Autoblog

Kelderman Ford F-250 Super Duty laughs at lesser trucks

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Truck, Ford, Off-Road

Don't be confused; for every low, fast and/or sleek looking car at the SEMA show, there is at least one towing truck or SUV. The off-road and working vehicles of the world are well represented here in Las Vegas, as typified by this Ford F-250 XLT Crew Cab by Kelderman Air Suspension Systems and Tim Nicolau Designs.

The huge Super Duty diesel has between eight- and ten-inches of available lift via tricked-out suspension components and an AccuAir TouchPad air suspension management system. It can probably drive over most of the traffic in and around the Las Vegas convention center, which means we're seriously considering it for our escape vehicle later in the week.

Enjoy the monstrous live image gallery, attached.

Kelderman Ford F-250 Super Duty laughs at lesser trucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford shows SEMA-bound Mustang, F-150 and Escape variants

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Truck, Crossover, Ford, Diesel, Off-Road, Racing

After already tipping its hand with a goodly selection of Focus ST concept teasers, as well as a passel of tuned Fusions, Ford has let loose with more images and information regarding its huge presence at this year's SEMA show. And, while we'll be bringing live reports of all the SEMA goodness to you next week, we couldn't help but want to share these last minute previews.

Four Mustang concept sketches have been offered up for our consumption today, including three cars based on the Mustang GT 5.0 and one based on the V6. All three of the GTs carry significant appearance modifications: bigger wheels, bespoke paint jobs and the whole shebang. The Mothers/Autosport Dynamics/RTR car boasts performance upgrades that net some 650 horsepower, while the DSO Eyewear car is kicking out a massive 750 ponies.

A brace of Ford F-150 trucks and one monster F-250 are repping for the pickup segment. Truckin' Magazine has done up a race-ready F-150 with a chopped look, bigger brakes and an upgraded interior. The diesel-powered F-250 is by Kelderman Air Suspension Systems, so it's natural to see that it has an airbag suspension with eight to ten inches of lift.

A few hotted up versions of Ford's new Escape will be presented as well, to round out this fleet of tuned fun by The Blue Oval. Be sure to check in, early and often next week, for live versions of all of the madness. In the meantime, find fuller information on all of these SEMA models in the press release below, and images in the associated galleries.

Continue reading Ford shows SEMA-bound Mustang, F-150 and Escape variants

Ford shows SEMA-bound Mustang, F-150 and Escape variants originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Track N Go treads dangerously close to awesome

Chris Paukert — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Technology, Videos, GMC, Specialty, Off-Road

Clearly, we weren't the only ones who spent the better part of their childhoods building all manner of strange and wonderful Lego vehicles. We're pretty sure we had this design knocked out back in the early 80s, but as far as we know, exactly no one has figured out how to fit easily removable tracks to a conventional vehicle in real life. We've seen some pretty neat track conversions, mind you, but they've always required a fair bit of work and the removal of a vehicle's wheels. But not the Track N Go.

This creative solution for foul-weather-mastery comes from AD Boivin, a company better known for marketing products for powersports vehicles like motocross bikes and snowmobiles. The company says that this is the world's first wheel-driven track system, and judging by the video available after the jump, it appears quite capable when fitted to what looks like stock GMC Sierra and Ford F-Series Super Duty 4x4 pickups blasting through the snow.

The video indicates that the system is a prototype, and it doesn't show how easily the tracks can be secured to the vehicle's wheels (though it does briefly show that you drive onto the tracks before locking them in place - no jacking required). AD Boivin doesn't say if and when the Track N Go will actually come to market, let alone what sort of fitments will be available and how much the system will cost. While we're waiting, we'll just watch the video one more time...

Continue reading Track N Go treads dangerously close to awesome

Track N Go treads dangerously close to awesome originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Super Duty teased, new trim coming

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, Design/Style

The Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup truck is a pretty big deal. Not only is it physically large and imposing, it's also a huge seller for Ford and a vehicle that practically generates its own weight in ~~gold~~ profit. That being the case, it's no surprise that Ford is keen to make some noise about a new trim level for the 2013 Super Duty.

Judging from the lone teaser image let out by Ford, we can all expect the 2013 F-Series Super Duty to retain its massive, upright and in-your-face grille, flanked on either side by squared-off headlamps. We'd also expect to see enough chrome to bling the teeth of a dozen rappers, though nothing much is visible behind the curtain of the image above.

What will the trim level be called? We have no idea, but Ford is announcing the truck alongside its Professional Bull Riding partner, so we're figuring there may be some sort of tie-in along those lines. In any case, we'll just have to wait until Friday, March 9 for all the details. Stay tuned, truck lovers, and feel free to click on the image above for the full-size version.

2013 Ford Super Duty teased, new trim coming originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infographic: Ford Super Duty shows off market share in the workplace

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:31:00 EST

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

Use your truck for work? Chances are good, according to Ford, that truck is an F-Series Super Duty proudly wearing a Blue Oval on the massive front grille. Perhaps that shouldn't come as too big a surprise, considering that Ford has sold 4.1 million Super Duty pickups since 1998, which, Ford is happy to point out, is enough trucks to wrap around all 16,000 miles of the Australian coast.

Something tells us that Ford's placement atop the heavy duty work truck market is secure for at least a little while; after all, every 63 seconds, a Super Duty pickup truck rolls off the assembly line. Want more interesting stats? You'll find plenty of 'em - including 21 separate industries where the Super Duty reigns supreme - in the infographic above (click on the image for the full-size version) and press release after the break. And if you're a Super Duty owner yourself, Ford invites you to share your own story at its new We Own Work website.

Continue reading Infographic: Ford Super Duty shows off market share in the workplace

Infographic: Ford Super Duty shows off market share in the workplace originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GMC back atop HD truck towing and payload ratings

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

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

Mustang, Camaro and Challenger owners use statistics like 0-60 times and quarter-mile trap speeds to prove why their chosen muscle car is better than the rest. If there's any other segment of the industry where numbers mean everything, it's heavy duty pickups.

Need proof? Check out the latest set of towing and payload ratings for the HD versions of the Chevrolet Silverado, Ram, Ford F-Series and GMC Sierra. For what it's worth, the GM twins officially have the highest set of numbers with up to 23,000 pounds of capacity when trailering a fifth wheel, 18,000 pounds with a conventional trailer and 7,215 pounds of payload capacity when properly equipped.

So, GM's got the bragging rights... for now. We expect Ford and Ram to counter GMC's latest statistics with revised ratings of their own, after a few small tweaks allow them to earn back their place atop the HD standings. After all, it's been happening exactly this way for the last several years.

For a fun little rundown of how the three American pickup makers play the game of one-upmanship, we suggest you check out this story from our friends at PickupTrucks.com. Speaking of which, after that website's latest HD pickup comparison, at least GM has earned the right to boast by taking top honors against the F-Series and Ram.

GMC back atop HD truck towing and payload ratings originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Super Duty pickups to regain maximum towing title

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, Diesel

The never-ending battle of heavy-duty pickup truck one-upmanship continues with Ford's announcement that it will increase the maximum trailer tow rating on its 2011.5 F-350 and F-450 Super Duty models to 17,500 pounds. Not coincidentally, General Motors nabbed the maximum conventional trailer rating at the beginning of 2011 with the latest versions of its Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD with ratings of up to 17,000 pounds.

Of course, to pull such massive loads, any fullsize truck needs to be properly equipped, and in the case of the Ford, that means a 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel (400 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque), a Crew Cab, dual-rear-wheel chassis and a weight-distributing hitch. For those keeping track, GM says its trucks can pull their maximum loads with a standard weight-carrying hitch. Thanks to all for the tips!

At the start of 2011, the Ford Super Duty's maximum conventional tow rating stood at 16,000 pounds when properly equipped. What led to the increase? Speaking to PickupTrucks.com, Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari explained that a frame change made back in August of 2010 will work together with a new hitch design that will go into production on Monday, February 7th. So there you go.

Naturally, we expect a suitably quick response from General Motors, and possibly even Ram. Of course, there's always the Ferd F-Teenthousand...

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Ford Super Duty pickups to regain maximum towing title originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford F-150 gets in on the SEMA fun

Zach Bowman — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Truck, Ford

Ford has a history of showing off some wild concepts at SEMA, and this year the company has partnered with six different aftermarket companies to unveil a slew of F-Series concepts worked up just for SEMA 2010. The trucks range from slammed machines from the likes of Godfather Customs and The Custom Shop to a rock-crawling behemoth built by the minds at Mickey Thompson. There's even a mobile pit station based on the F-150's big brother, F-350. That machine has been built by Cars by Kris and Airhead Kustoms.

Judging from what we've seen so far, our favorite of the bunch has to be the wicked F-350 built by Skyjacker Suspensions. The truck wears a full 8.5-inches of suspension lift, massive Fab Fours bumpers front and rear and a Warn wench for pulling lesser machines from sticky situations. Sounds like a good time to us. Hit the jump for the full press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford F-150 gets in on the SEMA fun

Ford F-150 gets in on the SEMA fun originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Duty's Power Stroke diesel gets 800 lb-ft of torque reflash

Chris Shunk — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford, Diesel

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

We don't remember feeling at all disappointed when Ford released power figures for its new 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine available in the 2011 Super Duty. After all, who's going to argue with 390 horsepower and 735 pound-feet of torque? Then General Motors published power figures for its new 6.6-liter Duramax Diesel of 397 ponies and 765 stump-pulling lb-ft of twist. Oh snap! That left Ford on the shallow end of the power pool, but engineers were secretly working on a flash update for its in-house oil burner. The engineering tweak is now available and brings the Power Stroke's figures up to 400 horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque, besting the General's mill by three ponies and 35 pound-feet.

Our friend Mike Levine over at Pickuptrucks.com dyno'd the engine before and after the reflash. The new Power Stroke has a lot more low-end torque than it did before the reflash, with an extra 45 lb-ft available at the rear wheels at a measly 2,000 rpm. But as the power band stretches towards 4,000 revolutions, the torque totals swing back into the favor of the pre-calibration engine by 22.1 lb-ft. Is that a big deal? Probably not to truck drivers, as low-end torque is the name of the game when you're pulling and hauling for a living.

Beyond added capability, Levine tells us that the reflashed Super Duty feels less jumpy, adding "gear shifts were smoother and less noticeable after the update than before getting on the freeway and driving on surface streets." New 2011 models heading down the assembly line will receive the updated mill, but existing customers can get a free reflash from their dealer. For the next 12 months, some early purchasers of the 2011 Power Stroke will also have to visit a dealer for the upgrade. The whole process reportedly takes all of 30 minutes, or enough time to think about what else you can tow with your newfound torque. Head over to pickuptrucks.com to read the extensive review of the new engine calibrations.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty

[Source: Pickuptrucks]

Super Duty's Power Stroke diesel gets 800 lb-ft of torque reflash originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty Shootout: And the winners are...

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:01:00 EST

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

2010 PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty Shootout - Click above for high-res image gallery

When it comes to all things pickup truck-related, our pal Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com has his finger on the pulse of what's happening. Every year, Levine gathers all of the currently available contenders in a particular segment of the truck market for a shootout. With General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all having launched heavily reworked heavy-duty trucks in the last six months, that was the segment of choice for this year's 2010 Heavy-Duty Shootout. Levine collected three examples each of the 3/4-ton gas, 3/4-ton diesel and one-ton diesel duallie pickups for a battle royale at Milan Dragway in Michigan and the General Motors Milford proving ground.

The trucks were put through their paces in acceleration and braking tests, both unloaded and hauling trailers of up to 12,000 pounds. The trucks ran on the level Milan drag strip and up seven- and 16-percent grades at Milford. Levine also evaluated ride and handling and the trucks were put through a fuel economy drive loop. The bottom line results for each category are available after the jump and you can - and should - read Levine's definitive report over at PickupTrucks.com.

Gallery: PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty shootout 2010

[Source: PickupTrucks]

Continue reading 2010 PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty Shootout: And the winners are...

2010 PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty Shootout: And the winners are... originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty brings the biggest tools

Rex Roy — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, First Drives, Off-Road

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

It's a guy thing. Tim Allen understands. If you've got a job to do, you need the right tool. As guy logic goes, the bigger and more powerful the tool, the better.

If what you do requires a tool shaped like a truck, then you're currently experiencing a nirvana-like period in history. In just the last few months, Chrysler and General Motors introduced their new heavy-duty trucks. We drove the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty in October and liked it. We also saw the Chevrolet and GMC HDs at the Chicago Auto Show last month. Although we've yet to get behind the wheel, the powertrain and chassis improvements appear promising.

Not to be left out, Ford's rolling introduction of its latest F-Series Super Duty just culminated with an Arizona-based press-only driving event (we first reported on the new truck in September). Want to know everything about Ford's big, new tool? For starters, the blue oval on the grille measures 13 inches. Believe it or not, there's more. Find out after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty brings the biggest tools

First Drive: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty brings the biggest tools originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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

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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