The 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks will feature a military-grade, aluminum-alloy body, that Ford says is more ding and dent resistant than steel, mounted on a new high-strength steel frame. The combination of alloys helps reduce weight by up to 350 lbs.
Other upgrades will include up to seven cameras to help customers see more angles and monitor conditions surrounding the truck, and provide better trailering; adaptive steering technology to help make towing the heaviest of loads easier and ease navigating job sites and parking lots; and stronger axles, springs and suspension.
[VIDEO]How Ford's 2017 Super Duty Pickups Eliminate Blind Spots
The backbone is a fully boxed frame comprised of more than 95 percent high-strength steel that is up to 24 times stiffer than the previous frame – enabling the most towing and hauling capability ever delivered by Super Duty. The new truck line features heavier-duty four-wheel-drive components, driveline, axles and towing hardware.
Technology enhances towing capability
Advanced coaching and camera technology makes conventional and gooseneck/fifth-wheel towing easier and more efficient. A center high-mounted stop lamp camera provides visibility into the cargo box, especially for easier hook-up of gooseneck/fifth-wheel trailers. A 360-degree camera system uses four digital, high-definition cameras to give the driver a bird’s-eye view surrounding Super Duty. Trailer reverse guidance provides visual cues and tips to help ease backing up a trailer. A first-ever, factory-available trailer camera can be attached to a trailer to improve visibility backing up.
Customers will benefit from an in-cab trailer tire pressure monitoring system from the comfort of the cab while stopped or on the highway.
Adaptive steering provides reduces the amount of steering input needed to change direction at low speed, while reducing sensitivity to steering input at higher speeds.
Powertrain designed to maximize increased payload and trailering capacity
“As we remove weight, we’re making Super Duty more productive by giving our customers better towing and payload capability,” said Craig Schmatz, Super Duty chief engineer. “We’re backing up improved capability with a stronger gasoline and diesel Super Duty engine lineup.”
The second-generation Ford-designed, Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel engine is available for pickup trucks and chassis cabs.
The 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine comes equipped with the new TorqShift-G transmission for the F-250 pickup – allowing for improved capability.
The Super Duty chassis cab lineup offers a choice of 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel, 6.8-liter V10 gasoline or 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engines.
Super Duty chassis cab features an all-new, high-strength steel frame with an open-C-channel design behind the cab to enable easy aftermarket body upfit and modification.
Interior and cargo box improvements
All three cabs – Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab – are longer and feature a new interior design, including dual compartment glove box, overhead console-mounted auxiliary switches to operate aftermarket equipment, and completely flat SuperCab and Crew Cab second-row floors that eases loading large items in the cab. Vital controls are close at hand, with the integrated trailer brake controller switch located even closer to the driver.
Customer accessibility and ease of use extend outside the truck as well, with the cargo box offering customers:
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BoxLink: Ford-patented combination of metal brackets and custom cleats that can be used to secure a variety of accessories in the cargo box
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Remote tailgate lock and release: Tailgate can be locked/unlocked and opened with the key fob, eliminating manual locking and increasing convenience and security. The tailgate is damped – dropping gently down, hands-free, to a flat position when opened
There are five models in the Super Duty lineup – XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum.
Driver-assist technologies abound
The all-new F-Series Super Duty is available with numerous driver-assist technologies:
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SYNC 3 – Ford’s all-new communications and entertainment system features faster performance, conversational voice recognition and an easier-to-understand graphical interface, along with an intuitive smartphone-like 8-inch touch screen
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Blind Spot Information System with trailer tow is optimized for Super Duty to include the length of the trailer; BLIS uses radar sensors in the taillamps to monitor areas that may not be visible to the driver
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Lane departure warning provides a warning when a driver strays from a lane through a series of steering wheel vibrations that mimic rumble strips
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Adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support use sensors to detect slower vehicles moving in the same direction. If another vehicle is too close, red lights flash on the windshield and a warning sound chimes. If the driver does not hit the brakes, the brake system is pre-charged to stop faster when the brake pedal is pressed
Advanced light-emitting diode technology sheds light all around the new Super Duty, including:
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New LED sideview mirror spotlights enable illumination surrounding the truck to light up a work site or camp site
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Class-exclusive quad-beam LED headlamps and taillamps
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New LED cargo box lighting
