Auto Trends

2011 FORD F350, originally uploaded by Beast 1

Ford has yanked the blanket of of it newest 2011 F-Series Super Duty Truck, and quite frankly they couldn’t have found a more enthusiastic crowd than at the Texas State Fair this year. It was actually here that they also unveiled a previous F-Series update back in 2006.

If I were to take one word to describe the newest Ford offering, I would have to say it does appear to be rather… bold!

Ford has taken the time to add strength, power, and convenience, as well as a few extra changes to the exterior, allowing those on the outside know this is no run of the mill truck. Well, but what else should you expect from a vehicle with the word “super” embedded right into its name. There have only been a few super vehicles in history, such as the Dodge Super Bee, so consumers will undoubtedly be expecting a lot, but I have a feeling that Ford is going to deliver.

The big news of the Super Duty is its all new, Ford designed 6.7 liter “Power Stroke” turbodiesel. Now, the actually horsepower and torque have yet to be released, but we do know that the power output will be significantly improved over its predecessor. Ford also claims that its fuel economy will be among the top of its class, which considering that most hybrid/electric trucks have a hard time leaping over the 20 mpg mark, let’s not set our expectations too high.

The new Ford designed diesel has been engineered to weigh approximately 160 lbs less than the original, which is already a step in the right direction towards much improved power and handling. For those who aren’t big diesel fans, a new 6.2-liter V-8 will take its place over the current base 5.4-liter V-8 (300 horsepower, 365 lb-ft of torque), and just below the big 6.8-liter V-10 (362 horsepower, 457 lb-ft of torque). A “Heavy Duty” TorqShift six-speed automatic/psuedo-manual will also be helping to put all this new-found power to the open road/dirt.

Improvements in the Super Duty’s aesthetics include a bulging hood and a new, bold chrome grill that says, Get out of my way! Well, either that or, Hey, guess how much bling I can put on this truck before it starts to look like a Christmas ornament. I say this with all due respect, as with most bold grill designs, buyers will either love or hate it, but there’s always a can of flat black spray paint to fall back on.

In addition, the Super Duty goes high tech in 2011 with a slew of worldly advancements, such as Hill Start Assist/Descent Control, an electronic locking differential (great, just one more thing to break), single sequential turbocharger, and a never before seen exhaust design which appears to use internal fins to aid in overall efficiency. The truck also promises improved steering and suspension travel via its twin I-beam suspension and interval valve shocks, boosting payload capability, while also keeping the ride relatively smooth.

I’d say it has earned its title of “Super” for the time being… It will be put to the real test once consumers get their hands on it later next year!