2008 FORD SUPER DUTY IN PRODUCTION AND SOON TO SELL Ford recently announced that it invested $65 million in its Kentucky Truck Plant in order to produce the 2008 F-Series Super Duty pickup truck line. The first pickup just rolled off the assembly line on December 18, which is scheduled to hit the market in the latter half of first-quarter 2007. In all, the ’08 Super Duty lineup will be available in 12 wheel bases; five different axle ratios; three different engine choices and either a manual or automatic transmission, says Robert Keller, marketing manager-Super Duty. New for ’08 is a 6.4L Power Stroke diesel engine producing 350 hp and 650 lb.-ft. (881 Nm) of torque. The mill features Ford’s new clean-diesel technology, which includes piezo-hydraulic electric fuel injectors and a filter system that reduces particulate output 90% more than its predecessor. The 6.4L diesel boasts two turbochargers: a small unit for initial launch and a larger turbo to boost power through the middle of the torque curve. The new mill propels the Super Duty 0-60 mph (97 km/h) one second faster than the outgoing 6.0L, Ford says. Traditionally, the take rate for diesel in the segment has been 75%, a spokesman says, adding that Ford has similar expectations for the ’08 model. The standout among the ’08 Super Duty lineup is the new F-450, which offers towing capacity in excess of 24,000 lbs. (10,000 kg) and a maximum payload of more than 6,000 lbs. (2,722 kg). The Super Duty exterior gets a “big rig” look, something Ford says its customers have asked for. The large grille and lowered headlights made the engineers’ job easier, providing more grille surface to better cool the big engines. The typical Super Duty buyer is a “male in his mid- to late-40s, who believes in America, is typically a contractor and uses his truck for work and for his family,” Keller says, adding that about 85% of Super Duty buyers are men. Roughly 40% of total F-Series sales are Super Duty models, and that statistic should hold up for the ’08 model as well, Ford says. Through November, Ford sold 46,288 medium-duty F-Series pickups, according to Ward’s data. Source: Byron Pope, “Ford Begins Production of ’08 Super Duty Pickups,” WardsAuto, www.wardsauto.com
Interesting, I wonder if the aux switches are standard equipment now?? I like the new look, the old super duty was really nice, just like how ford makes the SD different from the regular 1/2 ton. My chev looks just like a 1/2 ton truck.
Concept vehicle I posted photos a good while back of the converted concept F550. Ford is getting the idea. How about it DC???
I drove a 450 last week. Pretty sweet truck. Looks like it had a dana 70 front with 4.88's, no idea what the rear was, but it had a removable center section. Rode pretty good too, but when you hit a bump, it let you know that it could tow 25k. I didn't care for the way the tranny shifted. It never would downshift. I blame it on a pre-production transmission calibration. But I guess that's how it could be. And it was speed limited to 82 mph.
i seen one in one of the free trader mags the other day and it was 56k and soem change, dually king ranch 4x4 whew doggy a lil much for a truck that you dont know if they are goin to have engines parts readily availible in 3 years
I just saw one at the camper n rv show. It is just to pretty. I still want one though. I would hate to have to work on it though, the engine is crammed in there.
Drove one too The truck is sweet, drove one last week, F450 60 grand on the sticker, it's crasey. But we tow 20k boat and need more truck in fornt of the boat. FORD just settled the dispute eith Navistar and deisels will be flooding the Highways soon, with FORD all over them.
They are all over the dealer lots now. I checked a few out and I think they have made some great improvements on it. Maybe in 3 years I will take a closer look...
They really are sweet looking trucks. I just don't understand how Ford...or any automaker for that matter, expects your average Joe to be able to afford one. Cripes these things are getting expensive. I guess I'm stuck driving my early 99 till the wheels fall off...
99 Ford Too I have a 99 FORD that I really don't want to let go of, it has 400.000 miles now and still runs and pulls great even the 20,000 pound Boat. Yet i still want one of those 2008 FORD F450's Loaded....Everything.
Our dealer here has a bunch of 08's, we're there several times a week to check em out and they sell them so much we never see the same ones twice! I love the quietness of the engine it makes the Duramax sound like an old Cummins!!
LFG You know Lil FORD girl You know I can get 1 million outta her, it's all in the way you take care of them, I'm going to up grade some parts now, like stacks and some Trans parts NOW. I'm thinking that pulling this new boat is going to take it's toll on that truck soon enough.
