The 2015 Ford F-150's new seamless sliding rear window design. Photo courtesy of Ford.

The 2015 Ford F-150's new seamless sliding rear window design. Photo courtesy of Ford.

Ford has introduced a new seamless sliding rear window that will be available on the 2015 F-150 when it arrives later this year.

Developed by automotive supplier Magna International, the design conceals the vertical seams that mark the edges of conventional pickup truck sliding rear windows, creating a smooth opening when viewed from outside, says Ford.

“Delivering the latest in innovation and technology to our customer is a top priority for Ford,” said Noah Mass, Ford body mechanisms manager. “The seamless sliding rear window is another great example of the intricate detail that goes into producing the next-generation F-150, setting it apart from any pickup on the market today.”

Typically, standard sliding rear windows contain three pieces of glass — left and right panes that don’t move and the sliding portion in the middle, which are all held together by a support structure. For the new F-150, the seamless sliding window only uses two pieces of glass: the exterior surround and the sliding portion, says Ford.

“We designed the seamless sliding rear window to deliver not only a new look and improved functionality, but also to start a trend in the truck sliding window market,” said Troy Tooker, design engineering manager for Magna International. “With pickup sliders being one of our core products, we wanted to show our leadership and raise the bar on the new F-150.”

Using a lighter window control module for the slider, the new window design also adds to the F-150’s vehicle weight savings — up to 700 pounds have been cut through the use of smarter design and advanced materials, says Ford.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

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