’18 Ford Super Duty boasts of top power
In a part of the auto business where capability claims seem to never stop, Ford says its 2018 Ford Super Duty will be the most powerful heavy-duty pickup ever.
It promises best-in-class horsepower, torque and towing capacity from a newly upgraded 6.7-liter V-8 diesel engine. Yet the new truck picks up a mere 10 horsepower over the 2017 version.
The F-450 4 x 2 Crew Cab dual-rearwheel pickup joins the Super Duty lineup for 2018, with 34,000-pound towing capacity.
“The 2018 Super Duty has brought a bazooka to a knife fight,” said Dave Sullivan, a product analysis manager at AutoPacific.
Super Duty trucks have seen incredible sales growth in recent months, and now the hauling hardware is matched by impressive specs, Sullivan said. “As the price for diesel engines continues to increase in this segment, the capability seems to grow with it.”
Ford’s “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,” Sullivan said.
The 2018 Super Duty makes five best-in-class claims, according to Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager:
450 horsepower, a 10-horsepower improvement over 2017.
935 pound-feet of torque, 10 pound-foot improvement.
34,000 pounds of towing from a “gooseneck” hitch, when properly equipped, a 1,500-pound improvement for the new F-450 4x2 model.
21,000-pound conventional hitch towing.
7,360-pound payload capacity. The F-450 will be available this winter in XL, XLT, Lariat and Platinum series offerings. Base price is $52,830.