Ford Unveils Frameless Rear Window for F-150 Truck

Ford Motor Co.'s upcoming aluminum-intensive F-150 pickup truck will feature an innovative sliding rear window that eschews the usual framed sliding panel.

The so-called "hole-in-glass" design was developed by Magna International Inc. Ford says the system is about one pound lighter than a conventional sliding window, which consists of two stationary panes and a third, framed sliding pane between them.

The Magna window has two parts: a single rear pane with a hole cut out of the middle and a power sliding pane to cover the opening. The design looks smoother from outside the truck, and it allows the rear window's defroster to function whether the window is open or closed.

Magna collaborated with supplier Pittsburgh Glass Works to develop a process that uses a high-pressure water jet to cut the hole in the rear window.

Ford says the new feature will be standard in its high-end F-150 King Ranch, Lariat and Platinum models and a $300 option for XL and XLT editions. The company predicts a 40% take rate for the window compared with about 25% for the conventional sliding glass window in the current F-150.