For 2011 Ford will launch a new version of its Super Duty truck line, which includes the F250, F350, F450 and the F550 chassis cab. Ford recently invited the journalism world to sample these new rigs in Arizona, USA.
Prescott, Arizona – The cowboy town of Prescott (pronounced “Preskitt”) and the oft inhospitable desert mountains of Arizona provided the perfect blend of civilization and rugged terrain in which to put the spurs to Ford’s new stallions.
These trucks have been long favoured by industry as reliable workhorses. More recently, they’ve found their way into the recreational market as powerful tow units for 5th wheels, boats, campers and whatever else one might need to tug behind them.
New turbodiesel tows like never before
Probably the single most impressive aspect of the new trucks is the availability of a “kick-butt” 6.7-litre turbocharged V8 diesel engine. This completely new mill is by far the quietest, most refined diesel supplied by any of the “big three” manufacturers (GM, Dodge, Ford). It’s also the most powerful.
With an output of 390 horsepower @ 2,800 rpm and 735 pound-feet of torque @ 1,600 rpm, Ford’s new Power Stroke beast seems unstoppable. How do I know? How about pulling an 85,000-lb earthmover for proof! On the more realistic side, Ford set us free on a mountain highway with a 10,000-lb trailer buckled behind a 4X4 Power Stroke F250.
To ensure that our experience was judged in context, similar trailers were fastened to a 2010 Dodge Ram powered by a 6.7-litre Cummins turbodiesel I-6 and to a 2010 GMC Sierra powered by GM’s Duramax 6.6-litre V8 turbodiesel. Hands-down, Ford’s new Power Stroke out-performed the competition.
The Ford engine was significantly quieter than the Cummins-derived example churning away beneath the Ram’s hood and substantially quieter than the GM’s raucous Duramax. But it wasn’t just engine refinement that set the Ford apart; it was also pulling power—and plenty of it.
Prescott, Arizona – The cowboy town of Prescott (pronounced “Preskitt”) and the oft inhospitable desert mountains of Arizona provided the perfect blend of civilization and rugged terrain in which to put the spurs to Ford’s new stallions.
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| These trucks are tough but it’s a toughness refined beyond expectation. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com) |
These trucks have been long favoured by industry as reliable workhorses. More recently, they’ve found their way into the recreational market as powerful tow units for 5th wheels, boats, campers and whatever else one might need to tug behind them.
New turbodiesel tows like never before
Probably the single most impressive aspect of the new trucks is the availability of a “kick-butt” 6.7-litre turbocharged V8 diesel engine. This completely new mill is by far the quietest, most refined diesel supplied by any of the “big three” manufacturers (GM, Dodge, Ford). It’s also the most powerful.
With an output of 390 horsepower @ 2,800 rpm and 735 pound-feet of torque @ 1,600 rpm, Ford’s new Power Stroke beast seems unstoppable. How do I know? How about pulling an 85,000-lb earthmover for proof! On the more realistic side, Ford set us free on a mountain highway with a 10,000-lb trailer buckled behind a 4X4 Power Stroke F250.
To ensure that our experience was judged in context, similar trailers were fastened to a 2010 Dodge Ram powered by a 6.7-litre Cummins turbodiesel I-6 and to a 2010 GMC Sierra powered by GM’s Duramax 6.6-litre V8 turbodiesel. Hands-down, Ford’s new Power Stroke out-performed the competition.
The Ford engine was significantly quieter than the Cummins-derived example churning away beneath the Ram’s hood and substantially quieter than the GM’s raucous Duramax. But it wasn’t just engine refinement that set the Ford apart; it was also pulling power—and plenty of it.
 |
| With an output of 390 horsepower @ 2,800 rpm and 735 pound-feet of torque @ 1,600 rpm, Ford’s new Power Stroke beast seems unstoppable. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com) |