Ford to tout new F-450 towing capacity, hp, torque as best in class - Automotive News
DANIELS, W. Va. -- When it comes to heavy-duty pickups, performance is the name of the game -- and towing capacity is the ultimate yardstick. In new commercials appearing this fall, Ford will claim its biggest pickup, the F-450, is capable of a best-in-class towing capacity of 31,200 pounds, an increase of 6,500 pounds over that of the current model. That claim one-ups Chrysler Group’s Ram brand, which surprised rivals in January 2013 with a 30,000-pound towing rating for its 3500 heavy-duty, up from 22,750 pounds. Ford, in the new commercials, also will claim that its 6. 7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel engine will crank out a best-in-class 440 hp and 860 pounds-feet of torque, up from 400 hp and 800 pounds-feet of torque for 2014 models. The waters have been muddied because manufacturers have tested their trucks according to their own procedures and not a common industry towing standard, making it difficult to compare towing on an apples-to-apples basis. The standard, called SAE J2807, has been applied to light-duty pickups, but Ram will use it for heavy-duties, too. The 2015 Super Duty is a midcycle freshening, not an all-new truck. Scott said Ford will not retest the Super Duty trucks until the next generation is launched. Source: www.autonews.com
