When asked about their most popular vehicle, it’s probably their pickup truck. The Ford F-150 series has been a beloved staple in its class for decades, as have its heavy-duty versions. Ford also recently released the all-electric F-150 Lightning, with the promise that it will be a more efficient pickup.
Ford is one of several automakers that devote large portions of their budgets to expanding their electric vehicle lineup. However, Blue Oval has one of the most interesting strategies yet to help them achieve their electric ambitions.
He tells us that Super Duty versions of the Ford F-Series received a complete redesign for the 2023 model year. It’s the world’s first 5G-capable pickup, plus it’s now available with two new engine options. Ford also added an integration system to this truck, so it can now be easily attached to external implements such as plows or winches.
All that power comes at a price: As you can probably imagine, these vehicles emit a significant amount of carbon emissions. However, Ford plans to make up for that by funneling Super Duty sales directly into the company’s electric expansion.
Is this a good idea?
Given how much of the Super Duty range has become a staple for consumers, you’d think Ford’s strategy would pay off. The site states that Ford earns $40 billion each year just from F-Series sales alone. To date, the company has already committed $50 million to factory production Ford EVs and EVs.
Ford’s ultimate goal is to produce 2 million electric vehicles annually by 2026 and achieve full carbon neutrality after nine years. Paying for it with Super Duty revenue might seem counterproductive. However, as Reason points out, other countries have made similar sacrifices to achieve greener solutions.
Why are Ford Super Duty trucks so popular?
The Ford Super Duty lineup starts with the F-250 and ends with the F-650, all of which offer impressive towing capabilities. With one of the Powerstroke diesels, the vehicle has a towing capacity of 37,000 lbs. It also boasts a payload capacity of 4,260 pounds, while the Ford F-350 can carry 7,850 pounds in its cargo bed.
The 2022 Ford Super Duty trucks have two engine options, with the standard V8 gas engine delivering 430 horsepower and 485 lb-ft of torque. The A-Type, which makes 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque, can also be equipped with the A-Type. The high-powered version of this engine, new for 2023, is capable of 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque.
The latest gas engine option makes 405 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque, promising a maximum towing capacity of 8,000 pounds. Towing capabilities have also increased across the board, some of which have been identified by.
For example, the dual rear wheel drive F-450 has a fifth wheel towing capacity of 35,000 pounds. Thanks to its high-output Powerstroke, this regular cab truck can tow up to 40,000 pounds. Even without the optional towing package, it has a conventional towing capacity of 28,000 pounds thanks to the new Powerstroke.
The 2023 versions of the Super Duty trucks have onboard power generators and plenty of safety technology to improve towing. Some of these features include gooseneck blind spot monitors, onboard scales, and trailer theft alert. These trucks are also the first in their class to have backup sensors on top of their tailgates.
Ford is clearly investing a lot of time (and money) in developing these trucks. Judging by their sales numbers and Ford’s confidence in them as an investment strategy, we’d say it’s worth every penny.
