Ford Intros Super Duty F-Series at SEMA
4 November 1997
Four-Doors Two-Ways: New Ford Super-Duty F-Series Revealed at SEMA Show
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 4 -- Jac Nasser, Ford Automotive Operations
president, and Bob Rewey, Ford group vice president, Marketing and Sales,
introduced the all-new 1999 Super Duty F-Series truck here today at the 1997
SEMA Show.
The Super Duty line up includes the industry's first SuperCab with
standard four-doors in the over-8,500 pounds GVW truck segment, in addition to
a four-door Crew Cab and the two-door Regular Cab models.
More Size, Power for New Ford Super Duty F-Series
Continuing to meet customer demand for trucks that work and play tough,
Ford Motor Company will increase the power, size and capability of
its work-truck lineup, when its 1999-model Super Duty F-Series debuts in
January.
The 1999 Super Duty F-Series is an all-new full-size truck developed and
built on a separate platform from the under 8,500-pound gross vehicle weight
(GVW) F-150 and F-250, and extends to the F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550
models. These Super Duty F-Series' replace the F-250HD, F-350 and F-Super
Duty models currently in Ford's over-8,500-pound GVW lineup.
The implementation of this two-platform strategy recognizes the
significant differences between the commercial and personal-use markets, while
meeting the needs of both.
"We discovered that the real volume opportunities with our work truck
depend on our ability to compete in multiple niche markets," said Ross
Roberts, Ford Motor Company Vice President and General Manager of Ford
Division. "So we've added four-wheel drive to the dual-rear-wheel trucks and
raised the GVW ratings, increased horsepower and torque on our engines, and
designed the vehicle to be capable of snowplowing in SuperCab and Crew Cab
configurations."
The 1999 Super Duty F-Series trucks feature new 5.4-liter Triton(TM) V-8
and 6.8-liter Triton(TM) V-10 engines and an improved intercooled 7.3-liter
diesel engine. Each engine offers more horsepower, higher torque and better
fuel economy than the one it replaces. New power steering gears and pumps and
an enhanced suspension system result in significant improvements in vehicle
ride, handling, responsiveness and maneuverability.
The new trucks also offer several new Ford exclusives, including the F-350
SuperCab dual rear wheel 4x4 Chassis Cab and selected F-450s and F-550s in
Crew Cab models and 4x4 configurations.
They also offer standard four-wheel power disc brakes -- an industry
exclusive. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are standard on all vehicles over
10,000-pounds GVW and optional on 8,800- to 9,900-pound GVW vehicles.
Customers will have the choice of 44 vehicle configurations, compared with
24 available on the current model. Among the choices are:
-- Pickups or Chassis Cabs available as Regular Cab, SuperCab, or Crew Cab
models, as well as a Class A Motor Home Chassis model.
-- An industry-first 17,500-pound and 19,000-pound gross vehicle weight
offering designated as the F-550.
-- Two- or four-wheel drive.
-- Short- or long-box configurations and a box-delete option.
Super Duty F-Series pickups and Chassis Cabs are configured as follows:
-- Body styles: Regular Cab
SuperCab (Standard four-door)
Crew Cab
Class A Motor Home Chassis
Short box (6 3/4 feet) -- available only on SuperCab
and Crew Cab
Long box (8 feet)
Box delete
Single rear-wheel axle (SRW)
Dual-rear-wheel axle (DRW)
-- Powertrains: 5.4-liter Triton(TM) V-8 (235 horsepower)
6.8-liter Triton(TM) V-10 (275 h.p.)
7.3-liter direct-injection Powerstroke Diesel
(projected at 235 h.p.)
4R100 automatic transmission (replaces the E40D
transmission)
M5HD five-speed manual transmission
M60D six-speed manual -- standard with the diesel
engine
-- Series: Super Duty F-250/350 Pickups
XL - standard trim
XLT - value level trim
Lariat - luxury trim
Super Duty F-350/450/550 Chassis Cabs
XL - standard trim
XLT - value level trim
-- Gross Super Duty F-Series Weight Ratings (in pounds):
F-250 Pickups and Long Wheelbase (LWB) Box Delete 8,800
F-350 SRW Pickups and Chassis Cabs 9,900
F-350 DRW Pickups and LWB Box Delete 11,200
F-350 DRW Chassis Cab gas engines 11,200
F-350 DRW Chassis Cab diesel engine 12,500
F-450 DRW Chassis Cabs 15,000
F-550 DRW Chassis Cabs (6.8-liter gas engine/7.3-liter
diesel) 17,500
Regular Cab 4x2 only 19,000
SOURCE Ford Motor Company
