F-Series Super Duty Q&A

New F-Series Super Duty Arrives in April

Ford's new 2011 F-Series Super Duty pickup arrives at Ford dealerships in April, offering customers an all-new diesel engine. With 735 ft.-lbs. of torque and 390 horsepower in the Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel, the new Super Duty F-250 and F-350 lead the heavy duty pickup segment in towing, hauling and fuel efficiency, trumping the competition truck for truck. In addition, the new F-450 and F-550 tow and haul even more weight and have no competition. All Super Duty trucks have better fuel economy than their competitors.

More than 100 media members are driving the new 2011Super Duty this week in Arizona. Look for their drive impressions beginning March 8. Super Duty Chief Nameplate Engineer Chris Brewer discusses Ford's new Power Stroke diesel with @Ford Online.

Q. How is bringing the Power Stroke diesel in-house going to improve customer satisfaction with the engine?

A. Power Stroke is an established brand with approximately 3 million Power Stroke diesel trucks sold since its launch in 1994. The new 6.7-liter Power Stroke was designed, engineered and built by a dedicated Ford team that put the engine and its components through a severe testing regimen, both in the lab and on the road. These tests replicate the way our Super Duty customers drive and use their trucks. Customer satisfaction and third-party accolades for current Ford powertrains, including the company's new EcoBoost and hybrid technology, provide added confidence in the new, Ford designed and built Power Stroke diesel.

Q. How stringent were the tests in the development of this new diesel engine?

A. The severe testing regimen includes 10.3 million miles of testing in the laboratory and on the road; extensive CAD and CAE testing prior to hardware tooling; thousands of hours in over-boosted, over-pressurized and overloaded conditions; 30 days running at maximum speed and boost; 2,600 engine starts at sub-zero temperatures; thermal shocking with alternating hot and frigid fluids; simulated 10-year use in arctic conditions; and field testing on torturous roads and courses. We also used data-driven analysis that incorporated warranty information, customer driving styles and road conditions.

Q. What’s new about the technology of the diesel?

A. Ford’s new 6.7-liter diesel combines the best of proven technology with 111 new patents. The engine has the industry's first single-sequential turbocharger with dual compressor wheel and unique center mounting on engine block, a unique inboard exhaust and outboard intake architecture, a compacted graphite iron engine block, aluminum cylinder heads and weighs 160 pounds less than outgoing model.

Q. What’s the advantage of the single-sequential turbocharger?

A. Due to its small size and mounting location, the single-sequential turbocharger helps balance the powertrain system and reduces NVH (noise, vibration, harshness). The unique design of the turbocharger allows the single unit to deliver the benefits of a twin-turbocharger system in a smaller, more-efficient package.

Q. Was Ford of Europe involved in developing the PowerStroke diesel?

A. Yes. We integrated Ford's best global practices in engine design, development and testing into this team, which included Ford of Europe's diesel expertise. Ford's powertrain organization around the world shares lessons learned effectively through peer reviews and the use of technical experts. This engine and how it was developed and engineered is a shining example of ONE Ford.

Q. What is the fuel economy on the new diesel engine?

A. All diesel-powered F-250, F-350 and F-450 pickups have an average fuel economy improvement of 18 percent. F-350, F-450 and F-550 diesel chassis cabs achieve a fuel economy average of up to 25 percent over 2010 models

Q. Why did towing on F-450 and F-550 fall by 200 pounds – from 24,600 pounds to 24,400 pounds?

A. This minor decrease in towing capability, which is still best-in-class, enables us to give our customers superior fuel economy and increase maximum top speed from 81 to 95 mph on F-450 pickup. Our customers told us this is what they want.

Q. What is the forecast mix for Super Duty diesel trucks?

A. We expect about 65 percent of Super Duty customers to opt for diesel power compared to about 35 percent gasoline engines.

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