2011 Ford Super Duty: power and fuel economy figures

Ford has released the long-awaited horsepower and torque figures for its all-new powertrain lineup for the 2011 Super Duty F-Series trucks. The new powertrains include Ford's first in-house 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbocharged V8 and an all-new 6.2-liter gasoline powered V8, both matched to a new six-speed heavy-duty automatic transmission.



For 2011, the Ford Super Duty will reportedly carry a base price of $28,995. Although that represents a bit of a premium over the current truck - which bases at $26,850 - the revised pickup does come packing a number of upgrades.

The Super Duty will be offered with a choice of two powerful V8 motors "” one gasoline unit and one diesel mill - as well as one V10 gas engine.

Ford says that 97 percent of its Super Duty customers use their trucks for towing, so Ford has developed a new pair of engines and a new heavy-duty transmission that it believes are the answers for anyone looking to do some serious towing.

The all-new 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbocharged diesel

The all-new Power Stroke diesel is Ford's first foray into the in-house diesel development game, and features a completely new design from the ground up. For anyone that has been following the development of the engine, they likely know it as the "Scoprion." Ford says that their Ford-engineered and Ford-built B20 (biodiesel) compatible diesel will deliver best-in-class torque of 735 lb-ft. at 1,600 rpm, as well as best-in-class horsepower of 390.

These bumps in power represent a gain of 85 lb-ft. of torque and 40 horsepower over the outgoing Navistar unit, but also feature sizable gains in fuel economy (now best-in-class) and lower cost of ownership. The 6.4-liter Power Stroke was plagued by a poor designed that require cab-off repairs for most problems, but Ford says the new unit will allow servicing to the turbocharger, EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) cooler and high-pressure fuel pump without removing the cab - saving time and money for both vehicle owners and warranty claims alike.

This recently-announced 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbocharged diesel engine features a compacted graphite iron engine block, optimized for increased durability and reduced weight Aluminum cylinder heads also reduce engine weight. A unique inboard exhaust and outboard intake architecture "” an industry-first for a modern diesel "” reduces overall exhaust volume, which leads to better throttle response. Heat transfer, nois, and vibration are also mitigated by a reduced exhaust system surface area.

The all-new diesel will be mated to an all-new TorqShift heavy-duty six-speed automatic transmission. Ford says this new transmission is more durable, allows for increased power and torque with its SelectShift Automatic feature. Ford has also developed a unique Live Drive PTO (Power Take Off) functionality that is a segment first and class-exclusive. The PTO will be available on diesels only, and allows for an output gear that is linked through the torque convertor to the engine crankshaft. this will allow the transmission to power substantial auxiliary equipment such as snowplows, aerial lifts, tow truck lifts, cement mixers and dump truck beds.

"Having best-in-class numbers is powerful, but the real payoff is how those numbers deliver for our customers," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. "For 33 years, F-Series has been the No. 1-seller in America because we listen to our customers. With Super Duty, they've told us how they use their trucks to tow, and on the new truck, we focused on delivering best-in-class towing capability for them with new powertrains that deliver best-in-class power and best-in-class fuel economy."

In addition to putting significant effort into developing a powerhouse of an engine that still reported strong fuel economy in the class, Ford also put its engineers to task to develop a lower NVH rating, or noise, vibration and harshness. Ford says the result is the best-in-class NVH rating, resulting in a quieter and more comfortable ride for the truck's occupants.

The all-new 6.2-liter V8

In the past, Ford relied on a combination of its 5.4-liter V8 and V10 gas engines to provide alternatives to the higher-cost diesel engines. Now, Ford scrapped its underpowered 5.4-liter unit, and introduced a more powerful and fuel-efficient 6.2-liter V8 that provides best-in-class 385 horsepower and 405-lb-ft of torque. Ford says this new engine will provide 15 percent better fuel economy than its comparably equipped 2010 5.4-liter gas model, but stopped short of giving exact EPA figures. Ford says this new V8 delivers class-leading fuel economy and is also E85 compatible.

The new 6.2-liter V8 picks up 85 horsepower and 40 lb-ft of torque over the 5.4-liter V8, while also improving fuel economy by 15 percent. Expect an EPA city rating of around 16 mpg, and a highway rating of around 21 mpg. Like the new diesel, this gas engine will be mated to the same heavy-duty Torqshift six-speed automatic transmission. Ford also points out that the new transmission features a 150,000 mile service interval thanks to an advanced dual-stage internal filter system, which will lower cost of ownership compared to the previous transmission.

The 6.8-liter V10 will continue to be available in both the F-450 and F-550 chassis cab customers, along with the five-speed TorqShift automatic transmission.

"A lot of F-450 and F-550 commercial customers have built their businesses around our truck with that configuration, so it's important we retain that," said Todd Kaufman, F-Series chassis cab marketing manager.

Ford towing and payload to remain class-leading

Ford says that the 2011 Super Duty will remain the towing and payload champ with its F-550 chassis cab boasting 26,400 pounds of towing capability and 6,520 pounds of payload capacity. Ford says that 25 percent of its Super Duty sales are based on chassis cab models, making this figure important to the automaker and customers alike.

Ford says the more consumer oriented F-250 and F-350 will also have best-in-class conventional towing and payload capacity. Both the F-250 and F-350 single-rear-wheel models can tow up to 14,000 pounds and haul payloads as large as 4,050 pounds and 4,600 pounds, respectively.

The F-350 dual-rear-wheel model will deliver best-in-class conventional towing of 16,000 pounds and fifth wheel towing of 21,600 pounds. The dually will also be able to pack 6,520 pounds in it bed.
capacity.

Super Duty goes super tech

Like the rest of Ford's latest products, this new 2011 Super Duty is no exception when it comes to a long list of advanced interfacing options and interior technology options.

Ford created a technology suite, known as Ford Work Solutions, that features four unique technologies that were developed with business owners and operators in mind.

The first of four technologies is also an industry first - an in-dash computer that was developed with Magneti Marelli and powered by Microsoft Auto, which provided full high-speed Internet access via Sprint Mobile Broadband and navigation by Garmin. Ford says this is the first-ever broadband-capable in-dash computer in production. Ford explains that this system was developed based on the desires of customers to be able to print out invoices, check inventories and access work documents while on job sites.

The second is the Tool Link system with RFID tracking, co-developed with Dewalt, in order to verify that all tools are accounted for and in the truck prior to leaving a job site.

The third technology in the suite is Ford's Crew Chief system, which is a fleet telematics and diagnostics system that allows fleet owners or operators to manage vehicles and dispatch workers with simultaneous tracking and records.

The final part of Ford Work solutions if the Cable Lock security system that was co-developed with Master Lock. This system is intended to discourage theft of expensive tools that are too large to fit inside the cab.

Other improvements include the introduction of: Hill Start Assist, which applies brakes to prevent rollback; Hill Descent Control, which regulates brakes and throttle while descending; an Electronic Locking Differential, which provides maximum traction by forcing the rear wheels to turn at the same speed; a tire pressure monitoring system; optional side air bags and air curtains; and a new 4.2-inch LCD screen that includes information on specific features such as Trailer Brake Control and Tow Haul.

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