DALLAS, Sept. 24, 2009 - Ford Super Duty customers expect and demand capability from the best-selling heavy-duty truck in America. For most Super Duty owners, it's the core asset of their business. Day after day, year after year, it's expected to deliver results in the most demanding situations. No nonsense. And never any excuses.
"Our Super Duty customers do some of America's toughest jobs," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. "Every day they're out there working with little fanfare and all they ask is the right tool for the job. The new 2011 Super Duty offers them a truck with best-in-class towing and payload, all-new powertrains and even more capability than ever to help them do their jobs."
Ford's F-Series has been the best-selling line of trucks in the U.S. for 32 straight years. The new Super Duty further underscores Ford's Built Ford Tough legacy.
"The 2011 Super Duty offers the widest array of solutions for the widest array of heavy-duty work truck customers," said Chris Brewer, chief engineer. "The Super Duty lineup offers a variety of body styles and powertrains, from diesel and gasoline engines, each with a new six-speed transmission, to pickup trucks and chassis cabs, each with the towing and payload capabilities that define Super Duty."
New diesel and gasoline engines deliver improved torque, horsepower,
fuel economy
For 2011, Super Duty features both an all-new diesel
and gasoline engine that are mated to a new transmission. The new diesel, the
6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine, was designed, engineered
and built by a Ford team dedicated solely to delivering this class-leading
diesel engine to the next-generation Super Duty to enable continued
best-in-class towing and payload.
Benefits of the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine:
"Developing the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine was an awesome endeavor," said Adam Gryglak, lead 6.7-liter diesel engineering manager. "After all the engineering and testing, we're confident this engine will ensure the new Super Duty continues its leadership in capability, reliability and productivity."
The engine and aftertreatment system for the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel powertrain ably meets the new, more stringent 2010 federal emissions requirements for nitrogen oxides (NOx), which have to be lowered by approximately 80 percent.
New gasoline engine delivers more torque, horsepower than outgoing
model
Ford tapped into a bit of its proud racing heritage to create
the new 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine, which uses big-bore architecture to
produce horsepower and class-leading fuel economy. The V-8's large bore (102 mm)
allows for larger intake and exhaust valves for improved engine breathing, and
the short stroke (95 mm) allows higher engine speed for increased
horsepower.
Benefits of the new 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine include:
New TorqShift transmission harnesses and manages the power; Live
Drive PTO available
The all-new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed
automatic transmission was designed to manage the high low-end torque produced
by the new diesel engine. The same basic transmission also is mated to the new
gasoline engine, giving customers of either engine the ability to efficiently
get the increased torque and horsepower to the ground. Engineered for greater
efficiency and fuel economy, improvements include refined architecture to
provide relatively low clutch speeds, which result in lower drag losses, and
optimized fluid levels and drainback to reduce churning of fluid while also
providing superior lubrication.
In addition to hardware-based improvements, the new transmission features enhanced Tow Haul with integrated engine exhaust braking and SelectShift Automatic capability, which includes Progressive Range Select and a manual mode, allowing customers to select the gear to suit their needs.
The new TorqShift transmission also enables the first application of Live Drive PTO (Power Take Off) in a Super Duty-class vehicle. On 2011 Super Duty diesels with the PTO prep option, the PTO output gear is linked through the torque converter to the engine crankshaft. This allows the transmission to power auxiliary equipment such as snowplows, aerial lifts, tow truck lifts, cement mixers or dump trucks. The power is available any time the engine is running.
Pioneered on agricultural applications, the Live Drive feature is particularly useful when mobile PTO function is required during start-stop operations, such as salt spreading or snow plowing. "A fully functional Live Drive mobile PTO will allow Super Duty customers to take full advantage of the equipment on their trucks," said Al Bruck, 6R140 transmission engineering manager.
Best-in-class towing and payload; new towing
options
Putting all that power to work is what defines Super Duty.
The 2011 Super Duty features increased towing and payload capability, extending
its best-in-class rating, and also offering more towing from inside the bed. New
is the first-ever factory-installed and warranted fifth wheel and gooseneck
substructure directly attached to the frame.
"Our system is factory-installed and with a limited warranty from Ford. The electrical connection is mounted in the side of the bed wall, providing a clean installation," said Peter Frantzeskakis, vehicle engineering manager.
Particularly noteworthy are productivity enhancements to the F-450 pickup to benefit the heaviest-duty trailer tow customers. Unneeded weight was shed, helping to improve fuel economy and top speed. Even with these changes, the Super Duty F-450 pickup maintains its class-leading gross combined weight rating of 33,000 pounds.
Addition of Trailer Sway Control leads safety
enhancements
Ford's lauded Trailer Sway Control (TSC) system joins
the Super Duty lineup, giving those customers segment-first capability. TSC is
integrated with AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control?, which now is standard
on all single rear wheel (SRW) configurations.
The AdvanceTrac control module uses additional software to monitor the truck's motion when a trailer is attached. Trailer Sway Control can determine from the yaw motion of the truck if the trailer is swaying and take measures - such as applying precise braking or reducing engine torque - to help reduce the trailer sway.
For further peace of mind, the available integrated trailer brake controller, factory-installed and covered by a Ford limited warranty, offers smoother and safer operation due to its ability to interface with multiple vehicle systems.
Normal braking is proportional to driver brake pressure for smooth brake stops at all speeds. If the vehicle's Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) is engaged, the special trailer brake kicks in to minimize the potential for trailer wheel lock up. In Super Duty trucks with Trailer Brake Control towing trailers with electric brakes, the Ford system can, during a sway event, also apply brakes to the trailer to help stabilize it.
Other enhanced towing, off-road control features and safety improvements include:
Improved ride, handling and steering for a more comfortable
experience
In addition to increased towing and payload capability
and improved fuel mileage enabled by the new powertrains, customers of the next
Super Duty also will benefit from improved ride, handling and steering. For
2011, the engineering team optimized the frame and suspension of the current
Super Duty, particularly the leaf springs and spring rate, as well as adjusting
the internal valving in all the shock absorbers to enable greater towing and
payload capability with further ride refinement.
The steering gear also is new. The 4x2 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty feature modified steering system geometry to take better advantage of the twin I-beam suspension, which combines the performance of an independent suspension with the durability of a beam axle suspension. Improved response, precision and better on-center steering and control come from making the steering gear symmetric left to right.
The result is greater customer comfort, confidence and control in all situations.
"A big part of the comfort in Super Duty trucks comes through controllability," said Dan Gompper, vehicle dynamics supervisor. "No matter if the truck is loaded or unloaded, full trailer or empty trailer, customers can be fully confident."
Bold exterior, new flow-through console highlights
interior
The new hood of the 2011 Super Duty, with its prominent
inverted power dome, complements the new diesel and gasoline engines lurking
beneath. "Super Duty" is stamped on the upper grille, with a larger Ford oval
proudly gracing the front.
Inside, customers will benefit from a new reconfigurable flow-through console that improves the functionality of the truck. Storage space is increased about 60 percent, and at least 70 different configurations are possible. A 12-volt powerpoint is available at the rear of the console and another is located inside the main bin, which is lockable. A 110-volt power inverter is standard with all console configurations.
Improved productivity through Ford Work Solutions
For
many customers, the Super Duty cab also serves as a mobile office.
Industry-exclusive Ford Work Solutions is part of available technology to help
customers stay connected with their business from the job site and track
tools.
A new available 4.2-inch LCD Productivity Screen allows customers to take full advantage of the 2011 Super Duty's capabilities; an off-road message center has been added as well. The five-way button on the steering wheel allows customers to navigate through various menu options - several relating to fuel economy and towing convenience - never before available on a Super Duty truck.
Continuing the legacy of quality
With all-new powertrains
enabling greater towing and payload capability, safety enhancements such as
Trailer Sway Control added and greater functionality with available Ford Work
Solutions, the new 2011 Ford Super Duty is poised to continue its legacy as
America's premier work truck.
The accolades the current Super Duty has received, based on 2009 model year GQRS (Global Quality Research System) data, include:
"With all-new powertrains and increased capability, the 2011 Super Duty improves on its proud heritage as the ultimate work truck," said Brewer.