It wouldn’t be the Texas State Fair without trucks, and this year’s event is ground zero of a face-off that’s bigger than the famed “Big Tex” himself. Ford pulled the wraps off of its 2015 F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks. The reveal happened within hours of Chevrolet and GMC’s new heavy-duty truck debut, and so the line in the sand was drawn.
The best-selling Super Duty trucks come to the table in 2015 with a more powerful 6.7 liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8, improved towing capacity for the F-450, and a major restyling for the King Ranch package, which naturally has a special draw for the Texas crowds thanks to its Texas connection.
The Power Stroke engine, introduced in 2011, has entered its second generation. Ford says the 6.7 liter V8 will improve upon the current engine, which produces 400 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque. Efficiency is improved by a new, larger turbocharger, higher-pressure fuel punp and the engine’s reverse-flow layout, which places the exhaust inside the V of the engine, with the intake on the outside. This is the opposite of a conventional engine, and it means a shorter air path from the exhaust to the turbo, as well as helping to manage heat. The additional power’s managed by a new torque convertor as well.
The F-450 is the biggest pickup in the range, and is closer to a medium-duty truck than a pickup truck. Most of its components are shared with Super Duty chassis-cab models that underpin ambulances and moving vans. Ford has strengthened the frame and suspension, added commercial-grade 19.5-inch wheels, and improved the brakes. The Power Stroke is specially calibrated for the F-450, to provide additional towing power. The suspension has been improved to increase fifth-wheel and gooseneck towing capacity.
The luxurious yet rugged King Ranch edition of the Super Duty range is one of the more popular luxury-trucks. Ford has emphasized the truck’s ties to the spirit of the King Ranch in Texas (the ranch, remember, is actually larger than Rhode Island) with interior restyling featuring the “Running W” brand used on the King Ranch’s cattle. The Mesa leather used on the interior features new lighter, richer colors, and the exterior styling has been tweaked as well.
