While we don't have an image of the Harley, the Big Hog Daddy gets some snazzy blue flame paint which carries through to the gauge cluster, Harley badging, and the ubiquitous Harley leather on the inside. Also optional: tightly wrapped head bandannas, brain-bucket helmets and a hardcore, weekend-warrior attitude.

2009 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY GROWS CAPABILITY WITH INDUSTRY-EXCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGIES, FEATURES

* Ford F-Series Super Duty, America's most capable work truck, offers more standard capability for 2009, including an integrated trailer brake controller and trailer tow mirrors on select models.

* Ford Work Solutions is a collection of industry-first, affordable technologies available on 2009 F-Series Super Duty XL, XLT and FX4 trucks that will provide customers connectivity, flexibility and security to better run key aspects of their business - from their Ford truck, even on the job site.

* New 'Built Ford Tough' factory-applied spray-in bedliner, available on 2009 F-Series Super Duty pickups, delivers exceptional weather resistance and protection against gouging, scratching, cracking and chipping.

The 2009 F-Series Super Duty line of pickups, the industry's most capable full-size heavy-duty work trucks, come equipped with even more capability, thanks to new standard features and two new packages - a Cabela's FX4 for the outdoor enthusiast and for the first time, a Harley-Davidson™ F-450 pickup.

All four Super Duty trim levels - XL, XLT, FX4 and Lariat - come with new standard features. The XL, the no-frills workhorse version, now comes standard with air conditioning, Securilock and manual trailer tow mirrors.

The XLT, a step up from the XL, now has power-heated trailer tow mirrors, privacy glass, integrated trailer brake controller, remote keyless entry and Securilock as standard features.

For 2009, the FX4 adds standard PowerScope™ integrated power-fold, power-telescoping mirrors, power seats, privacy glass, integrated trailer brake controller, captain's chairs and SIRIUS satellite radio.

The most luxurious of the Super Duty lineup, Lariat adds all of the new FX4 standard content as well as the reverse camera system, a power sliding rear window, heated seats, molded running boards and SYNC, Ford's industry-first, voice-activated hands-free communications and entertainment system.

New Smart Technologies

Ford is further expanding its 'smart' features for truck customers by equipping its trucks with new technologies that make staying connected and getting the job done easier.

* SYNC is Ford's industry-first, voice-activated hands-free system that fully integrates mobile phones and most media players into the vehicle using Bluetooth technology and USB connectivity.

* Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link™ offers a host of convenient features including more than 150 hours of music storage and a collection of data services including real-time local traffic, coast-to-coast weather conditions and fuel price information for more than 120,000 gas stations. Users can browse the music juke box via touch-screen or by using voice recognition. The system also integrates the climate control and SIRIUS satellite radio into one easy-to-use, smudge-resistant, 8-inch touch-screen display.

* Ford Work Solutions, a collection of industry-exclusive technologies for F-Series trucks and commercial E-Series vans will help make business owners more productive and successful. Four industry-exclusive innovations include:

o An in-dash computer developed with Magneti Marelli and powered by Microsoft Auto that provides full high-speed Internet access via the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network and navigation by Garmin.

It's the first broadband-capable in-dash computer in production. It features available wireless accessories including a mouse and printer. This system allows customers to print invoices and access and send documents stored on their home or office computer networks - right on the job site.

o Tool Link, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset-tracking system developed with DEWALT, the industry leader in professional power tools, and ThingMagic, the industry expert on embedded RFID technology. This enables customers to maintain a detailed real-time inventory of the tools or equipment stored in the vehicle.

o Crew Chief, a fleet telematics and diagnostics system, which allows small fleet owners to efficiently manage their vehicles, quickly dispatch workers to job sites and keep detailed vehicle maintenance records.

o Cable Lock security system developed in partnership with Master Lock®, the industry-leading lock manufacturer, to secure large tools or equipment in the cargo area of E-Series vans and wagons.

All four Ford Work Solutions technologies also will be available this fall on the new 2009 Ford F-150 XL, STX, XLT and FX4 trucks and E-Series vans. Transit Connect vans join the lineup in mid-2009.

Cabela's FX4

Ford is expanding its relationship with Cabela's, the world's largest outdoor outfitter, by offering a new Cabela's FX4 package for 2009.

According to customer data, 76 percent of F-Series buyers hunt and fish. With F-Series serving as the official truck of Cabela's for the past 7 years - and trucks prominently placed at stores nationwide and featured in Cabela's publications and TV programming - there's no more authentic way to connect with customers.

The Cabela's FX4 package for 2009 features a unique two-tone paint scheme in five colors: Ebony, Oxford White, Forest Green Metallic, Royal Red Metallic and Silver Metallic.

Each is contrasted with Sterling Grey Metallic lower body accents, running boards and wheel lip moldings, finished off with custom mud flaps and unique Cabela's badging.

The interior features standard cloth seats with the Cabela's logo or available aniline leather seats with a unique two-tone embossed grain pattern. The center stack is finished with a dark Paldeo wood appliqué. All-weather floor mats also wear the Cabela's logo. And for the avid outdoor enthusiast, additional lockable storage in the front console and underneath the rear seats is perfect for keeping equipment secure and out of sight.

Harley-Davidson™ F-450

Ford and Harley-Davidson team up again for a new Harley-Davidson™ F-450, the "Big Hog Daddy" of the road.

As with the still available F-250/350 SRW models, each individually numbered Harley-Davidson™ F-450 features a unique blue-flame paint scheme that starts at the side vents and runs down to the box side of the truck. The flame design scheme is carried through to the interior gauges in the instrument panel.

The custom-perforated black leather-wrapped seats, door panels and center console cover reveal blue leather underneath giving the same blue-flame effect as the exterior. Harley-Davidson™ badges are visible on the fenders and tailgate, along with "Harley-Davidson" script located on the box side.

Tough Bed

Ford is offering Tough Bed, a unique, military-grade, factory-installed, spray-in bed liner for the first time on the 2009 F-Series Super Duty.

"Tough Bed is a smart solution for Ford Super Duty customers who want to better protect their most important asset - the pickup box," said Tom Aubrey, Ford F-Series Super Duty marketing manager. "Like the entire truck, Tough Bed stands up to the most stringent durability standards including those required by the U.S. Military - that definitely makes it 'Built Ford Tough.'"

According to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), installation of spray-in bedliners grew from 27 percent in 2004 to nearly 34 percent of all pickup trucks in 2006 and will continue to grow at a steady rate to nearly 40 percent in 2008.

Developed in partnership with PPG Industries, Tough Bed exceeds the standards of today's typical aftermarket spray-in bedliner solutions. This military-grade coating has been through the government's toughest blast mitigation testing to determine whether the material can with stand the force of a bomb blast. It has performed equal to or better than other protective coating systems at one-third the thickness.

The polyol-based elastomeric film and isocyanate hardener are applied to the pickup box by a precision, high-pressure, automated sprayer to ensure one thin, smooth, even coat - unlike the traditional hand-spray application of aftermarket bed liners.

The finer application ensures that the bedliner materials won't run or sag on the inside walls of the box in addition minimizing unnecessary weight. Tough Bed does not compromise Super Duty's class-leading cargo capacity or the installation of aftermarket assets such as tool boxes, tonneau covers and truck caps. Its uniformly textured surface also helps minimize load slippage while delivering an exceptionally clean appearance.

The special bedliner material formula is immune to the effects of ultraviolet radiation and will not fade or chalk. It also protects against physical damage to the pickup box such as gouging, scratching, cracking and chipping. It is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile factory limited warranty.

All F-Series Super Duty models are built at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky.

[via FSeriesTrucks.com]

Yes, we know that looks like a current F-350 Super Duty, but clearly we've been told it's not. Why else would we spend money on buying these photos? Is it because we're gullible and will believe anything Brenda Priddy tells us to believe. Perhaps. Or perhaps it's because we believe what she's telling us — that picture is actually the 2011 Ford Super Duty engine under all that 2008 Super Dutifulness. The engine, supposedly called the "Scorpion," is a 6.7-liter V8 diesel designed to replace the current 6.4-liter V8 Power Stroke built by Navistar. Although we're under the impression Ford sunk a lot of cash into the development of the Power Stroke first seen in the 2008 model, it's kind of a necessity to navigate away from Navistar considering the legally-challenged ties that bind the two companies to the F-ing hip. And hey, we're also told to expect the next-generation Super Duty to get a six-speed auto tranny so they can compete with the new hotness from both Dodge and the General. Want to know more? Read the rest from Spymaster Priddy below. Want to see the mule a bit more closely? Check out what little you can see here.

First Raptor, now Scorpion! Ford knows how to pick the coolest names for its future truck programs.

But while it's tough to camouflage the purpose-built nature of Ford's upcoming F-150 'Raptor' desert runner, don't let the subtle looks of the F-350 Super Duty mule in this picture fool you. Reliable sources tell us that what's under the hood of this pickup is much more important to Ford. It's the all new, Ford designed 'Scorpion' 6.7-liter V8 diesel engine that will replace the current Navistar supplied 6.4-liter V8 Power Stroke by 2011.

How important? Diesels make up almost 80% of Super Duty sales. And the move is expected to permanently end Ford's longtime use of Navistar built diesel engines in its heavy duty pickups, due to an ongoing legal battle between the two companies over warranty and cost issues related to the old 6.0-liter V8 Power Stroke (model years 2003 to 2007). Ford has used Navistar diesels in its F-Series trucks since 1982.

Hard to believe but from the looks of this mule, the Super Duty may grow a bit bigger than the current truck to accommodate the larger displacement Scorpion diesel. Its raised hood is taller across almost its entire width and it has an overbite, hanging slightly over the current model's big chrome grille. Our sources tell us the Scorpion-powered Super Duty will also receive a new 6-speed automatic transmission, to directly compete with General Motors' and Chrysler's 6-speed heavy duty trucks.

PhotoCredit: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Company

... in fuel economy, a 9% boost in power and a 15% boost in torque over an F-150 equipped with a 5.4-liter gas engine. That means the HP of this black-smoke engine should be somewhere around 340. Only problem is that owners will need to drop a load of urea into a special tank at each oil change. Mmm, that sweet, sweet smell of urea.

UPDATE: A closer inspection of the placard also indicates 4.4-liter diesel will find a home in the next Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition — of course we're still wondering about those rumors we'd heard about the 5.4-liter Trition V8. [PickupTruck.com]

Suitability Parameters:
Speed Merchants: No
Fashion Victims: No
Treehuggers: No
Mack Daddies: Yes
Tuner Crowd: No
Hairdressers: No
Penny Pinchers: No
Euro Snobs: No
Working Stiffs: Yes
Technogeeks: No
Poseurs: No
Soccer Moms: No
Nascar Dads: Yes
Golfing Grandparents: No

Also Consider:
*Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LT Crew Cab 4x4
*Dodge Ram 3500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4

Vitals:
• Manufacturer: Ford
• Model tested: F-350 SuperDuty FX4
• Model year: 2008
• Base Price: $36,840
• Price as Tested: $56,780
• Engine type: 6.4-Liter Diesel V8
• Horsepower: 350 @ 3,000 RPM
• Torque: 650 @ 2,000 RPM
• Transmission: Torqshift 5-speed Auto
• Curb Weight: 6,960 lbs
• LxWxH: 246.2" x 99.6" x 80.4"
• Wheelbase: 156.2"
• Tires: LT275/65R30E Owl All-Terrain Tires
• Drive type: 4x4
• 0 - 60 mph: 9.6 Seconds
• 1/4-mile: 17.5 seconds
• EPA Fuel economy city/highway: N/A
• NHTSA crash test rating: N/A

Also see:

• 2008 Ford F-350 SuperDuty, Part One
• 2008 Ford F-350 SuperDuty, Part Two

Acceleration:**
Even though the 6.4-liter turbo diesel engine manages 350 HP and 650 lb/ft of torque, it's still only good for a 9.6-second jaunt to 60 mph. But what would you expect from a truck this size? As mentioned in Part One, the sequential turbos do an admirable job of propelling the F-350, especially from a rolling start. Nevertheless, you're not going to see it in the next Fast And the Furious film.

Braking:***
I never accidentally ran over a Focus thanks to the SuperDuty's competent anti-lock disc brakes, which feature 13.7" and 13.4" rotors front and back, respectively. Quick stops from speed on dry roads were achieved without leaning too far forward, thanks to the stiffened suspension.

Ride:**
The on-road ride was rougher over less-than-perfect roads than most people are going to accept without some kind of payoff. In this case, the payoff is being able to handle the vehicle when there's no road at all.

Handling:***
When racing down city streets it's sometimes necessary to do what we call a Central Texas Turn, which involves a lengthy deceleration before trying to pull into the Whataburger parking lot. This has less to do with the suspension setup and more to do with the weight. When going off the beaten path, the 4WD system manages to keep the F-350's massive nose pointed in the right direction.

Gearbox:***
The Torqshift five-speed automatic was unobtrusive, providing timely downshifts when accelerating and retaining the proper gear during ascents.

Audio:**
The audiophile CD audio system is standard-issue Ford, with the controls integrated into the navigation system. While it was great that an auxiliary jack for my iPod was included, the system fails to display any kind of data related to what's actually playing, which for the price is kind of letdown. I'm not sure how many speakers with what kind of power a system would need to drown out the massive diesel engine, but this truck did not have either of those things.

Toys:*****
If you're going to be towing anything, the TowCommand system is a popular choice among truck owners. I didn't get the chance to hook the truck up to the trailer, but I can say the controls were well placed. The electronically controlled PowerScope trailer mirrors are also fun to play with and, you know, actually functional. Just press a button and the wonderful mirrors fold in or out. Sometimes I did it for no good reason because I'm 12, basically.

The navigation system includes a large touch-screen, though it lacks advanced travel information. For some reason, this particular F-350 came equipped with a drop down DVD entertainment system in the backseat that included wireless headphones and a remote control. Conveniently, I had a copy of Friday Night Lights to watch. So appropriate. The system also has a port for an RCA cable which means that you can totally play Wii back there (and there's enough room, too).

Value:*
Ha ha ha ha ha. $56,780 with all options, an increase of nearly $20,000 over the base model's price.

Overall: ***
I had quite a good time with the truck. It's big and bold and red and sort of ridiculous. It in no way fulfills any of my basic needs as a driver or as a human being, other than the occasional desire to safely crash through walls. That being said, it never let once me down.

Also see:

• 2008 Ford F-350 SuperDuty, Part One

Whereas this large, bright monster of a vehicle would have stood out in my current residence of Chicago, there's not much novelty to the F-350 SuperDuty in Texas, where the back row at most restaurants and shopping centers is unofficially reserved for vehicles that are too long to fit into a regular space. At more than 20 feet long, the Ford wasn't short on kin at the mall.

Though many Texans still require this kind of off-road ability and towing capacity, it would be wrong to assume that most people in the sprawling suburbs of Dallas and Houston that own a big ass truck actually utilize anything but the country glamor that comes with a vehicle so large you have to fold in the mirrors to fit through toll booths.

Most of my driving was spent in the suburbs, which make up most of the state (though it may shock some, three of the ten largest cities in the US are in Texas). With suburbs come interstate highways and the F-350 performs well as a highway cruiser if your definition of "well" includes being able to see over everything but buses and suck diesel fuel with a typically Texan disregard for moderation.

The FX4 - now a trim level — was formerly the off-road package for the SuperDuty, but has been replaced by the 4x4 Off Road Package. In addition to the badging and special interior trim, the FX4 comes with a limited-slip rear differential and Rancho shocks. This means that the slightest bumps in the road are met with a jolt as opposed to the smoother riding suspension of other variations in the SuperDuty series.

Nevertheless, most Texas highways are smooth and straight and, sitting up so high, I started to feel the stirring of something akin to the Manifest Destiny the not-quite-original settlers felt when re-re-conquering this beautiful expanse of land and water. Like many big truck drivers, it started to feel as if the road was mine and mine alone, and anyone entering was doing so only with my casual, unstated leave.

My fiancée, a Texan of Midwestern Danish stock, has always looked good in a truck. When I first started dating her in college, we shared (and by shared I mean I stole when I could) a red Dodge Ram 1500, a truck that is dwarfed by the F-350 both in height and length. As we cruised the beltway that encircles most of Houston, she laughingly chided me for the kind of attitude I often criticized while piloting the same patch of concrete in my diminutive Escort hatchback. What really pushed it over the edge was the magnanimity with which I waved people into my lane, as if it were my decision.

After touring the suburbs of Houston I took the truck out towards Brazos Bend State Park, a popular fishing and camping spot accessible only by a series of long, straight and relatively abandoned Farm-to-Market roads. Out here I was able to stretch the SuperDuty's legs, getting a feel for when and how the big 6.4-liter turbo diesel PowerStroke V8 was able to trot. Lag is, not surprisingly, noticeable when trying to get 7,000 lbs of truck to take off, but the sequential setup of the turbos makes it quicker than you'd expect. One turbo gets you moving, then the other one helps the truck pull aggressively and confidently until you either wimp out or the physics of pushing this giant brick through the air take over.

Did I mention it's a bright red truck? Though Brazos Bend is full of large trucks used to pull campers (and one awesome Vanagon), I couldn't drive it too far without getting looks from passersby, which was true of everywhere I took it. People didn't look for too long, though, as everyone here remembers the sign on the front of the park that advertises the place as "Home of the American Alligator." And if they missed that, the park's map is filled with advice like "If an alligator gets a hold of a fish you've got, let it have the fish," and the ominous "Do not under any circumstances let your pets into the water."

The reasons for the rough suspension - a pain back in the suburbs - become apparent as soon as you take it off road. My usual off-roading spots had, unfortunately, been developed over the past few years and I was forced to head to an area popular with flat billers in Jeeps with big tires and little regard for their own safety (there are many stories of poor saps who pushed too far and ended up with a vehicle full of mud and snakes).

To make matters worse, this particular patch of muddy earth had been softened by recent rains. What's tough to do in a relatively weightless Jeep is a different challenge in a truck of this scale. While my grandfater served as a guide, I pulled the F-350 off the highway and onto a path hidden by a large evangelical church.

Where the path turns out to a pond there were crevices eight- to ten-feet wide and a couple of feet deep. Unwilling to sink a nearly $60,000 truck into muddy water, I decided to test the FX4's ability by asking it to negotiate a hill at such an angle that the rear-parking sensor started going off, spooking me more than a little. Though not my idea of an ideal driving experience, trying to pilot the truck's four wheels over the uneven, soft terrain was still a kick.

As I got more comfortable with the suspension, and with the idea of driving without all the wheels touching the ground, I let myself abandon memories of getting my friend's dad's Suburban stuck in a similar area. There would be no calling someone else with a winch and a more capable truck to pull us out. In fact, with some chains, we'd probably be able to do the same for some other dumb kids. Though not as wild as mudding a Wrangler, the FX4 proved capable enough to keep us from getting stuck or huffing too much when climbing.

Returning home after a weekend of navigating the F-350 through highways, city streets, state parks, dirt roads and crumbling mud I felt more at peace with the joy I feel with driving a vehicle this large. Fords have been the best selling trucks in Texas for about as long as I've been alive and now I sort of understand why. Though a Woody Allen-watching, organic food-eating, straight-ticket D liberal, I still get a big old kick from driving the shit out of a truck. Even if I do so while listening to NPR.

The good news for Super Duty truck owners, other than having to fill up only every 23 miles, is this shouldn't have an impact on towing capability for either the F-250 or F-350. PickupTruck.com has a full rundown of the changes to the "Job 3" Super Duty. [PickupTruck.com]

Ford has little competition in the Super Duty realm. Lined up against competing trucks from Dodge and Chevrolet, the Ford's internals are undeniably beefier. With substantially larger water pumps, radiators, engine mounts and bolts, there's no doubt the Ford is tougher. While the metal bits make up the Super Duty's bones and guts, Ford also blasts its largest full-size rig with hardcore development testing on Silver Creek, a quarter-mile straight shot on Ford's proving grounds, meant to simulate a lifetime of hitting giant pot holes, rocks and bumps most drivers hit only once every few thousand miles.

The directions for driving across Silver Creek are simple: hold the wheel with a firm, but relaxed grip and keep the speed at a steady 20 mph. The execution is much more difficult. From the first bump, your right foot is thrown into a struggle to find the gas pedal, while not accidentally smashing it to the floor. The steering wheel is prone to doing whatever the hell it wants, so when we reach the end of the course (rather than allowing the bumps to throw the truck off the road) it's tempting to call it a miracle. Reliving the violence of the drive in your head has shock absorbers busting through their mounts and suspension bits snapping in half, yet the Super Duty doesn't even show signs of a rattle after passing down Silver Creek. In fact the course is so intense Ford test drivers are limited in how often they can drive it due to medical concerns. During development, a single truck must survive the drive across Silver Creek more than 600 times before sign-off.

Off-road, the Super Duty performs well. After several hours of rain that have turned the course into peanut butter, the single-axle F-350 has no problem muscling through mud pits and crater-ridden trails. Its length is certainly a burden, making it far less nimble than any real off-roading machine. Still, it did well approaching steep hills and through short dips, never bottoming out.

We also took an F-450 Super Duty equipped with dualies over a hilly road course pulling a trailer 4,000 pounds shy of its 24,000-pound towing capacity. With Tow/Haul mode engaged, the Ford hangs onto revs longer and downshifts earlier when you put on the brakes to help slow things down. With the 6.4-liter diesel making 650 pound-feet of torque at peak, you're getting serious twist no matter where the tach needle points. Despite the Ford's five-speed Torqshift automatic downshifting at such aggressive points while towing 10 tons, we swear we could hear "Smooth Operator" playing somewhere.

It's a blessing we're not on public roads, since nearly all the journalists in attendance have casually dismissed the lane lines while towing that 40-foot trailer. With the longest Super Duty models stretching nearly 22 feet, you have to start thinking about navigating rather than driving. Turns should be planned well in advance and you'll want to run a few geometry calculations through your head before attempting to park between cars. Ford has made some efforts to make navigating the Super Duty a bit less of a burden. The screen for the optional back-up camera appears in the rearview mirror when you shift into reverse. While the screen is much smaller than the traditional screen in the nav system, Ford's camera includes a dotted line pointing where your truck is headed. Additionally, colored brackets along the edge of the screen help you to gauge how far you are from a wall, your trailer hitch, or Fido. Available power-scoping mirrors slide away from the truck for towing and can be folded in against the truck when pulling into a garage using a simple knob.

On F-350 dualies, buyers can now check a box for the "Fat Boy" option (actually, the sheet will read more like "widetrack monobeam front suspension and extended axle"). The longer front axle cuts the turning radius down from a hulking 56 feet to a slightly-less-hulking and class-leading 50 feet. Step into a Fat Boy-equipped F-350 and crank the wheel as far as it'll go. From the cabin, cones marking the outside of the turning circle disappear from sight in line with the center of the truck, convincing you you're about to send them to a second, flatter life. It's a surprise to get out of the truck and see all of the cones still standing. The Fat Boy option also makes the wheel wells taller and deeper, while adding more dimension to the front fender flares, giving an even tougher look to Ford's ultra-tough truck.

The toughness of the Super Duty is apparent in almost every challenge you can throw at it, from off-roading to towing to car-eating potholes. If you need to haul something or just want a vehicle that you can relentlessly abuse, the Super Duty has your number: $45,000 fully loaded.

Normally, we're busying ourselves pointing out the instances where automaker marketing is just plain bull. But in some cases, as we just found out from this preview of the episode of CNBC's Business Nation airing at 9 AM on Independence Day — Ford's not only selling with a load of bull, it sounds like they're proud of it! Now that is a Bold Move. – Ray Wert

Related:
Ad Watch: Ford Taurus, Brought To You By Mark Fields?; Ad Watch: Mike Rowe Continues To Make Jokes, Shill For Ford Trucks; Ad Watch: Ford Wants To Give You Proof They've Got A History; Ad Watch: Selling Ford Trucks Is A "Dirty Job"; Ad Watch: Ford F-150 Eschews Amerigasm In Favor Of Killing A Cake; Ad Watch: Toby Keith Plays With His Guitar And Spews Forth An Amerigasm Of Song About Ford Trucks [internal]

Screw the recall. Ford should offer an afterburner kit on all its Super Duty pickups. What better way to tell GM and Toyota the blue oval is not to be trifled with than a column of flame shooting from its tailpipe. Extra special bonus for gunning it next to a saw mill or propane distribution center. [Thanks to William for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli

Related:
Buy A Ford Super Duty; If You're Lucky It May Fart Fire! [internal]

Ford recalls Super Duty trucks after tailpipe fires [Reuters]

Related:
Spy Photos: 6-Door Ford F-150 Mule [internal]

"Navistar spokesman Roy Wiley said the company simply wants payment for its goods. "Ford said the plant began operating one shift on March 5, two shifts on Tuesday and is expected to be back at a full three shifts of production on Monday..."Our bottom line is we want to be paid for our engines. They shouldn't be debiting anything," he said. Both sides said the dispute could be settled as soon as Thursday afternoon."

Ford says Super Duty plant will be up to full speed by Monday; Navistar resumes engine supply [AP via Detroit News]

Related:
Stroke It, FoMoCo! Navistar Stops Shipping Power Stroke Diesel Engines To Ford; Judicially Active! Demise Of Ford Averted By Oakland County Judge [internal]

Bumbeck: Because you need a super duty heavy hauler possessing nearly unlimited power along with with a degree of factory installed luxury and exterior style. Because you enjoy being able to move around an extremely large pickup truck with ridiculous ease at the touch of the throttle. Because you cannot live without the sound of diesels and turbochargers. Because you and Hoss have some stumps to pull.

Loverman: You are a torque junky. Forget heroin; the worm-drive feeling of unstoppable forward thrust is the greatest drug of them all. You have a large boat/trailer/camper/horse that needs to be moved around. It looks like pure evil, but in a good way. You will never get cut off again. If you like to sit high, man, this truck is a head above. You always wanted to be a bus driver. If you get the eight-foot bed, you can get the 38-gallon tank, which is almost big enough for 900-mile diaper-clad dashes to Florida.

Why You Should Not Buy This Truck:

Loverman: The F250 drives and rides like a paint jogger. It is socially irresponsible, not because of climate change, but because if you hit Bumbeck's Starlet, you're a murderer. Of both Bumbeck and Starlet. The F250 has more capability than you need. Even Ford's PR guy was having a hard time coming up with something besides "a really big boat" that weighs 15,000 lbs. Even with the sorta-from-certain-angles acceptable mileage, it costs $90 to fill the tank. Think of all the other great cars you could get for $50K.

Bumbeck: Because you feel the need to drive around in traffic like David Pearson at the 1969 Daytona 500. Because you want a practical commuter on a budget. Because you want to pretend as if you could tow or haul when you know you never will.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: No
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: Yes
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: No
· Working Stiffs: Yes
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: Yes
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Also Consider:
Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 4500
Chevy TopKick C4500
Mitsubishi Fuso Super Great
A Tug Boat

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Ford
· Model tested: Super Duty F250 4X4 Crew Cab Outlaw
· Model year: 2007
· Price as Tested: $51,195
· Engine type: 6.0L Turbocharged V8 Diesel
· Horsepower: 325hp @ 3300 rpm
· Torque: 570 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
· Redline: 5000 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 20" Forged Aluminum wheels w/ LT255/70R
· Drive type: Four-Wheel Drive w/ Transfer Case
· 0 - 60: 8 seconds
· 1/4 mile: N/A
· Fuel economy city/highway: N/A
Observed fuel economy: 15.6mpg
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: NA

– Jonny Lieberman, Mike Bumbeck

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford F250 Outlaw — He Drove He Drove Edition — Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Exterior Appearance *****

Bumbeck: The Darth Vader blackout grille treatment was most impressive, especially considering the huffing turbocharger more than trumps Vader's wheezing. The rest of the slab-sided truck imposes massive size from every angle. Giant chrome wheels would be better off glossy or flat back to complete the doom-laden dark Sith lord character of brought forth by the rest of the vehicle.

Loverman: The "fuck you, Prius" design motif is most pleasing to my big, American eyes. Not only will it scare the bejeezus out of whomever is in front of you, but should you need to completely block out the sun, well, there you have it. Regardless, the F250's styling is so totally on the mark that other trucks should run themselves off the road in shame.

Interior Design **

Bumbeck: Cush two-tone leather seats present one with a Fooseish visual welcome. This is followed by 1950s Barcalounger comfort level on ass-parking. The steering wheel is large and truckish, as it should be. The usual controls are augmented by a row of aux power toggle switches and an additional brake gain unit for condo-towing adjustment. Beyond the luxo-seating, fancy gives way to heavy-duty utility.

Loverman: You said, "cush." Hippie. The inner guts of the Outlaw remain a mystery to me. I too like the red leather seats. They are totally trashy and right up the intended buyer's sleazy alley. I mean, "I drive an Outlaw, baby!" means you look up to and respect Kid Rock. And that's cool man, that's cool. But why is the rest of the interior so terrible? If a passenger misses the seats, how are they to know how totally devoid of fear you are? They will have no clue as to which club the bad boy driver vehicle belongs to. Really, the dash should have tribal tats and the windshield should be a pair of Oakleys.

Acceleration ***

Loverman: If my daily driver didn't hit 60 mph in under six seconds (and cost half as much, and weigh half as much) stars would be a-flying. As it stands, the Super Duty gets only three five-pointers and one huge, honking BUT. For it takes just eight seconds to hit 60 mph. Which is two playing-with-your-own-feces past frigging insane. To give you an idea of just how fast that is, consider that a MINI does the deed in 8.3 seconds. And as Bumbeck mentioned, when that punchbowl-sized turbocharger finally turns over, the sensation is, to channel Jezzo, epic. As in, "Oooh — I'm going to drive through that frigging mountain that's been pissing me off."

Bumbeck: And drive through that mountain you shall Buckaroo Banzai. Burying the throttle in the Outlaw rapidly brings one into a John Whorfin take-over-the-universe state of mind and into the eighth dimension. The powerplant defies the more than three tons of truck with such a smooth and linear path of acceleration that this driver pondered if there was an oscillation overthruster instead of a turbodiesel under the hood. Smirking quickly gives way to a maniacal grin as a right eye on the speedometer confirmed seemingly effortless velocity. Laugh while you can, Monkey Boy!

Loverman: Yeah... it was like worm-drive.

Braking***

Bumbeck: As quickly as one can forget that the Outlaw is a 6,395-pound hurtling chunk of iron, steel, aluminum, rubber, and various plastics, one easily remembers these facts when it comes time to put the brakes on such an affair. If the Outlaw is respected and driven like the truck that it is, then all will be well. If driven like more than a few of the imbecilic pickup truck drivers we saw on the road who tailgate like they're driving a Cup car around Talladega, then trouble scrubbing off inertia in time may be a problem.

Loverman: I second Bumbeck's motion to respect the bulk of this sucker. That said, our tired tester showed up at Jalopnik West Coast HQ (my house) with 15,000 miles on the odometer. These brakes may have been totally shot. Or not.

Ride **

Loverman: Because we're art school fools, we never put anything into the truck heavier than Bumbeck's camera case and my Palms hat. However, as is true of all trucks, a few thousand pounds of ballast would have made the sailing smoother. But let's not play make believe here — passenger comfort was about the 243rd thing on the engineers' minds. Right after tailgate handle position. Rides like a truck.

Bumbeck: Over the crumbling remains of what was once the finest system of roadways in the USA, the Outlaw rides just like any large pickup on on top of heavy duty springs. Like a truck. Not even two-tone leather clad barco-level seats will save your neck from this reality. The seats certainly help to cushion the blows, but this is monster is nothing if not a giant truck. If we were pseudo-macho art school sculptor types we would have thrown some scrap metal in the back to smooth out the ride and impress some art school girls. Instead we carried some lenses, and Jonny's baseball cap on-a-hook.

Loverman: I hate sculptors.

Handling**

Bumbeck: While the F250 Outlaw is a massive beast the handling was nonetheless impressive. Instant and darting response? No. On and around corner handling that was surprising for a truck of this size? Yes. Remembering that this thing is still a truck despite the sporty looking wheels and tires is nonetheless a good thought to keep in mind when barking out orders to the helm. Full left rudder! Evasive maneuvers! All engines reverse!

Loverman: Here is where you and I disagree greatly. The F250 doesn't have handling. I'm not impressed by things that don't exist. Moving on.

Gearbox *****

Loverman: As good as an automatic gets. Five gears is better than four, though six or seven or eight or 20 would make more sense. Still, I was able to achieve over 20 mpg in a three-ton vehicle at highway speeds. That rocks.

Bumbeck: In agreement with Loverman about the transmission. The best kind of automatic is the one never thought about. Besides, I was too busy listening to the turbo to notice gears meshing. A pull on the column mounted shifter into D or R is all that's required to be the proud captain of F-250 transmission command. That, and a mashing of the loud pedal.

Loverman: Yeah — that Power Stroke mill was loud!

Audio/Video **

Bumbeck: It had audio? It had better be a loud one to thunder over the injectors and fuel pump. Multimedia capability did not seem to be one of the truck's key points. The F250 was not equipped with a television.

Loverman: And that missing TV could have been part of a backup camera system. Or, more useful, a camera on the front of the truck, as the hood is taller than most cars' roofs. It did have a six-disk in dash, plus AM and FM. No iPodage. Blah, blah, blah it's a work truck, but it's also the Outlaw — how you going to play George Thorogood's Bad to the Bone without an iPod? The righteous new Tom Waits sounded OK coming out of the speakers. Art Bell sounded better.

Toys ***

Loverman: You mean besides 25 psi of boost and 570 ft-lbs of torque? Well, it has four AUX switches, so you can plug in all sorts of 110V toys. Plus, there was that weird hook to hang your hat/keys. And it had the back up beeping thingy. Column shifts are fun. Uh... the pedals can move back and forth... and the mini window to the bed is powered. Plus you can kick the e-brake off with your boot. Um, Bumbeck, a little help?

Bumbeck: The ability to power not only a rack of lights on the trailer but also a few rawk bands' worth of amplifiers is a neat toy. Provided punk rockers didn't mind riding in the trailer or bed, the F250 could be the source for a "10 Bands 10 Bucks' show in the middle of the high desert night, or good for a trip out to Burning Man. Jeers and barbs from the anti-truck and SUV crowd would subside as soon as the hippies needed some diesel electric auxiliary circuit love.

Loverman: Burning Man? I can't believe what a hippie you are.

Trunk*****

Bumbeck: Trunk? You want trunk? I got your trunk right here. While the F250 doesn't really have a trunk, it does have a bed. This capacity, along with 15,000 pounds of ass-hauling towing ability, pretty much make you forget you ever needed a trunk to begin with. A measly trunk? Throw a set of golf clubs into the back and they look like toothpicks floating in Lake Michigan. From space. Get a hard tonneau cover for the bed and presto — world's biggest freaking trunk.

Loverman: And if the 6.75 foot bed isn't big enough for you, the eight-footer is just a check box away. Which is the automotive equivalent of going from a double to a triple cheeseburger, but what do you care? You're a Ford truck man!

Value ***
Loverman: As tested our Outlaw stickered at $50,185. Which is a helluva lot of money. Remember though, that really, these trucks are free due to tax loopholes. Free is pretty cheap. But let's pretend your accountant isn't smart enough to cheat list your Outlaw as a business expense. In other words, let's say you buy it as a lifestyle statement instead of its intended dirt-hauling purpose. That is a ton of money for a three-ton truck. Assuming you don't mind sitting on vinyl benches, you could knock about eighteen-grand off the price by going for a similarly sized 2WD non-Outlaw, non-Lariat, non-slushbox Super Duty. But, sadly, without the red leather seats, why bother?

Bumbeck 50K? Holy mackerel! That's good for a fleet of over 25 used Starlets. Then again the Starlet can barely haul itself around, let alone 15,000 pounds of paving stones or lesser Fords. Value behind that kind of sticker price only makes sense if the F250 is actually used for what it was created for. Super Duty. Those who choose an F250 as a lifestyle statement or to make up for perceived shortcomings most likely don't concern themselves all that much with money.

Overall ***

Bumbeck: The F250 Outlaw is a pickup designed for those who require a truck for the God-given purpose of towing and hauling a heap of anything on on the planet, yet want to sit in a leather seat and appear stylish while doing so. Hat optional.

Loverman: If I was a rich man, I would keep a Super Duty on the side of my house for that one time a year when I need to haul bricks or move a fridge. This is a fantastic truck. However, it is but a truck. The F250 Outlaw reminds me of Boxer, the horse, from Orwell's Animal Farm; soldiering on and always working harder, political realities be damned. Noble, yet tragic in terms of the larger, warmer world.

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford F250 Outlaw — He Drove He Drove Edition — Part 1; Part 3 [internal]

Bumbeck: Yes, the Starlet serves me well despite her many years and whopping 50 horsepower. In fact, the sheer mass of the F250 could comprise almost four entire Starlets. The stump-yanking torque from its 6.0-liter turbodiesel alone could crumple those four Starlets like sheets of copy paper.

The reason we both loved this truck is because it's an honest truck, not a top-heavy station wagon pretending to be an SUV. A few bits of leather here and there convey the principles of car-like luxury, but at the end of the day, the Outlaw is about as truckish as a truck can get. Even just gripping the wheel of the F250 Super Duty makes you want to tow something really heavy, or enter a run-what-you-brung Tractor Pull.

Loverman: Totally agreed. The F250's purpose on this planet is to haul really heavy stuff from here to there. Oh, and also to freak the hell out of Prius drivers. I mean, the interior even has a hook to hang a trucker's hat. All that's missing (apart from a place for your rifle and a cigarette machine) is a Dick Cheney bobblehead doll. Dressed up like Elmer Fudd. But let's get back to that torqued-out engine. Holy Christ! 570 ft-lbs at 2,000 rpm? That's just ludicrous. Even pointed uphill, just by taking your foot off the brake the Outlaw creeps forward. TORQUE!

The odd part is that it doesn't defy physics; rather the Power Stroke diesel confirms Newton's laws. Remember the one about bodies in motion tending to stay in motion? The F250 will cruise at 35 mph with the cruise control off and your foot nowhere near the pedal. That is beyond torque — that is will. And the 2008 version, which Ford launched during Super Bowl XLI, is getting a twin-turbo, 6.4-liter motivator stonking out 650 ft-lbs at the same 2,000 rpm! When I come back in the next life as a general contractor, I'm getting one.

Bumbeck: Yes. Even under light throttle the F250 embarks like the USS Iowa under full-speed-ahead orders. Instant off-idle torque of the diesel follows on by forced induction assistance from the turbo. In the close quarters of city traffic, it's at once an entertaining and terrifying reality. A momentary look at the boost gauge nipping at 25 psi could be all the time it takes for many lesser cars to be enveloped under the mighty F250's non-bending frame.

While negotiating the monster around an uphill intersection chicane, we expected the klaxon horns to sound in anticipation of full power. It required an almost comical turning of the helm to keep the front tires pointing where they needed to go to keep the F250 on course. We made it, but were reminded that 6,400 pounds of Kentucky-built truck commands and demands attention. "And the iron boats go as the mariners all know, with the gales of November remembered!" Name that tune.

Loverman: "Chief of the boat! Full reverse rudder on my mark!" Lest anyone think I'm the crazy one, Uncle Bumbeck here flung this monster around a corner at a speed I would never have contemplated. And he sat there smirking like Sean Connery to my sweaty, sweaty Tim Curry. Handling was not job one. But, Bumbeck made it work. Man, what do you think this engine would do in a performance sedan? Snap the half-shafts in, well, half?

Bumbeck: What, me worry? The F250 is an armful, but handled evasive maneuvers as if submarines were firing torpedoes from all sides. We emerged unscathed. That being said this would be a ridiculous choice of vehicle for a city dweller, unless you wanted to tow your condo into the office everyday. On the highway the F250 tells a different story. Endless amounts of torque on tap made cruising up the long hills of California State Highway 14 an almost effortless operation. On Sunday morning we saw many others using an F250 (or cousin Excursion) for the intended, haul-o-rama purpose. While horses and quads went for a ride we drove, wishing we did have some iron ore on board to load up and calm down the suspension.

Loverman: Next time I'm calling NASA to see if they'll let us haul the Shuttle around, with a 747 beneath it.

– Jonny Lieberman, Mike Bumbeck

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford F250 Outlaw — He Drove He Drove Edition Part 2; Part 3; When Engineers Attack: SuperDuty Version [internal]

We love Dodge swag grab bags — heck we love anything we're allowed to take home from the show coming to us by way of the 'merican side of the German-American hybrid. Whether bongos or bags, they totally know how to do it up right for the auto journo and hack community. For instance, with the highlight of the show this year for the Chrysler Group being the workin' man edition of the Dodge Super Duty 4500 and 5500, it only made sense to push the blue-collar work ethic in the swag. But like all forms of blue-collar middle-class jobs in this here country, there's less and less of them available. And as you'll see in the gallery below, apparently the job losses are hitting swag makers as well as b-segment micro-sized cars. But, at least they're consistent. – Ray Wert

Related:
Fargo North: Dodge Reveals 2008 Dakota [internal]

We've gotten our hands on some cool-to-watch and tech-heavy 15-second teaser ads for the Super Bowl ad campaign launch of the 2008 Ford F-Whatever Super Duty. The one above is a CAD-based build of the new 6.4L Power Stroke diesel engine with dual turbos and the second teaser commercial, in the same out-of-thin-air fashion, highlights all the little parts that make up the new (and useful) tailgate step. There's also a third teaser which is nothing more than a jarring drop of the big metal "Ford" badge dropped onto concrete. Although the third one's silly, the other two are cool as hell to watch. But the problem I've got is I'm not sure what they're going to do to sell the truck to the target pro-'merican demographic. Especially since earlier this week we heard that FoMoCo, despite losing $12.7 billion in 2006 and a turnaround plan forecasting a 2007 loss, plans no cuts in it's marketing budget. It's almost like the sell-it-on-TV team's gone to CEO Alan Mulally and said "Yeah boss, the ads aren't selling product, but whatevs — let's drop more money down that abyss while we've still got it!" I guess we'll have to wait for Super Bowl Sunday to find out for sure what the full 60-second ad will look like during the pre-game festivities, but for now we're just going to appreciate it for the techie coolness, and set our gnawing doubts on efficacy aside. In case you don't remember what the Super Duty is, we've got a gallery below as a reminder, and the second and third teaser commercials below the jump. – Ray Wert

Related:
Big Blue Oval Day: Didn't The Wall Street Journal Get The Memo?; FoMoCo FUBAR! Ford Earnings Call Live-Blog!; Breaking The Bank! Ford Leaks Money Like A Sieve In 2006, Reports Net Loss Of $12.7 Billion [internal]

It's obvious modern day dirt-haulers are often used for anything but. The real story is who's the biggest? Nothing says non-useful, penis prop quite like pickup beds so tall you can't lift anything over 20 lbs. out of them, so the all-knowing Jalopnik brain decided to virtually drop trou and measure. Make no mistake; ToMoCo's new Tundra is fricking massive. And it's built in a red state by non-union salt-of-the-earth types. But as the photo evidence shows, the Southern-fried Toyota is just not massive enough. So you know; in those boots, I'm 5'11", single and despise long walks on the beach. Hell, the beach in general. View the winners after the jump.

The good old F-150 is still the bigness.

Here's the new Ford Super Duty King Ranch, the most massive vehicle on display at the show, bar none. – Jonny Lieberman

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra, Part 1

Apparently there's a part of the Toby Keith "Ford truck man" song we must have missed. It's a part of the song that must not have reached the commercials, where Keith pulls out a pocket protector and a tablet PC — and then says

"If you're the type of man who needs to surf the web and check your e-mail on the go, and do it from a ruggedized tablet platform running off of an AMD Geode LX 800 chipset, then you're probably a Ford truck man."

[FordLink Mobile Office Gallery]

FordLinkTM Mobile Office System Display - 8.4" TFT LCD with resistive touch, outdoor readable

Display resolution - 800 x 600 (SVGA)

Processor - AMD Geode LX 800

Memory - Flash technology 4 Gigabyte imbedded or 30 gigabyte mini Toshiba hard
drive

Memory RAM - 512 Megabyte

Software Operating System - Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Storage - Internal Flash Module, Compact Flash Slot, HHD or USB options

Enclosure - Magnesium-Aluminum Alloy

Stylus - Included / ruggedized plastic

Protective Jacket - Rugged Rubber Ears

AC/DC Adapter - Input: 90-240 VAC / Output 12VDC, 3.5A

Power Cords - USA

Battery Packs - Lithium-Ion, Internal (14W) Optional External (28W)

Network Interface - PCMCIA, USB 2.0, Bluetooth (built-in) and CF slot in 4GB systems

Wireless - PCMCI Slot / Bluetooth

Input and Controls - Four front buttons; One Oval 4-way, One Power; One for voice
recording

Input / Output Ports - 12V DC-in jack, Microphone in, Headset jack, USB 2.0

Dimensions - 7.9 x 9.6 x .08 inches / 200 x 240 x 18 (mm)

Base Weight - 1.9 lbs (0.86 kg)

Regulatory - FCC Class B, CE, UL

Operating Temperature -10 C to +40 C

Humidity - 0% - 90%

Related:
Office on Wheels: FordLink; Ad Watch: If You're Not Toby Keith In A Ford Truck, You're Just A "Good Size"; Ad Watch: Toby Keith Plays With His Guitar And Spews Forth An Amerigasm Of Song About Ford Trucks [internal]

Toby Keith Plays With His Guitar And Spews Forth An Amerigasm Of Song About Ford Trucks [TobyKeith.com]

Related:
Ad Watch: Toby Keith Plays With His Guitar And Spews Forth An Amerigasm Of Song About Ford Trucks [internal]

FoMoCo must think it can't match Chevrolet in American flags, but might be able to out blue-collar it. In the latest ads for the F-150 and Super Duty trucks — part of a "Ford Truck Month" zero- and low-percent financing on 2006 and 2007 models campaign — country crooner Toby Keith shows up in what might as well be a solo project by the Construction Worker from the Village People, crouching atop industrial machinery with his massive, throbbing Ford guitar jutting forth menacingly, hands strumming his magic, with what we're sure are countless workmen in tight-fitting jeans but sans shirts, toiling beneath him. Speaking of beneath — we've got another commercial, the lyrics to Keith's custom-written ditty and the press release from Ford below the jump. – Ray Wert

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 3, 2006 - Music superstar Toby Keith returns to the airwaves today to kick off a Ford truck advertising campaign featuring a new Ford Truck anthem, "I Am A Workin' Man." The ads launch Ford's Truck Month sales event and showcase the bold music maverick with the company's hot lineup of Ford F-150, F-Series Super Duty and Ford Ranger trucks.

The Truck Month ads featuring Toby Keith will offer zero percent financing on Ford's 2006-model F-150, Super Duty and Ranger, as well as low financing available on Ford's 2007 trucks. During Truck Month, Ford also will offer zero percent financing on most of its 2006 vehicles.

"As a third-generation Ford truck owner, Toby Keith represents what our trucks and customers are all about - they're hard-working, genuine, and get it done every day," said Al Giombetti, president, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury Marketing and Sales. "Our customers relate to Toby because he is a 'Workin' Man' who puts his own Ford trucks to the test on his ranch."

Keith debuted the song "I Am AWorkin' Man," written to honor the spirit of American workers, in Ford Truck Country last week during the reveal of the new 2008 Ford F-Series Super Duty to truck customers, dealers and media at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas.

Ford is fortifying its truck leadership - particularly in battleground states like Texas, where F-Series' share of pickups is up 2.3 percentage points through July. F-Series share has climbed 1.2 percent in the U.S. overall in that same time period.

Ford's Truck Month campaign, developed by JWT Detroit, will run through the end of October in most major markets. Participating dealers will be able to select from nine 30-second spots and customize the ads to highlight specific truck offers and meet the needs of their local markets. Print executions featuring Keith and Built-Ford-Tough messaging such as "Bold Stands Proud," "Bold Gets it Done" and "Bold Never Quits" also will debut in major newsweeklies beginning today.

During Truck Month, Ford is offering customers the following:

* Zero percent financing for 60 months on all 2006 Ford F-150, Super Duty and Ranger models.
* 2.9 percent financing for 60 months on 2007-model year F-Series Super Duty and Ranger, or $2,000 customer cash in lieu of low financing on these models.
* 3.9 percent financing for 60 months on 2007-model year F-150 or customer cash of $1,500 in lieu of low financing.
* Zero percent financing on most 2006 model vehicles.
* In addition, low financing rates are available on 2006 Fusion and Mustang.

"We're already seeing great results for our 2006-model sell-down," said Giombetti. "Truck Month is an established campaign that highlights the strength of F-Series versus the competition. We believe these new ads will keep the momentum going and drive truck customers to our dealerships."

Ford Trucks and Toby Keith - Top of the Charts

Keith has been the Ford truck spokesman since August 2002 when he wrote an original song for the "Ford Truck Man" advertising campaign. In addition, Ford Trucks have sponsored every Keith concert tour since 2002, including the "Shock 'N'Yall" tour in 2003 and the "Big Throwdown" tours in 2004 and 2005, and now the "Hookin' Up and Hangin' Out Tour" presented by Ford F-Series.

With country music attracting more than 60 percent of all truck buyers, Ford's involvement with Keith continues to drive bottom-line results. The company has reached tens of thousands of potential sales leads through promotions and efforts tied to Toby Keith's concerts. Each concert tour reaches approximately one million fans, and features Ford truck product integration and pre-concert videos showing Keith putting Ford trucks to the test.

Later this month, fans will be able to check out Keith's high-energy appearance from the State Fair of Texas at www.HangWithToby.com Segments of the new ad campaign are highlighted in this video, showing Keith pushing every Ford truck to the limit. The website also features a promotion giving consumers a chance to win a 2007 Ford F-150 FX4 pickup, as well as an opportunity to meet Toby Keith and appear in an upcoming video.

Ford truck advertising will be seen in heavy rotation during television coverage of the newly opened NFL season and the NASCAR "Chase for the Cup" series as part of the fall advertising strategy.

"I Am A Workin' Man"

Music and Lyrics by Toby Keith

I gotta get up early
I gotta be on time
I've got to go bust it
Man, I got to go get mine,
I am that kinda guy.....
And I want a piece of that American pie

I put a lot of sweat
Into the job at hand
You can count on me
I am a .... workin' man!!!!

So when it's quitting time
And you've had enough
I'm still good to go, baby
Cuz I'm Built Ford Tough

Related:
Ad Watch: If You're Not Toby Keith In A Ford Truck, You're Just A "Good Size"; Ad Watch Exclusive: Stephen Colbert, Don't Steal This Chevy Silverado Commercial Too!; Ad Watch: Chevy Drops Nukes on Cutting Room Floor; America, Truck Yeah! Chevrolet Drops "Our Country, Our Truck" Silverado Marketing Campaign Like A Nuclear Bomb [internal]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2008 Ford F350 Super Duty [internal]

AutoWeek runs down the next three 2007 product launches from Ford, gauging them in terms of crucialness in the company's plan for rebirth. These launches are, in order of importance, the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator and 2008 F-Series Super Duty. Get our take after the jump.

1. The 2007 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers.
Plan 1 in Ford's move away from the minivan market. They're neck-in-neck with GM to see who can get this new breed of half-caf SUVs in front of the country's moms quicker. But will Lincoln's MKX lure buyers away from the Acura RX?; and will a set of 27s with spinner hubs even fit on one? Importance: Off the charts.

2. The 2007 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.
Considering its latest sales figures for large SUVs, GM — which has beaten Ford to market with its redesigned large SUVs for 2007 — found that better may not be enough in this tough market. They also need, say, cheaper gas and a national uptick in pleasure-boat sales. Still, they need the high profit margins, if not the CAFE credits. Importance: Big.

3. The redesigned 2008 F-series Super Duty.
The big boy. Could start an arms race among plumbing contractors and the electricians who sweat their pipes. Importance: 240V.

Mission Critical [AutoWeek]

Related:
Like OMG, LOLROTFL: The Lincoln MKX on MySpace; Ford Launches 2007 Expedition at Houston Auto Show; Spy Photos: 2008 Ford F250 Super Duty [internal]

Car photog Chris Doane, whose partial shots of prototypes and near-production models have graced these very pages, recently faced down one of nature's fiercest adversaries: The automotive test engineer. As Doane was casually shooting a "low value target," the 2008 Ford F250 Super Duty Powerstroke — spy photos of which have already appeared in several outlets — the driver went crazier than a bowl of fuck.

This guy barrels towards me while Im sitting at the intersection and it looks like he's just going to flat out ram me. Instead he uses the Super Duty to block the *entire* intersection and parks about 1 foot off my front bumper...

... So I drop it into "R" and floor it. I get turned around and take off in the other direction. In about 15 seconds I can see him flying down the street after me in my mirrors. Know how black smoke pours out of diesels when you put the hammer down? Yea. Lots of black smoke.

Funny thing happened at work today. [Automotive Photographer's Network]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2008 Ford F250 Super Duty [internal]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2008 Ford F250 Super Duty [internal]

"I'm a Ford Truck man.
It's all I drive.
I ain't got no boundaries.
I don't compromise."

—Toby Keith

Pretty strong words for a guy who talks trash about chicks from the South — but ok, Toby Keith's got a point when it comes to a buyer of a "Super Duty" — they generally are the "no boundaries...don't compromise" type of person. And it doesn't look like this Super Duty hitting the streets in 2007 as a 2008 model (probably) plans on disappointing the crowd. At least, that's if the folks at Priddy & Co. are correct. Brenda's claiming — per PickupTruck.Com (the capital 'C" stands for their "No Compromise Attitude) — the 2008 will:

"...be powered by an all-new, International sourced 6.4-liter V8 turbo diesel Power Stroke, which replaces the challenged 6.0-liter PSD."

Ah, Ford Super Duty — when you just can't afford an International CXT.

Click! 2008 Ford Super Duty [PickupTruck.Com]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2007 Ford F350 Super Duty [internal]

You've got duty? You ain't got duty until you've got Super freakin' duty. Try to strap on a Northward Grizzly Bear brand fifth-wheel camper trailer with optional slide-out forest-creature slaughterhouse and whiskey still to one of those reg'lar-duty trucks. Ain't gonna happen, my friend. Check out Ford's next F350 for those who love their duty.

2007 Ford Super Duty Pickup Spy Photos [World Car Fans]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2008 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty [internal]