Video games are big business and auto manufacturers know it. With companies such as Nissan teaming up with the wizards at the Gran Turismo franchise and Jeep offering a special edition Call of Duty Wrangler, the gaming audience is one that many OEMs are looking to tap into. The latest cross-marketing vehicle to come on the scene is this 2015 Ford F-150 Sandcat. Brought together by Galpin Auto Sports, 343 Industries, Xbox, and of course, Ford, this Sandcat was inspired by the wildly popular Halo video game franchise.
The one-off Halo 5 Ford F-150 was developed to coincide with the release of Halo 5: Guardians for Xbox One. With a video game codename M552 (closely resembling Ford’s official project codename P552), the Sandcat not only looks the part, but has the components to back it up in the real world. The Sandcat started off as a 2015 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 4x4, equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine and FX4 off-road package. Using the talents of Galpin Auto Sports, the truck was fitted with an Addictive Desert Designs Baja XTR off-road conversion kit. The Baja XTR widens the truck by seven inches and allows for 12 inches of front wheel travel. The XTR package also equips the truck with a bed cage along with shocks that go into the bed to deliver the 18 inches of rear wheel travel.
Also included with the kit are specially valved Fox Racing shocks, Deaver leaf springs, a full-float Currie Enterprises rear axle, ADD fenders and side bars. Since a Halo fighter doesn’t have time to be stuck on some barren planet, the Sandcat was equipped with NITTO’s most aggressive off-road tire, the legendary Mud Grappler. Securing the knobby mud-terrain tires are a set of 17-inch beadlock wheels.
Inside, the interior carries over the Halo theme and also includes a custom Xbox One gaming system with displays mounted in the rear head restraints. Sadly, we doubt the Sandcat F-150 will pop up on dealer lots anytime soon, but at least this is one themed concept that isn’t so out of this world that one couldn’t reproduce it on their own.
(Photos: courtesy of Ford Motor Company)
