team developing the next-generation Volt.

"I said that if they could improve the overall EV range, it would make one of my favorite cars even better," Miller-Christiansen said.  "To my amazement, they've done it."

It is just one example of how the 2016 Volt was engineered with input from the collective voices of loyal owners.

Shortly after launching the first-generation Volt, Chevrolet convened and met once a month with a customer advisory board of 12 owners from across the country to understand how consumers were operating their Volts.

"The Volt represented a completely new classification of electric vehicles, and we were unsure of how people would react or how this vehicle would fit in their daily lives," said Darin Gesse, Volt product manager.  "So we began asking simple questions like how and when the owners plugged in their Volt, which directly impacted the development of the next generation.

"We talk about putting the customer at the centre of everything we do, and we've literally done that with the 2016 Volt."

The Volt team also wanted to know what Volt features owners liked and what features might need improvement.  The team talked with Volt owners through social media, plug-in events and Internet panels.

The owners' constructive and candid feedback ultimately helped the engineering team decide what direction to take the next-generation Volt.

In addition to more EV range and improved fuel efficiency in extended range, customers also expressed a strong desire for a fifth seating position for short trips.  The new Volt offers those features as well as increased space and available rear heated seats.

The 2016 Volt offers a GM-estimated 80 kilometres of EV range that meets the daily commuting needs of most customers.  Additionally, the 33 litre fuel tank and an estimated fuel consumption rating of 5.7 L/100km ensure that the Volt can travel farther when needed.  The current-generation Chevrolet Volt has been Canada's best-selling electric vehicle for 4 consecutive years.

Chevrolet also learned customers wanted a more intuitive vehicle interface.  So the 2016 Volt center stack is easier to use, with fewer icons, separate climate control knobs, and buttons below the centre display designed to provide clear and convenient operation.

Customers also influenced these features:

1. Quieter engine at lower speeds
2. Light-emitting diode (LED) headlamps, providing a more visible, higher efficiency light
3. Reduced air dam scraping when entering or exiting driveways
4. Heated steering wheel
5. Regen on DemandTM - giving drivers more control over regenerative braking, which reclaims energy while the car slows
6. Customization of vehicle information depending on driver's preference
7. Location-based charging selection, making vehicle charging at multiple locations easier to manage
8. More discrete charging notifications
9. Charge door open reminder
10. Illuminated charge port
11. Available spare tire

The current Volt enjoys some of the highest customer loyalty and quality scores in the industry.  In just four years, Volt has earned more accolades and more "best buy" awards than any other electric vehicle, including the 2015 Kelley Blue Book's 2015 Best Buy Award and Top Safety Pick from The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

POWER PLAY: CAMARO ENGINES THROUGH THE YEARS

By General Motors of Canada - Chevrolet Camaro has tracked the rise, fall and resurgence of American performance for nearly 50 years, making it a bellwether of horsepower.

Since its 1967 introduction, the Camaro's engine output has ranged from a low of 88 horsepower to a peak of 580, as the pony car rode the highs of the muscle car era in the late-1960s and the lows of the oil embargo-influenced 1970s to the emergence of modern technologies in the 1980s and the unprecedented power and efficiency offered today.

"From the day it was introduced, the Camaro has been part of North American culture and a reflection of the state of the North American performance industry," said Dean Guard, General Motors executive director global gasoline engine engineering, whose first car was a 1982 Camaro with a 5.0L V-8.

"What has never changed was the Camaro's fun, attainable performance for a broad spectrum of customers, and the personal connection it inspired with generations of owners."

In the 48 years since Camaro's arrival, the engine families and the technologies supporting them have evolved dramatically, from the carbureted inline-six base engines and brawny range-topping big-block V-8s in the early years, to the sophisticated V-6 and V-8 engines of today that use advanced technologies to deliver a balance of power and efficiency undreamt of in 1967.

Technologies including direct injection and continuously variable valve timing in the 2015 Camaro's base 3.6L V-6 help generate 323 horsepower.  That's more than any Camaro V-8 engine offered between 1971 and 2000 - and it enables an estimated fuel consumption of 7.8L/100km highway.

As the Camaro closes out the final year of its fifth generation, Chevrolet has compiled a historic overview of the engines that have contributed to its icon status for enthusiasts around the globe.

First Generation - 1967-69The Camaro debuted in the burgeoning personal coupe market and at the height of the muscle car era.  Entry-level models offered two versions of Chevrolet's stalwart inline-six engine, with a minimum of 140 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque.

Higher-performing models were available with a smorgasbord of V-8 engines, ranging from 200 horsepower in the 307-cubic-inch Small Block to the 375-horsepower 396 Big Block.  Sixty-nine special-option COPO Camaros were built with 427-cubic-inch engines.  Intended for Stock and Super Stock drag racing classes, their respective 425- and 430-horsepower ratings were widely believed to be underestimated.

Second Generation - 1970-81The Camaro's second generation occurred during a tumultuous time in the auto industry as regulatory changes, including the change to unleaded fuel for lower emissions and an increased focus on fuel efficiency in response to Arab oil embargoes that led to lines at gasoline stations.  As engineers worked to meet these new requirements, the industry saw dramatic reductions in engine compression, horsepower and torque.

Camaro output peaked in 1970, with 375 hp and 415 lb-ft, but by 1975 the most powerful V-8 model offered only 155 hp.  The Camaro wouldn't see more than 200 horsepower again until the mid-1980s.

The Big Block engine family was dropped after 1972, while the venerable inline-six engine was replaced by more modern V-6 designs in 1980.  The Small Block was the only engine family to last through the entire second generation, ranging from a high of 360 horsepower for the 1970 Z28 to 115 horsepower by the mid- and late-1970s.

Third Generation - 1982-92
The third generation of the Camaro saw the introduction of new technologies, each progressively improving output and performance.

For the first time, the Camaro was offered with a four-cylinder engine.  Between 1982 and 1986, the 2.5L inline-4 produced 88 to 92 horsepower, depending on whether it was fitted with a carburetor or a new electronically controlled fuel injection system.

Fuel injection also spread to the V-6 and V-8 engine families, enabling engineers to balance efficiency with greater performance.  Early editions used Throttle Body Injection (TBI) and, later, the highest-performing models of the 305 and 350 engines featured Tuned Port Injection (TPI).

In 1990, the Camaro 350 TPI engine peaked at 245 hp and 345 lb-ft of torque - making it the most potent Camaro since 1973.

Fourth Generation - 1993-2002
A streamlined powertrain lineup greeted the Camaro's fourth generation, with a single V-6 and Small Block V-8 offered in each model year.

The base engine evolved from a 160-horsepower version of the 3.4L V-6 to a 200-horsepower version of the renowned 3.8L V-6.  The lightweight, compact powerhouse offered performance comparable to most of the Third Generation Camaro V-8 models.

The Small Block V-8 was available with up to 305 horsepower in the 1996-97 Camaro SS.

An all-new, Gen III "LS1" Small Block V-8 was available in the 1998 Camaro, delivering 305 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque, making the Camaro SS and Z28 models worthy rivals for anything from the muscle car era.

Fifth Generation - 2010-2015

After an eight-year hiatus, the Camaro roared back with more standard horsepower than ever - more than 300 horsepower from a sophisticated DOHC V-6.  By 2012, the Camaro V-6 had increased to 323 hp, and 278 lb-ft of torque, while enabling fuel consumption ratings as low as 7.9 L/100km highway.

The Camaro's new, 6.2L Gen IV Small Block V-8 was rated at 426 horsepower in SS models with the manual transmission - more than any regular-production Small Block or Big Block engine from muscle car era and rivaling the advertised output of the special-order COPO 427 engines from 1969.

The Camaro ZL1's introduction in 2012 reset the bar for horsepower and torque, delivering a staggering 580 horsepower and 556 lb-ft from a supercharged version of the 6.2L Gen III Small Block.  It remains the most powerful production engine in Camaro history.

In 2014, the Camaro Z/28 delivered the first factory-installed 427-cubic-inch engine since the legendary COPO models.  The naturally aspirated 7.0L engine was rated at 505 horsepower and 481 lb-ft of torque, helping the Camaro Z/28 power its way to Motor Trend's 2014 Best Driver's Car award - the first American-brand car to receive it.

FRESH FACE: CHEVROLET INTRODUCES RESTYLED 2016 EQUINOX

 

 

By General Motors Canada - Chevrolet today introduced the 2016 Equinox - a contemporized version of the popular compact SUV.  Updates include new styling with premium accents, new wheel designs and new available safety features, as well as a colour touchscreen radio and a standard rear-vision camera for entry-level models.

The enhanced Equinox goes on sale this fall, strengthening Chevrolet's broad sport utility lineup, which includes the Traverse, the Trax small SUV and the redesigned 2015 Tahoe and Suburban full-size SUVs.

"The Ontario-built Chevrolet Equinox is one of North America's favourite compact SUVs, thanks to value rooted in great style, efficiency, safety and connectivity," said Bob McClelland, brand director, Chevrolet in Canada.  "The 2016 Equinox has been updated to deliver a contemporary new look and new technologies to build on  its outstanding versatility and efficiency."

The roster of new and updated features available on the 2016 Equinox includes:

• New trim lineup: LS, LT and LTZ, a streamlining of the model lineup that eliminates the 1LT and 2LT trims.
• New front fascia and chrome-accented dual-port grille design - including specific chrome trim on LT and LTZ grilles
• New, premium projector-beam headlamps on all models helps make the Equinox more visible at night
• New daytime running lamps on LT and LTZ, with reflector-style lamps on LS, and light-emitting diode, (LED)
• New fog lamps on LTZ
• New, Chevy-signature dual-element taillamps, revised license plate applique and revised lower rear fascia on all models, with chrome trim on LTZ lower fascia
• New 17-inch aluminum wheels on LT and new 18-inch aluminum wheels on LTZ
• New chrome exhaust outlets on V-6 models
• Available Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert safety features on LT and LTZ
• Standard seven-inch-diagonal Colour Touch radio (including Bluetooth phone connectivity) and rear-vision camera on base models
• Revised instrument panel "centre stack" with new storage shelf and updated control graphics
• New, chrome-trimmed transmission shifter with Electronic Range Selector mode buttons relocated to the top of the shifter handle
• Enhanced interior fabric in LS designed for a premium look and feel
• New Saddle Up interior colour
• New universal tablet holders available through dealers from Chevrolet Accessories.  They mount on the rear of the front seats to provide convenient access for rear-seat passengers

"The new face of the Equinox is highlighted by a more expressive execution of chrome accents and premium lighting," said John Cafaro, executive director of design, global Chevrolet cars.  "The result is a modern exterior that's matched inside with premium features on all trim levels, complementing the Equinox's enhanced technology and functionality."

A compact SUV with big featuresThe 2016 Equinox seats five, with all-wheel drive offered on LS, LT and LTZ models.  Its roomy interior - with the GM-exclusive MultiFlex sliding rear seat - offers 889 litres (31.4 cubic feet) of cargo space behind the rear seat and 1,803 litres (63.7 cubic feet) with the rear seat folded.

The standard Ecotec 2.4L direct-injected engine is expected to deliver a fuel consumption rating of 7.3 L/100km highway (FWD models).  A direct-injected 3.6L V-6 is available with LT and LTZ models and delivers best-in-class 301 horsepower (225 kW) and 272 lb-ft of torque (369 Nm).  The V-6 engine also enables a trailering capacity of up to 1,588 kg (3,500 pounds) - capability unmatched by four-cylinder-only competitors.

Chevrolet MyLink is standard on LT and LTZ models, while OnStar with 4G LTE connectivity and built-in Wi-Fi hotpot is offered on all trim levels.  Equinox was the first in the segment to offer 4G LTE and it provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected.  The hotspot is on whenever the car is on and comes with a three-month/3GB data trial (whichever comes first).

In addition to available Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert safety features, Equinox also offers Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning as part of comprehensive safety packages.

Equinox fast facts 

• Chevrolet's second-best selling vehicle in North America, after Silverado
• First generation debuted as a 2004 model
• Second generation introduced as a 2010 model
• Second generation sales in the U.S. and Canada totaled more than 1 million through the end of 2014
• More than 1.4 million Equinox vehicles of both generations are on the road

The Chevrolet Equinox will be built at GM's CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, ON, the Oshawa, ON, Assembly Plant and the Spring Hill, TN, Manufacturing Plant.


CHEVY COLORADO, GMC CANYON GET UPDATED TACHOMETERS DUE TO GRAPHICAL ERROR

 

By Jonathon Ramsey, Autoblog.com - After James BEaring bought a Chevrolet Colorado, he noticed a discrepancy between the truck's spec sheet and the truck's tachometer: Chevrolet said 3.6-liter V6 in the little pickup produces 305 horsepower at 6,800 rpm, but the tachometer indicates a redline at 6,500 rpm.  So either he wasn't making as much power as he was promised, or the tachometer display was incorrect.  Bearing said he asked Chevy about it but got no response.

Until now.  A General Motors spokesman said the rev limiter is indeed set for 6,800 rpm, but the tach graphics "are slightly off" in the Colorado and the GMC Canyon, and submitted an SAE horsepower certification to back him up.  If you're wondering how such a thing got past quality control ... well, let's just say you're not alone.  GM is going to fix "the graphics on future trucks," which makes it sound like Bearing will just have to learn to live with the indicated redline he's got.  He could always pretend he's driving a sleeper, with four more ponies waiting to be unlocked in the danger zone for those who dare.

CHEVY BRINGING UPDATED EQUINOX TO CHICAGO

 

By Steven J. Ewing, Autoblog.com - An updated Chevy Equinox will be revealed at next week's Chicago Auto Show, the automaker confirmed Friday in a press release.  The debut of the updated, 2016 Equinox comes on the heels of the midsize crossover - pictured above in its current, 2015-model-year-form - posting its best January sales month ever.

No details have been released, but Chevy did send out a teaser image, showing an updated front fascia with new headlamps and LED running lights.

This update for the Equinox can't come soon enough.  The midsize crossover segment is huge right now, and Chevy's player has largely been unchanged since the second-generation Equinox debuted in 2009.  When asked about when we might see a tweaked version of the GMC Terrain - the Equinox's sibling - a General Motors spokesperson could not confirm any specific timing.

In any case, we'll bring you all the official details of the new Equinox when it shows its updated face, next week.

PERFORMANCE TESTING REVEALS BEST OF VEHICLES

 

By General Motors - To develop performance cars, automakers depend on fundamental analysis, but it's the test tracks and road courses that bring out the best in a vehicle.  The collection of roadways assembled at the 90-year-old Milford Proving Ground runs more than 225 kilometres and covers parts of two Michigan counties.

"The proof is in a powerful ride like the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 that won Motor Trend's 2014 Best Driver's Car," said Dick Knoll, Chevrolet Camaro lead development engineer.  "Because of our Proving Ground, we can put the vehicle through the paces that a customer purchasing the car will put it through and then some."

To get these powerful cars ready for track days as well as day-to-day driving, Milford Proving Ground employs test tracks including:

• The North South Straight Away - Built in 1955, it provides a three-lane, 5-kilometre-long road without twists so that a car can reach its maximum speed.  There is a high-speed turnaround on either end of the straight away.
• The Milford Road Course - Developed in 2003 under the leadership of Bob Lutz, the former GM vice chairman who wanted the Proving Ground to have a road course to emulate specific sections of race tracks around the world.  The 4.5 kilometer course consists of 17 turns, each designed to test specific performance requirements along with significant elevation changes to ensure the vehicle performs under all suspension and aerodynamic-load conditions.  The straight away allows for testing at speeds above 240 km/h.

"I lobbied for it, all of a sudden it was approved," said Lutz.  "Look what happened to the ride, handling, steering, braking ... everything of GM cars.  We're better than the best of competition and part of the reason is we have that facility.  The lessons learned on steering, tire grip, braking, etc. that are learned on very high performance vehicles, some of that translates all across the line."

• Black Lake - Built in 1968, the 67-acre asphalt surface allows engineers to develop and refine traction control, electronic stability control and brake performance.  By moistening the lot with a water truck, engineers can replicate wet road conditions.
• Ride and Handling and Noise and Vibration roads include the Fenn Holden area (named after the first director of the Proving Ground), the Oval track, and the Ride & Handling/Noise & Vibration loop.

Driving on these tracks is about 1 percent of the performance testing.  The rest of the time consists of preparing for the drive to ensure the information gathered provides guidance for further refinement and not just a seat-of-the-pants thrill.  During a test trial, an engineering team can collect data on more than 220 channels at any given moment.

"To make the world's best vehicles, you need the world's best people along with the world's best facility," Knoll said.  "We are fortunate to have both."

Globally, General Motors has other Proving Ground facilities including in Lang Lang, Australia, Shanghai and Yuma, Arizona.

2015 FORD F-150 LONG-TERM ROAD TEST

 

By Travis Langness, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com - "The normal aluminum labor rate is $120 an hour, but since you're paying out of pocket I'm going to cut you a deal," the service advisor said, holding back the computer print-out.  "I'm only going to charge you our normal rate of $60 an hour but it's over 20 hours of labor."

When I dropped off our long-term 2015 Ford F-150 a week ago, I couldn't tell if the advisor was trying to soften the blow of a costly repair or if he was really taking pity on me.  There was no "Aluminum Body Rate" on their posted list of prices in the waiting room, just the "Body Rate per Hour" of $60.  Whether this was an exaggeration or not, it was a nice sentiment.  I lied to the service advisor, so in his mind, I was the victim of a hit-and-run accident and I deserved a bit of leeway.

The damage was actually a result of two blows from a sledgehammer.  We were testing the theory that aluminum is more expensive to repair than steel and I had lied about the damage to get the most realistic customer experience possible.  So far, it seemed to be working.  The repair would take "twice as long as steel" but I'd be paying half the standard rate.  It was time to break out the calculator and do some funky math.

He handed over the sheet and explained each item.  After straightening the panel as best they could, they'd apply a specialized aluminum paint filler, then primer, paint, color sand and buff the panel, replace the taillight and put on a new "Sport 4x4" sticker.

For "seven to 10 business days" worth of work, the price of labor and parts totaled $2,082.73.  My eyes went wide, but I signed the estimate, declined a rental car and handed over the keys.

As I mentioned in Part 2 of the story, the price went up quickly when the taillight turned out to be more expensive than previously thought.  Instead of the $106.28 for a standard taillight, our Lariat's LED light with the blind-spot sensor cost $887.25.  With the subsequent increase in sales tax, the repair bill totaled $2,938.44.  Ouch.

True to their word, the body shop finished the work a week after I dropped the truck off.  And to my eye, the did an almost-perfect job.

The panel is straight, it retains all the original character lines and the paint is matched perfectly.  The only real flaw is the placement of that "Sport 4x4" sticker.  It's about two inches too far to the left of where it should be.  Dan Edmunds came with me to check on the repairs and neither of us noticed at first, but it certainly stands out now that our more eagle-eyed co-workers have pointed it out.

Side not:  We've contacted the dealer and they've ordered a new sticker.  An outside vendor does the sticker placement and they'll come to us to fix it, free of charge.

I should note that repairing aluminum differs from repairing steel in several ways.  It requires special tools and it stretches in different ways than steel.  As a result it can require a more experienced hand.  It seems like the staff at Santa Monica Ford has that part covered.

But what about replacing body panels all together?  If we had been in a more serious accident, with another vehicle involved for instance, and we needed a panel replaced, could it take a shop longer to get that panel in stock?

According to Ford, the body panels aren't any more expensive now that they're made out of aluminum.  The price for a replacement right rear-quarter panel on a steel-bodied 2014 F-150 is $967.48.  And for the same panel on an aluminum-bodied 2015 F-150?  $967.48.  That's nice to hear, but what would it have cost to fix a steel panel rather than replace it?

 

As you'll notice in the above photo of the estimate, there are 24.4 hours of billed labor.  Of that, 20 hours are listed for the repair of the aluminum body panel.  The other 4.4 hours are things like removing the molding, taking off the bumper and uninstalling the tailgate.  Clearly, that labor wouldn't take any more or less time regardless of what the parts are made of.

If we go with the theory that our service advisor presented though, and assume fixing a steel panel would take half the time, it works out to just 14.4 hours of labor.  Work that in to the above estimate and you'll get a total of $2,338.44.

That's $600 less.

Let's take that a step further, though.  Assuming the labor rate for aluminum was the $120 an hour the service advisor told us, and going with our quoted time of 20 hours or body labor to pound that panel out, we're looking at $4,138.44.  That's a different of $1,800, a price increase of nearly 77 percent versus the cost of repairing a steel panel for 10 hours at $60 per hour.

To be sure we called our regular body shop, Golden Hammer in Santa Monica.  The shop has fixed dozens of dented, dinged and damaged Edmunds long-term test vehicles.  That shop charges $50 an hour to fix a steel panel and $105 an hour for aluminum.  Take it a little further down the rabbit hole and there's insurance to think about.  If we had gone through insurance to pay for this repair, my out-of-pocket cost for the repair might not have changed so much, but that's probably not where it would end.

Imagine you've got a $500 or even $1,000 deductible on your insurance policy.  You hit a tree, tell the body shop guy you have no idea what happened, but insurance is paying to fix it.  Your insurance premiums may go up, but the remainder of the cost is passed along to your insurance company.  In this scenario, the associated insurance cost for owning an aluminum-bodies vehicle likely goes up too.  Maybe it already has.

There's plenty to speculate about when it comes to the new 2015 Ford F-150, and we've got a year to keep testing our theories, but there are a few things we know for sure.  One: It takes more time, unique tools and specialized training to fix aluminum body panels.  Two: Those repairs, whether through higher labor rates or longer service times, cost more money than repairing steel.  And three: It's really fun to smash things with a sledgehammer.