The 2018 Ford Super Duty boasts a new 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel putting out 450 horsepower and can tow 34,000 pounds.
Ford is looking to eliminate any doubt about which heavy-duty truck line-up with the introduction of its 2018 portfolio that may be best described as bigger, badder and better than anything else courtesy of the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel.
The new power plant lets Ford’s Super Duty haul and tow more than its competitors, which is the most common measuring stick for claiming the title of “The Best.”
“Super Duty customers expect the best, and for 2018 we’re giving our customers even more power and torque from our 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel – delivering the most horsepower and torque available among all heavy-duty pickups,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager.
“Plus, our new F-450 pickup now includes a 4X2 model, enabling our customers to get more done with the segment’s best payload and towing.”
(Ford to test online sales in China. Click Here for the story.)
While the company claims the 2018 Super Duty is the king of the hill, the stats impressively bear that out. The best-in-class stats include:
- Best-in-class 450 horsepower (a 10-hp improvement over 2017)
- Best-in-class 935 lb.-ft. of torque (a 10 lb.-ft. improvement over 2017)
- Best-in-class 34,000 pounds of gooseneck towing, when properly equipped (a 1,500-pound improvement for the new F-450 4×2 model)
- Best-in-class 21,000-pound conventional hitch towing
- Best-in-class 7,630-pound payload capacity
Ford upgraded the 6.7-liter diesel with redesigned cylinder heads for added strength under higher loads, and optimized fuel and turbo boost calibrations to take advantage of the increased cylinder head capacity for increased horsepower and torque.
“The 2018 Super Duty has brought a bazooka to a knife fight,” Dave Sullivan, a product analysis manager at AutoPacific, told the Detroit Free Press.
(Click Here for more about Ford’s product plans for China.)
“To take full advantage of the F-450’s capability, you’ll need a commercial driver’s license. This update comes with major bragging rights. You can haul the family and a house behind your truck. No other crew cab model can come close to hauling 17 tons.”
With trucks, particularly heavy-duty models bringing big profits to automakers, being able to substantiate the class leader only enhances the company’s ability bring more cash to the bottom line.
Ford gets an extra bump on each sale because the company is the only heavy-duty truck manufacturer that designs and builds its own diesel engine and transmission combination – ensuring the powertrain works seamlessly with all chassis components and vehicle calibrations.
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This approach enables Ford to optimize the truck’s performance across the entire line-up and to further refine the powertrain to the specific needs of the customer … and gain a bigger audience. The F-450 will be available this winter in XL, XLT, Lariat and Platinum series offerings, according to the automaker, and the base price is $52,830.