Autoblog

LA 2009: Ford Super Duty Fire Truck developed for charity, doing good in LA

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Truck, Work, Ford

2011 Ford F-550 Super Duty Fire Truck - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're always up for a good cause, and that's exactly what this Ford Super Duty Fire Truck represents. According to Ford, it will make an initial $10,000 contribution to the Los Angeles County Firefighters Widows and Orphans Fund, plus $10 for each person that visits its stand at the LA Auto Show and another $20 for every person that takes a test drive in a new Ford vehicle throughout the duration of the show - up to a maximum of another $6,000 per day.

Naturally, Ford is looking for a little exposure along the way, and we don't really have any problem with that. After all, it's certainly not uncommon to see Super Duty chassis cabs upfitted as fire department vehicles, and that's exactly what Ford has on display right now in LA. Included in the makeover are a 300-gallon water tank, eight-gallon foam cell, two pumps, an electric rewind reel with 150 feet of hose, three-stage winch with 8,000-pound capacity and 100 feet of wire rope.

Naturally, the top-spec 6.7-liter turbocharged diesel Power Stroke V8 engine is present and accounted for, along with a heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission that features available Live Drive Power Take Off (PTO), which allows the truck's engine to power axillary equipment whether the truck is stationary or in motion. See more in the press release after the break and check out our photo gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Ford F-550 Super Duty Fire Truck

Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading LA 2009: Ford Super Duty Fire Truck developed for charity, doing good in LA

LA 2009: Ford Super Duty Fire Truck developed for charity, doing good in LA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OC 2009: 2011 Ford Super Duty makes surprise stop

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows, Diesel, Luxury, Off-Road

2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat King Ranch Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

We just got back from the 2009 OC Auto Show in Anaheim, California, and we come bearing gifts. Alongside the F-150 SVT Raptor, Ford had parked a 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat King Ranch Edition. Even if each of the letters in its name were a foot tall, they'd still fit in this truck's smartly-lined bed. We've already told you about this 2011 Super Duty truck when it was unveiled at the Texas State Fair, a traditional venue for launching new pickups. There's not a lot to add from that previous rundown other than some live photos we snapped to give a better impression of what the real thing looks like in person.

This basically completes the overhaul of Ford's family of F-Series pickups that started a couple of years ago. The 2011 Super Duty debuts with a new look that integrates its massive grille slightly better than before, a new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission that features manual SelectShift control and a Tow Haul option with integrated exhaust braking, and either Ford's new diesel 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 engine that's been dubbed the "Scorpion," or what we believe to be the Raptor's 6.2-liter gas V8. Still no power figures for either engine, but the Power Stroke diesel does have the ability to run on B20 biodiesel.

The new exterior design is bold, but in a restrained way. The grille is massive and everything is big and brawny, but none of the details seem to be very polarizing. In person we really liked those vertically stacked headlights and the grille didn't appear as gigantic with its outer ring in body color. The lighted running boards and swanky interior on this top-level model are probably more than most heavy haulers will want or need, but it did look like a comfortable ride. Still, we'll take the F-150 SVT Raptor instead. Check out the full gallery of high-res images below.

Gallery: OC 2009: 2011 Ford Super Duty

OC 2009: 2011 Ford Super Duty makes surprise stop originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #147

Dan Roth — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Toyota, Rumormill

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #147 of the Autoblog Podcast is ready for your consumption. Chris calls in to Sam and Dan, and the trio bites into a few timely topics. BMW's move to put its turbo 4.4 liter V8 into the M5 is our first subject of conversation, before moving on to more powertrain news with the rumors that the 2011 Hyundai Sonata will be a four-cylinder-only affair. Audi's fuel mileage achievement with its A3 TDI is up next, before we go all power crazy and touch on Rhys Millen's mid-engined Genesis Coupe. Wrapping it up, we head to truckville, thinking about what it would mean for Chrysler to make Ram its own nameplate, ponder the new Toyota 4Runner, and finally chat about the new Ford SuperDuty before moving on to some of your excellent questions.

Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback with our survey and in iTunes, as always, drop us a line at Podcast at Autoblog dot com. See you again next week, and if you start to miss your Weblogs Inc. podcasts, there's our friends at Engadget and Joystiq to help get you through the pain.

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #147

Autoblog Podcast #147 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Super Duty debuts at Texas State Fair

John Neff — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows, Diesel

2011 Ford Super Duty - Click above for high-res image gallery

The circle is now complete. Following a couple model years after the redesigned F-150, Ford has taken the wraps off the new 2011 Super Duty model at the Texas State Fair today. The new Super Duty debuts with a new look, new diesel engine called "Scorpion" 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8, and an all-new 6.2-liter gas-powered V8 (NOTE: This should be the same 6.2-liter V8 destined for duty in the F-150 SVT Raptor). Ford has still not released power figures for either engine, but the Power Stroke diesel does have the ability to run on B20 biodiesel.

Also new is a 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission that features manual SelectShift control and a Tow Haul option with integrated exhaust braking. The new transmission also offers an optional Live Drive PTO (Power Take Off) feature that was first developed for agricultural machines. Live Drive PTO allows the engine to power auxiliary equipment like snow plows, cement mixers and tow truck lifts directly through the transmission.

Of course, the new Super Duty wouldn't be a Ford truck if it didn't offer best-in-class towing and hauling capabilities, and since the previous Super Duty already held that crown, the new one puts Ford even further ahead of other heavy duty trucks. Again, no hard numbers were given, but expect enough irresistible force to dislodge any immovable object.

The new Super Duty is also packed with all of Ford's latest technologies like Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Trailer Sway Control, Trailer Brake Control and AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, among others. Ford Works Solutions is also available, and the interior features a new 4.2-inch auxiliary LCD screen between the gauges for keeping track of what the truck's technologies are doing.

The new exterior design of the 2011 Super Duty also takes the biggest of Ford trucks in a new direction with the boldest front end yet that appears much more integrated with the cab and bed than previous models. Vertically stacked headlights frame a new grille that sports two big horizontal bars and a Ford logo large enough to read from a mile away. Check out the full gallery of official high-res images from Ford below and the press release with even more details after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Super Duty

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2011 Ford Super Duty debuts at Texas State Fair

2011 Ford Super Duty debuts at Texas State Fair originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beware the Scorpion! 2011 Ford Super Duty gets all-new 6.7-liter diesel V8

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, Diesel

2011 Ford "Scorpion" Power-Stroke 6.7-liter diesel V8 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford's issues with its long-time heavy duty diesel engine supplier Navistar will soon be coming to an end. The 2011 edition of the Ford Super Duty pickup will get an all-new diesel V8 designed in-house code-named Scorpion. So now, if Ford has any durability issues with its big diesels, it will have no one to blame but itself.

Officially the Scorpion retains the Power Stroke badge, but that and eight cylinders in a V-configuration are all that is carried over. The Scorpion engine picks up a variety of technologies that have been appearing on other recent engines, both gas- and diesel-fueled, as well as adding a few new tricks, particularly the turbocharger. The biggest change for the architecture is the move to an inside-out layout. Since the early days of the V-engine configuration, most examples have had the intake system mounted in the valley between the banks with the exhaust on the outside. Like BMW's new turbocharged gas V8 and GM's current on-the-shelf Duramax 4500, the Scorpion switches this around. Read on after the jump to learn more.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Power-Stroke 6.7L diesel V8

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Beware the Scorpion! 2011 Ford Super Duty gets all-new 6.7-liter diesel V8

Beware the Scorpion! 2011 Ford Super Duty gets all-new 6.7-liter diesel V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty

Dan Roth — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Ford

The Ford F-Series Super Duty just came in for a refresh last year, but the full-size heavy duty truck segment is so competitive that work never really stops in the pickup studio. The brawny Blue Oval workhorse will get rhinoplasty for 2011, and like the current models, its new styling takes inspiration from a concept vehicle.

Ford designers have taken the SuperChief concept from 2006 as their muse, as it lends its likeness for the Super Duty's grille treatment. The cooling needs of an actual working truck, however, require larger spacing between the grille's chrome bars. There are two bars clearly visible behind the camo, and a third is likely just below the mesh.

Pickuptrucks.com thinks the '11 Super Duty will be powered by the new Scorpion diesel V8 or the upcoming Boss 6.2 liter V8, rather than the current gasoline V10. Manual transmissions are also on the way out. Even with grim forecasts, it would be suicide for Ford to dally on truck development. Besides, what are all those shovel-ready stimulus projects going to need? Trucks, so the new Super Duty might be very well timed, indeed.

[Source Pickuptrucks.com]

Spy Shots: 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ford Super-Duty's new 6.7L Scorpion diesel

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, I.C.E., Ford

As is well known by now, Ford and Navistar have parted ways and the Blue Oval is developing diesel engines in-house to replace the PowerStroke lumps still being used. Slated to appear in Ford's trucks by 2011, the new oil burner code-named Scorpion is a 6.7-liter V8 with a host of innovations, some of them seemingly borrowed from cross-town rival GM.

But the first thing you'll notice is that mammoth radiator. PickupTrucks.com estimates that the cooler up front is up to 20-percent larger than the one on the 2008 Super Duty, and that one had already been enlarged by 33-percent over its forebear. The extra cooling could be needed for "extreme towing applications", and if there's one truck that's an extreme tower, it's the F-Series Super Duty.

The Scorpion diesel's innards will be enhanced with reversed intake and exhaust flow, something found on GM's Duramax diesel, and lighter aluminum cylinder heads. Nor will the Scorpion sacrifice mpg for its extra oomph: gains of 40 hp and 70 lb-ft will come with three more miles-per-gallon thanks in part to the truck's new 6-speed tranny that's debut as we speak on the new F-150.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

Spy Shots: Ford Super-Duty's new 6.7L Scorpion diesel originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford reveals Super Duty Cabela FX4 and Harley-Davidson F-450 models

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Specialty

Outdoor enthusiasts and urban cowboys get some love from Ford this year in the form of the Blue Oval's first-ever Cabela FX4-edition F-Series and the latest Harley-Davidson tie-up -- the first time ever the Bar and Shield logo has appeared on the heaviest-duty F-450 model.

Apparently, Ford has found that 76-percent of F-Series buyers hunt and fish, hence the newly expanded relationship between the automaker and the outdoorsy retailer. Consisting mostly of a paint and badge job, the Cabela buyer gets his or her choice of five two-tone paint schemes: Ebony, Oxford White, Forest Green Metallic, Royal Red Metallic and Silver Metallic -- all with Sterling Grey Metallic lower accents along the rocker panels, running boards and wheel arch moldings.

For the twelfth iteration of the Harley-Davidson edition, Ford will put blue-flames along the length of the vehicle and on the black leather seats. Also included are large chromed vents just aft of the front wheels. Expect plenty of Harley logos all over the truck, though a photo has yet to appear.

Along with these two new models, the Super Duty trucks receive an optional spray-in bedliner from the factory, an integrated trailer brake controller, the new Ford Work Solutions suite, Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link and the heavy duty trucks first application of SYNC.

[Source: Ford, Pickuptrucks.com]

Continue reading Ford reveals Super Duty Cabela FX4 and Harley-Davidson F-450 models

Ford reveals Super Duty Cabela FX4 and Harley-Davidson F-450 models originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Damn $4 Gas! Ford kills Boss engine for F-150, Mustang

Chris Shunk — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, SUV, Truck, Ford

The tremendous pressure on the auto industry is rapidly unraveling even the most carefully laid out plans. Fuel economy is king right now, and trucks and SUVs have gone from cash cows to the 6,000-pound albatross around the necks of automakers. Ford has been giving us a steady flow of news regarding its plans to weather this wicked storm, including the decision to switch truck and SUV plants into facilities that can produce fuel efficient cars and the delayed launch of the 2009 F-150. Now we're hearing from Mike Levine at Pickuptrucks.com that the Blue Oval has all but killed the once promising Boss V8 engine program.

The powerful V8 engine was slated to appear on models ranging from the new Mustang to the best-selling F-150 and Super Dudy, but a stop work order has narrowed the Boss' available engine bays down to one model. Ford President of the Americas Mark Fields told Levine that while the program isn't being killed completely, it will now only appear in one vehicle. Levine has heard from three sources that the lone vehicle will be the Super Duty, which needs a more efficient replacement for the 6.8L V10. Ford has already spent a load of cash on the beefy pushrod, so killing the program altogether would have been a tough pill to swallow. Ford was also planning on more than one displacement for the Boss, but with it now only going in the Super Duty, it'll likely only appear in 6.2-liter guise.

Ford will likely move any and all monetary and development resources possible away from the Boss, and into the hands of greener projects like the US-bound Fiesta. The move makes abundant sense given the current realities Ford is facing, but it still saddens us that we won't get to mash the pedal to unleash 400 naturally aspirated ponies any time soon.

[Source: Pickuptrucks]

Damn $4 Gas! Ford kills Boss engine for F-150, Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Ford Super Duty's less than super seats being recalled

Michael Harley — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:34:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Safety, Ford

If you own a 2008 Ford F-Series truck, your Fun Friday is made less so by the news of a recall for your truck that involves its seats. Apparently, the front driver's seat on these trucks fail to comply with federal rules for seat back strength, as a weld that connects a bracket and the seat back could crack. The report didn't mention whether cracks have occurred during normal use of the seats or when they're subjected to high loads such as in an accident, though it did say no accidents or injuries had been reported due to the weak welds.

Of the 100,000+ vehicles subject to recall, 87,000 of the trucks are in the United States, while the remaining 14,000 are in Canada, and all are either F-250 or F-550 Super Duty Models.

Ford won't be sending notifications out until later this month, so F-Series owners who just can't wait can call Ford at (800) 392-3673 for more information.

Gallery: 2008 Ford Super-Duty

[Source: The Detroit News]

2008 Ford Super Duty's less than super seats being recalled originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford to offer "Tough Bed" factory-backed spray-in bed liner

John Neff — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Truck

On the final media day of the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, Mike Levine from Pickuptruck.com walked us over to the Ford display to show us an inconspicuous Super Duty sitting among a fleet of Ford commercial vehicles. He wanted to show us the bed, which was filled with DeWalt tools and Ford's new Tool Link system for keeping track of one's tools. The purpose of our visit was not Ford's new fancy in-dash computer for the commercial sector, but rather the spray-in bed liner that the truck was sporting. Called Tough Bed, Ford will soon become the second manufacturer to offer a spray-in bedliner behind Nissan, which began offering its Durabed spray-in bed liner on the 2004 Titan. Ford's Tough Bed will be an alternative to drop-in bed liners, which, while popular, can be susceptible to rusting the bed if water gets between them and the truck's metal. Ford's spray-in liner, meanwhile, is applied by robots at the factory and covered under the truck's three-year or 36,000-mile warranty. Head over to Pickuptruck.com to see Levine's detailed comparison between Ford's factory offering and a popular third-party spray-in liner called LINE-X. Honestly, we wonder what's taken the OEMs this long to offer optional spray-in bed liners, but now that Ford and Nissan are both doing it, don't be surprised if GM, Chrysler and Toyota follow suit quickly.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

Ford to offer "Tough Bed" factory-backed spray-in bed liner originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford already thinking about more aerodynamic F-150

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford

click above for more high-res pics of the 2009 Ford F-150

The Ford F-150 is America's annual best seller, moving more units than anything else since Jimmy Carter was president. It's also one of the most challenged when it comes to cutting through the air, although we know there's worse. If the F-150 is going to clear the hurdle of new CAFE regs, that's going to change: its combined 16.5 mpg won't make it any friends come 2020.

Ford designers, led by North American Design Director Peter Horbury, are already looking at ways to make the next generation F-150 more aerodynamic, despite the all-new 2009 Ford F-150 having just debuted. The problem is, there simply aren't many options for making a difference: the only two components are the giant block of a passenger compartment and the massive drag-creating void of a bed behind it. Ford design did attempt to go a little aero with the front end of the 10th generation 1997-2003 F-150, but that, frankly, wasn't what people expected from an American pickup.

[Source: Auto Week]

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150

Continue reading Ford already thinking about more aerodynamic F-150

Ford already thinking about more aerodynamic F-150 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford makes mid-year Super Duty changes to improve fuel economy

John Neff — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:56:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Green, Ford

Rather than wait for the 2009 model year to roll around, Ford has decided to introduce two new fuel saving changes to the 2008.5 Super Duty that should improve fuel economy for the big trucks by about 1.5 mpg. That may not sound like much, but for vehicles that barely break the double-digit barrier in mpg, it's a big improvement. The changes include reducing the rear axle ratio on certain F-250 and F-350 models and extending their underbody chin spoilers by 3.93 inches. If you're a truck person, you're no doubt wondering how Ford will maintain the maximum tow rating for these trucks while reducing their rear axle ratios. With big trucks, a higher rear axle ratio means more towing capacity, while a lower rear axle ratio provides better fuel economy. In this case, Ford says that these Super Duty trucks will still be able to tow the same amount of weight as before, though our friends at Pickuptruck.com suspect that 0 to 60 performance and acceleration in general, especially while towing, will drop. Click here to view the specific changes for each iteration of the Super Duty that's affected.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

Gallery: 2008 Ford Super-Duty

Ford makes mid-year Super Duty changes to improve fuel economy originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Got a Ford F-Series? Better follow the rules...

Alex Nunez — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:42:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford

If you roll in a Ford truck, you'd best be aware of the rules. If you violate 'em, the BFT patrol will be all over your case like stink on a monkey. And if you've been to the zoo, you know how monkeys stink. It's not good. BFT, as you might have surmised, stands for Built Ford Tough, and the rules detail activities and things that don't jibe with the image the F-Series projects. They include No Puny Dogs; No Scooters; No Manicures; No Cutesy Cell Phone Rings; No Fancy Coffee; and No Liquid Wrench, among others. Ford has helpfully provided a website that details individual violations captured on video by camera crews traveling with BFT cops. Case #073, above, documents a fancy coffee violator, while Case #235 (embedded after the jump) is an action-filled segment featuring a manicure infraction. We expect to see additional case videos added over time.

If you're driving, say, an F-250 4x4 with a pair of Vespas in the bed, a caramel macchiato in the cupholder, a Yorkshire Terrier in the passenger seat, and a BK Veggie in a take-out bag, we'd expect to see you get chased down, tased, "softened up" a bit, and probably locked up for 20 years without parole. If your Hannah Montana ringtone goes off at any point during all this, we fear that BFT would then be forced to get medieval on you. Consider yourselves warned.

[Source: BFT]

Continue reading Got a Ford F-Series? Better follow the rules...

Got a Ford F-Series? Better follow the rules... originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford extends A-plan to California families affected by wildfires

Chris Shunk — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Truck, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Ford

With the terrible fires ravaging California, many companies are stepping up efforts to aid in the relief fund, and Ford is doing its part by extending its A-plan vehicle discount to any family that lost a vehicle in the fires. To claim Ford's coveted employee discount, victims from the disaster need to show an insurance report, police report, or a note from FEMA. To sweeten the pot, Ford is also keeping any rebates on its products, which makes for some very hefty discounts indeed.

Ford also felt firefighters should get some love too since they're the ones battling the unpredictable blazes. Any firefighter in the state of California also gets the A-plan option, and all they need to show is their ID card. Ford also pitched in 11 Super Duty trucks and nine Expeditions plus $100,000 to the Red Cross. As we mentioned in our previous post that details what each automaker has donated, it's nice to see our favorite industry doing its part to aid in California's relief. If Ford can help someone buy a Fusion (with a great discount) who just had his Camry burn to a crisp, there's no harm in the Blue Oval gaining a little market share while giving a victim or firefighter a break.

[Source: Ford, Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Continue reading Ford extends A-plan to California families affected by wildfires

Ford extends A-plan to California families affected by wildfires originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2007: Dropping by the DeBerti Ford Super Duty

Drew Phillips — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:25:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Truck, Ford

click above image to view more high-res photos of the DeBerti Super-Duty

Earlier we showed you a preview of three Super Duty trucks that Ford's brought to SEMA, and we hunted down the DeBerti version to see just how low they could get an F-450. This ground scraping pickup has a Dallas Smith Axleless Lo-Floor front-wheel drive conversion that puts the rear low enough to easily drive a motorcyle up onto the bed. Ford even put a motorcycle into the Deep-V bed to demonstrate its utility. It was by far one of the most popular vehicles in the company's display, which unfortunately made it hard to get photos. Still, with some patient waiting we snapped a gallery for your viewing pleasure.

Gallery: DeBerti Ford Super Duty

SEMA 2007: Dropping by the DeBerti Ford Super Duty originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA Preview: Don't forget about Ford's Super Duty

Alex Nunez — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Tuners, Truck, Ford

Click image for a gallery of the SEMA Super Duty trucks

Ford's Super Duty trucks are some of the meanest-looking rides on offer from anyone. Big in power and stature, and dripping with machismo, it should come as no surprise that SEMA will showcase a trio of them built out to varying degrees of Truckzillaness. The Shaker 4x450 by X-Treme Toyz is lifted ten inches, accessible via a motorized step, deco'd with custom graphics, accessorized to the hilt and sports a modified 6.4L Powerstroke diesel. It rolls on 40" Toyos and frightens animals smaller than a polar bear. The Project "Power Storm" F-350 by Fabtech is also lifted 10 inches, rolls on 40-inch tires, and sports a laundry list of sccessories and custom elements of its own. Finally, DeBerti is bringing a low-riding F-450 (see above) optimized for motorcycle-hauling. A Dallas Smith Axleless Lo-Floor front-wheel-drive chassis conversion puts the bed floor close to the ground, making it a snap to roll your hog on and off with ease. Big, black, and low, the DeBerti looks like it's going to be one of our favorites already. For full vehicle descriptions, check out the attached photo gallery, where they accompany the pics.

[Source: Ford]

Gallery: Ford Super Duty Trucks at 2007 SEMA Show

Continue reading SEMA Preview: Don't forget about Ford's Super Duty

SEMA Preview: Don't forget about Ford's Super Duty originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Harley-Davidson Edition Ford F-Series

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:26:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford

Click the image above for high-res shots of the 2008 Harley-Davidson Edition Ford F-Series pickup.

The new for '08 Ford Harley-Davidson F-Series Super Duty is what you've come to expect after walking ten times around this dual-branded block. Harley owners not willing to ride in the rain (we can't blame them) and others that like to emulate the leather- and chrome-clad image have purchased over 60,000 of the things in the last eight years. This time around it's a celebration of the Pennsylvania-based biking outfit's 105th anniversary, coinciding with Ford's own celebration of building cars for just as many years.

Paint schemes are inspired by Harley's special-edition 105th anniversary motorcycle and come in one of two flavors: either a two-tone, black and "Vintage Copper" combo or an all black body with copper pin striping. According to Brad Richards, the Ford/Harley brand manager, the chrome side vents and grille are inspired by the heat diffusers found on the cylinder heads of the V-Twin, and the 20-inch polished wheels bring the theme home.

The "Vintage Copper" color finds its way inside, accenting the leather seats and panels, while anniversary Harley badging adorns the front and rear thrones, plus a serialized plaque mounted on the armrest.

You can get all the details in the press release after the jump and peruse the gallery below for a handful of high-res shots.

Gallery: 2008 Harley-Davidson Edition Ford F-Series

Continue reading 2008 Harley-Davidson Edition Ford F-Series

2008 Harley-Davidson Edition Ford F-Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pickuptruck.com concludes 2007 Heavy Duty Shootout... who won?

John Neff — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Work, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC

In Parts 1 and 2 of his 2007 Heavy Duty Shootout, Mike Levine and his cohorts from Pickuptruck.com compared the acceleration of gas three-quarter ton and diesel one-ton pickups from Dodge, Chevy/GMC and Ford on flat surfaces, both unloaded and loaded with 10,500-lb trailers. For the third and final report, however, Levine introduced grades of 7% and 15% to the equation.

The results were surprising, and really had the most influence on Pickuptruck.com's final conclusions. We won't spoil the dramatic tail of each hill climb at Ford's Michigan Proving Grounds, but the 2007 Ford F-250 with its 6.8L Triton V10 was particularly impressive in the gasser category, and as anyone who has driven one would expect, the 2007 Chevy Silverado 3500 and its 6.6L Duramax diesel/6-speed transmission combo proved overly dominant among the oil burners. That said, the conclusions are only half the story, as Pickuptruck.com follows each truck through every gear as they climb their grades. These rigorous tests brought every truck's weakness, which were glaring in some cases, as well as their strengths.

Click the Read link below to read the conclusion to the 2007 Heavy Duty Shootout and learn once and for all what pickup these guys would park in their garage.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

Pickuptruck.com concludes 2007 Heavy Duty Shootout... who won? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pickuptruck.com hosts Heavy Duty Truck Shootout to end all shootouts

John Neff — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC

Mike Levine from PickupTruck.com is our go-to guy for truck news. His brain is like the bed of a Ford F-450 filled with the esoteric details of heavy duty diesel pickups and 3/4-ton gassers. Plus, he's from the old school of automotive journalism and has made a successful transition to the web, which means his reporting is always knowledgeable and balanced despite it being delivered digitally. When Levine told us he was planning on doing a comprehensive comparo of today's heavy duty pickups, however, we were unprepared for the depth of the final product.

The 2007 PickupTruck.com Heavy Duty Shootout pits six HD pickups from Chevy/GMC, Ford and Dodge against each other on a totally level and unbiased playing field. Levine went so far as to hire a third-party company to perform all of the instrumented testing to remove any trace of subjectivity in the results. The players are three gas-powered 3/4-ton pickups including the 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4, 2008 Ford F-250 FX4 Super Duty Crew Cab 4x4 and 2007 GMC Sierra 2500 HD SLE Crew Cab 4x4, and three diesel-powered one-ton pickups including the 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LT Crew Cab 4x4, 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4 and 2008 Ford F-350 King Ranch Super Duty Crew Cab 4x4. Ford also threw in a 2008 Ford F-450 Lariat Super Duty Crew Cab 4x4 so that Levine and his team could attempt to prove how powerful this big rig really is.

We've just finished reading Part 1 and 2 of the three-part series, which includes an extremely knowledgeable and fact-filled introduction as well as the first battery of tests, including a "squat" test and 1/4-mile performance runs. Each part may appear like a lot to read, but we flew threw it faster than an unloaded GMC Sierra 2500 through the quarter mile.

Check out Part 1 here and click here for Part 2. The final installment should be out sometime this week, and we'll be eager to find out definitively which of these pickups outperformed its competitors in PickupTruck.com's battle royale of heavy duty trucks.

[Source: PickupTruck.com]

Pickuptruck.com hosts Heavy Duty Truck Shootout to end all shootouts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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