Ford president Mark Fields introduced the automaker's all-new 2011 Super Duty truck today at the Texas State Fair. The first glimpse of the pickup was of its guts, including Ford's new cleaner and quieter turbocharged diesel engine (buyers can opt for a new 6.2L gas engine instead, with bigger pistons, intake valves and manifolds). Both engines will be mated to a new 6-speed transmission with larger and stronger gears to handle the increased power, and both will offer improved fuel economy.
A quick look at some of the other Super Duty features that Fields mentioned:
- Live Drive Takeoff, a drive system that can run equipment
- Optimized frame for better towing and hauling
- Industry first gooseneck crossmember (ready and waiting for hitch installation)
- Driving control systems like hill descent, trailer sway control, electronic locking rear differential
- Lockable underseat storage
- 110 volt inverter to charge batteries on your cordless products
The 2011 Super Duty has a completely redesigned front end, including a clamshell hood and a bolder face set with the largest headlamps ever used on a Ford product. A plate-sized oval Ford badge sits front and center on the grille.
Fields said that Ford's next step is to continue Super Duty testing by sending trucks out to a group of its commercial customers. Ford will tweak the equipment and design based on feedback, so the final production truck could differ somewhat from the truck we saw today.
More 2011 Super Duty
Super Duty Photo Gallery
Ford's New Powerstroke Turbo Diesel Engine
Photo İFord Motor Co.
The new diesel sounds like a real success. Of course they will need a very successful, powerful engine to carry around that humongous, honking chrome atrocity of a front grill! What is with that?