Autoblog

With gas prices at record highs, Ford's heaviest and biggest trucks, the F-350 models and F-450, are surpassing all sales expectations.

The decked out Lariat and King Ranch variations of the F-350, as well as the F-450, are going gangbusters, with the King Ranch up 53-percent over last year, while the Lariat is up 30-percent. Overall, both models are leading their segment. With options topping $17,000 and sticker prices exceeding $60,000, the truck's decent sales are likely a breath of fresh air to the incentive-prone automaker.

Ford has more to brag about in its lighter trucks -- the F-250 also continues to be the top seller in its segment, and the F-150 historically has been one of Ford's most important vehicles behind the Taurus, set to relaunch this fall.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

The 2008 Ford Super Duty F450 pickup is what an pickup truck is supposed to embody. It's big, real big and with reason. The new uber-truck boasts the highest towing capacity in its class, with the ability to pull 24,000 pounds or haul around 6,000 in payload. It will come equipped with Tow Command, a integrated trailer brake controller, TorqShift, to boost power in high-load conditions, and a few other toys that make loading, unloading and towing less of a chore. As expected a large oil burner provides motivation, with a 6.4-liter Powerstroke Diesel finding its way under the hood.

With that much rugged-usefulness, Ford decided to balance the F450 with what they're calling 'tough luxury,' which is exactly what you're thinking it'll be; nice leather, pleasing plastics and lots of toys.

The new exterior design, specifically the new headlight placement, may take some getting used to, but we're guessing that whoever buys this beast is going to be less concerned with the styling and more concerned with what's after the jump, namely the full press release and with the hardy details.