MagicMtnDan
06-28-2004, 05:55 AM
The Blue Oval's most profitable vehicle line, F-Series Super Duty pickups (F-250 through F-550), gets a major boost in the towing department for 2005 allowing it to wrestle tow-capacity leadership from General Motors.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/8149_image.jpg
By boosting the maximum tow rating on Super Duty to 17,000 pounds and upping torque on its diesel engine to 570 lb-ft of torque (still lowest of the Big Three diesels), Ford believes the Super Duty can help propel the company to a new F-Series sales record, as promised by Ford Division President Steve Lyons in January.
Ford sells more heavy-duty trucks than its two cross-town rivals combined. Neither GM nor Dodge carry the Super Duty brand cachet, Ford marketing executives say, and neither can run with Ford's 27-year truck sales leadership record in the U.S.
The Kentucky-built Super Duty contributes about 360,000 units worth of volume to the F-Series total, expected to exceed 912,000 in 2004. Lyons admits the Super Duty lineup provides Ford the greatest per-vehicle profit and says that the company is selling as many as it can make, albeit with sometimes generous incentives.
Holding the line
Those incentives, however, may fall slightly this fall as the newest of Super Duty trucks are rolled out with prices pretty much holding the line from 2004's $22,500 to $44,000 range. The lineup includes a significantly revised Harley-Davidson F-250, which now features painted-on flames and 20-inch alloys; a King Ranch model that boasts an interior that competes with premium luxury cars; and a new limited-edition Amarillo trim package that will only be available this fall.
More important than trim packages is Ford's move to retake leadership in the towing category. The company now holds conventional and fifth-wheel towing capacity leadership, which Ford estimates is the single most-important buying consideration for heavy-duty drivers. Ninety percent of Super Duty owners tow, and 70 percent of them do such serious towing that they install aftermarket in-cabin trailer brake controllers to coordinate truck and trailer brakes.
Ford shows such a commitment to its towing enthusiasts that it will now offer factory-installed trailer brake controllers as about a $200 option, which is an industry first.
Commercial trucks, represented with the F-450 and F-550 versions, provide possibly the greatest on-road improvement, boasting greater front-suspension response thanks to the move to coil springs from the more traditional leaf setup. Steering radius and lock-to-lock precision is greatly improved thanks to a longer front axle, an extra steering gear and redesigned wheel well.
For 2005, Ford beefed up the Super Duty's front and rear disc brakes, strengthened the front and rear axle and equipped the suspension with heavier duty components and capacities. It also dressed up the front grille with a look inspired by Ford's Mighty F-350 Tonka truck concept shown at the Detroit auto show previously. The interior gets much of the same upgrade found in the F-150 lineup, which was redesigned last year.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/8150_image.jpg
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/8149_image.jpg
By boosting the maximum tow rating on Super Duty to 17,000 pounds and upping torque on its diesel engine to 570 lb-ft of torque (still lowest of the Big Three diesels), Ford believes the Super Duty can help propel the company to a new F-Series sales record, as promised by Ford Division President Steve Lyons in January.
Ford sells more heavy-duty trucks than its two cross-town rivals combined. Neither GM nor Dodge carry the Super Duty brand cachet, Ford marketing executives say, and neither can run with Ford's 27-year truck sales leadership record in the U.S.
The Kentucky-built Super Duty contributes about 360,000 units worth of volume to the F-Series total, expected to exceed 912,000 in 2004. Lyons admits the Super Duty lineup provides Ford the greatest per-vehicle profit and says that the company is selling as many as it can make, albeit with sometimes generous incentives.
Holding the line
Those incentives, however, may fall slightly this fall as the newest of Super Duty trucks are rolled out with prices pretty much holding the line from 2004's $22,500 to $44,000 range. The lineup includes a significantly revised Harley-Davidson F-250, which now features painted-on flames and 20-inch alloys; a King Ranch model that boasts an interior that competes with premium luxury cars; and a new limited-edition Amarillo trim package that will only be available this fall.
More important than trim packages is Ford's move to retake leadership in the towing category. The company now holds conventional and fifth-wheel towing capacity leadership, which Ford estimates is the single most-important buying consideration for heavy-duty drivers. Ninety percent of Super Duty owners tow, and 70 percent of them do such serious towing that they install aftermarket in-cabin trailer brake controllers to coordinate truck and trailer brakes.
Ford shows such a commitment to its towing enthusiasts that it will now offer factory-installed trailer brake controllers as about a $200 option, which is an industry first.
Commercial trucks, represented with the F-450 and F-550 versions, provide possibly the greatest on-road improvement, boasting greater front-suspension response thanks to the move to coil springs from the more traditional leaf setup. Steering radius and lock-to-lock precision is greatly improved thanks to a longer front axle, an extra steering gear and redesigned wheel well.
For 2005, Ford beefed up the Super Duty's front and rear disc brakes, strengthened the front and rear axle and equipped the suspension with heavier duty components and capacities. It also dressed up the front grille with a look inspired by Ford's Mighty F-350 Tonka truck concept shown at the Detroit auto show previously. The interior gets much of the same upgrade found in the F-150 lineup, which was redesigned last year.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/8150_image.jpg