Ford introduced Thursday its revamped and updated 2015 F-Series Super Duty lineup at State Fair of Texas.
The trucks feature a second-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel engine and increased towing capabilities.
The higher-end, luxury, Texas-inspired King Ranch model was also refreshed.
“Super Duty diesel customers will benefit from improved performance and features backed by outstanding Built Ford Tough durability,” says Joe Hinrichs, executive vice president and president of The Americas, Ford Motor Company. “…the Super Duty team has been tireless in finding ways to improve the industry’s most popular heavy-duty pickups,”
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Since the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel debuted in 2011, Ford engineers have examined each component of the engine to develop improved performance.
Ford says a key innovation on the original 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel was its so-called reverse-flow layout. The advanced design places the exhaust inside the engine’s V-shape while the air intake is positioned on the outside of the V.
According to Ford, this segment-exclusive design naturally improves a variety of attributes, including shorter airflow from the exhaust system to the turbocharger sitting between the engine’s cylinder banks improves turbo responsiveness – key to providing torque quickly to truck customers when they need it most; and positioning the turbo inside the engine’s valley helps isolate the engine’s hottest temperatures, improving performance and efficiency, while also reducing noise, vibration and harshness
Ford engineers also upgraded the Power Stroke with a larger GT37 turbocharger that replaces the previous GT32 model, enabling more airflow to the engine to produce more power beyond today’s 400 horsepower and 800 lb.-ft. of torque.
The GT37 features a single, larger 88-millimeter compressor wheel that replaces the GT32’s dual-sided compressor design. The compressor forces air into the engine’s cylinders to improve performance. The turbine size is increased to 72.5 millimeters from 64 millimeters, so exhaust gases have a larger surface area to spin the turbo, providing extra power. The wastegate and the wastegate controls are eliminated, because the turbo operates at lower peak pressures than the GT32.
“The original designers of the current Power Stroke V8 diesel forecasted needs for higher output,” David Ives, Power Stroke technical specialist, says. “This facilitated the larger turbocharger, increasing airflow and creating more power. We’ve dramatically improved performance while reducing overall engine complexity by focusing on the turbo system.”
Another benefit of the larger turbo is improved engine exhaust braking, which is manually controlled by a push-button switch on the dash.
In addition, a new exhaust temperature sensor enables more accurate fuel control, which Ford claims improves both durability and driveability – especially when towing.
Additional upgrades to the big brother of the F-Series line include a strengthened commercial-grade frame, suspension and new commercial-grade 19.5-inch wheels and tires.
F-450 engineers also upgraded rear driveline U-joints; upgraded suspension components, including new rear leaf springs, front and rear stabilizer bars and shocks; increased fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailer capacity; stronger steering gears and steering linkages; larger brakes shared with Super Duty chassis cab models, including wheel brakes, parking brake and new antilock brake calibration.
