- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru He
American workhorses
The Ford F-Series vehicles are a large family of American full-size pickups that have been manufactured from 1948 to the present day. The F-Series pickups are some of the most successful vehicles in Ford history and some of the most popular, with over 27.5 million sold worldwide since their release. They are the true favorites of America. To date, 13 generations of F-Series pickups have already been produced. The Ford F-Series vehicles are real workhorses that can appear in films and in reality shows (Shipping Wars, 2012–2015).
In 1998, the F-250 and heavier models were united into a separate Ford Super Duty series. The series consists of the F-250, F-350 and F-450 models. Israeli buyers can purchase the fourth generation F-250 and F-350, both restyled in 2021. The F-250 has a load capacity of 750 kg, and the F-350 offers a capacity of 1 ton. The Ford F-250 and F-350 are assembled at the plant in Louisville, Kentucky. The Ford Super Duty series is sold in the Americas, parts of Africa, the Middle East and Iceland. Until 2007, they were also sold in Australia.
The first generation
In 1998, the manufacturer presented the first generation Ford Super Duty. This generation was equipped with the following most powerful engines: V10 6.8 Triton petrol engine (up to 367 hp and 620 Nm, depending on the model year) and V8 7.3 PowerStroke diesel engine (up to 279 hp and 712 Nm). The vehicle could be equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission with a power take-off shaft or a 5-speed automatic transmission instead of the 4-speed one. The pickups could be rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, with single, one-and-a-half and double five-seater cabs. Production was discontinued in 2007.
The second generation
It was produced from 2008 to 2010. It was equipped with a completely new 6.4-liter V8 Power Stroke diesel engine producing 350 hp and a torque of 880 Nm, petrol V8 and V10 Triton engines with a volume of 5.4 (300 hp) and 6.8 liters (362 hp), respectively. As for the additional equipment, there was the Rapid-Heat Supplemental cab heater for diesel versions and an automatic TorqShift transmission. In winter, it quickly rose the temperature in the cab to a comfortable level until the engine warmed up.
The third generation
It debuted in 2011 and almost immediately received awards: the pickup was recognized as the best workhorse of 2011 by Popular Mechanics, became the best truck of the year, etc. This generation of all-wheel drive versions started featuring a lockable differential. The F350 had a maximum towing capacity of 9,800 kg. The vehicles were equipped with engines of 6.2 and 6.8 liters (petrol) and 6.7 liters (diesel). The vehicles could come with a five-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The list of options included a full-color dashboard display, MyFord Touch multimedia system with an 8-inch touchscreen display, rearview camera and HD Radio with premium Sony sound system with subwoofer. The series was released until December 2016.
The fourth generation
In September 2015, Ford introduced the next Super Duty range. And unlike the previous generations, the fourth generation is completely new. The frame is 95% high strength steel and the body is 6000 series aluminum, advertised as a high strength military grade. As a result, the weight has been reduced by an average of 159 kg. The F-250 and F-350 pickups are built on a closed frame. The transmission has been reinforced, together with cardan shafts and axle shafts. The entire series is still produced in Kentucky at a plant responsible for the assembly of heavier equipment.
The F-Series pickups have a completely new exterior design, featuring a composite bumper and a complex radiator grille that fits over the huge three-piece C-shaped headlights. The vehicle is 6,351 mm long, 2,031 mm wide and 2,070 mm high, with a wheelbase of 3,480 mm. There are still three cab options available: single, one-and-a-half and double.
The Super Duty pickups have inherited the powertrains from their predecessor: a 6.2-liter petrol V8 engine and a 6.7-liter diesel V8 engine. The 6.2-liter V8 petrol engine develops the same 385 hp, but the torque is increased by 5%. The 6.7-liter diesel engine produces the previous 440 hp, but the torque is increased by 7.5%. The F-250 is equipped with a 6-speed TorqShift-G automatic transmission, while the rest of the Super Duty trucks, including the F-350, received a 6-speed 6R140 automatic transmission. The vehicle can be two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
As for the equipment, many can envy this model: diode optics, active cruise control with a collision warning function, lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring systems, pressure sensors in the wheels of the vehicle and trailer. Pickups have adaptive steering with variable effort, remote unlocking of the tailgate lock, and even seven cameras! In addition to the standard four all-round cameras, the rear-view mirrors feature a pair of cameras, which facilitate maneuvers with a trailer, while the last camera monitors the cargo area.
2019 restyling
The exterior of the vehicles was slightly upgraded. But, most importantly, the Super Duty pickups have finally received a long-awaited new engine, a giant 7.3-liter petrol V8 engine. The good old Power Stroke V8 6.7 diesel underwent deep modernization, acquiring an increased injection pressure, as well as new injectors and a variable geometry turbine. The base 6.2-liter V8 engine remains unchanged (390 hp and 583 Nm). The new 10-speed TorqShift automatic transmission replaces the previous 6-speed automatic transmission.
2021 restyling
After the second restyling in March 2021, the manufacturer has presented the all-new Lariat Sport, which has a body-colored grille and other elements, although it is usually chrome-plated. There are new body colors and new trim options. The vehicle features an optional 12-inch screen of the Sync 4 media system, with the redesigned front panel. This multimedia system supports voice control, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces. The basic versions still have a 4.2-inch multimedia touchscreen, whereas the top-end versions offer an 8-inch screen.
