Other notable
improvements or features available on the new Super Duty include:
Boxed
front frame, and the rear part of the frame has been upgraded with new
steel that Ford says is the thickest gauge steel used on any pickup
frame.
The 300-horsepower
5.4-liter 3-valve Triton engine from the F-150 is now the base engine.
It appeals mostly to fleets and light-duty contractors.
The V10
engine now gets the same 3-valve technology and electronic throttle
control, resulting in a 45-horsepower increase over the previous model’s
2-valve engine.
Higher
axle ratings and the new 4x4 suspension will improve the truck’s
ability to handle larger snow plows.
Ford increased
the brake-rotor diameter by five percent and increased the piston diameter
by 11 percent in the front calipers for improved brake performance and
pedal feel.
Super
Duty also gets a new optional two-tone paint scheme with new paint combinations.
The new look is enhanced with larger, three-dimensional badges for each
series and powertrain.
There’s
a new gauge cluster with circular speedometer and tachometer, and the
air vents are barrel shaped and more integrated into the dash.
The Super
Duty is an important part of Ford’s overall truck strategy. Officials
say Super Duty trucks make up 45 to 50 percent of F-Series sales, or about
350,000 to 400,000 units a year. The Power Stroke diesel can be found
in about two-thirds of those Super Duty sales, outselling all GM and Dodge
diesels combined. Best news of all: Ford says it will hold the price line
on Super Duty. F-250 and F-350 duallies will not get a price hike while
F-350 single rear wheel models get an additional $290 to the base price.
MSRP will range between $22,390 and $38,365, plus destination and delivery
charges of $795. One of Ford’s most popular configurations, the
F-250 XLT Crew Cab 4x4 with a Power Stroke engine and TorqShift tranny
will carry a base price of $41,375 (plus destination), which is only $25
more than a comparably equipped 2004 model.
For those
who want a little excitement and added prestige in their Super Duty, Ford
will offer three special editions:
The Harley-Davidson
will feature the industry’s first “flame” paint option
with a choice of either Toreador Red on black or True Blue and Medium
Wedgewood Blue. The bold flames are actually painted on the cab with
a patented wet-on-wet process. Other exterior features include billet-like
grille, blacked-out headlights, chromed tow hooks, fog lamps and 20-inch
polished aluminum wheels. The interior features stitched two-tone black
leather seating with Harley logos. The door inserts and dash feature
a unique pattern that appears to be carbon fiber but really is hundreds
of tiny Harley logos. The interior is also enhanced with chrome on the
dash, many of the controls and the foot pedals.
The Super
Duty Amarillo has a bold yellow paint scheme and was inspired by the
Mighty F-350 TONKA concept from a few years ago. Available on diesel-powered
F-250 and F-350 XLT SuperCabs and Crew Cabs, the truck also features
chromed bumpers, tow hooks, tubular step-up bars and muffler tip. The
leather-trimmed interior is all black as is the carpet. Options include
roof marker lights.
The King
Ranch edition returns with an interior awashed in Castano leather and
Dark Mandarin Teak wood trim.
PickupTruck.com
will have full reports as each model becomes available for a full road
test. Also, look for an in-depth feature on the improved powertrain options
for the Super Duty lineup.
