In the great 2011 heavy-duty truck stand-off, Ford flinched first. But then it whipped out a big-ass 735-pound-feet-of-torque-having diesel and pummeled its opponents silly.
You see, Ford Motor Company and General Motors (on behalf of Chevrolet and GMC) have been waiting to release their respective power and towing figures on their new heavy-duty trucks for the 2011 model -- matters of no small importance to heavy-duty truck buyers. Since Ford's new Super Duty will go on sale first (in showrooms in April) the company couldn't wait much longer.
Here then are the pertinent digits:
The new 6.2-liter gasoline V8 (pinched from the SVT Raptor, where it serves as the optional engine) makes 385 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. The new Ford-designed 6.7-liter turbo-diesel V8 makes 390 horsepower and 735 lb-ft of torque. The only available transmission for either engine is Ford's new 6-speed automatic.
The monster-level F-450 can tow up to 24,400 pounds. Neither GM nor Ram make a vehicle in the same class as the F-450, so a better comparison of max towing would be with the F-350, which has up to 21,600-pound capability. Maximum payload capacity for the 2011 Super Duty is 6,520 pounds, otherwise known as three-and-a-quarter tons. All of these numbers are currently what Ford proudly calls "class-leading."
If GM is to gain the advantage in this fight, it's going to have to announce some big numbers -- or any at all. We're waiting....
Look for a First Drive story soon. Meanwhile have a gander at our 2011 Ford Super Duty First Look story for more information.
cr_driver says:
10:02 PM, 02/24/10
What a freaking monster!
pat1usmc says:
03:42 AM, 02/25/10
That's insane.
06scooby says:
05:56 AM, 02/25/10
might as well just drive around in a kenworth dump truck!
cruiserhead1 says:
07:00 AM, 02/25/10
0[=]0 not sure about a keyboard-designed grille but otherwise sounds good for the heavy duty towing market. Not sure why a petrol engine is there, it's woefully low on pulling power for this type of truck.
brn says:
08:47 AM, 02/25/10
These power wars are getting silly.
tehnighthawk says:
09:41 AM, 02/25/10
Soon to be stranded on a roadside near you.
anythngbutgm says:
11:23 AM, 02/25/10
Nice.
ginny_crandall says:
11:44 AM, 01/14/11
Now that is a power house of a truck. It sounds like something that an Illinois heavy duty towing company would use. I could use it, too, now that I think about it....http://www.hdtowing.com/