Ford reports that customers are now expecting more than superior capability from their trucks–they’re demanding more technology to get the job done quicker and easier.
Here are the top five class-exclusive technologies that customers are choosing, never before available on Super Duty until now:
- Adaptive Steering – Technology makes backing a trailer into a parking area or navigating tight, low-speed maneuvers easier, reducing steering effort required by up to one-third
- Trailer Reverse Guidance – Feature enables drivers using their truck for towing to view trailers on Ford SYNC screen and monitor trailer status on the road
- Adaptive cruise control with collision mitigation: Using the engine brake to smartly assist customers towing heavy trailers, the system helps avoid accidents, and according to Ford, boosts driver confidence
- BLIS with cross-traffic alert and trailer tow: Technology helps increase driver awareness of obstacles and traffic, especially in tight spaces and parking lots
- Lane-keeping alert: Technology uses a camera mounted between windshield and rearview mirror to detect unintentional drifting of the truck outside the intended driving lane
Three months into its launch, the all-new 2017 Super Duty’s smart technology features drove total nameplate sales up 24 percent and retail sales up 33 percent for November.
Demand is especially strong for Crew Cab, 4×4 and 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel equipped Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trucks, which accounted for 71 percent of Super Duty retail sales.
Texas, home to Ford’s two largest truck regions, saw Super Duty sales rise 45 percent in Dallas and 38 percent in Houston. More than 81 percent of these sales include Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum series trucks, with demand for 4×4 and Crew Cab configurations outpacing the rest of the country by 97 percent.
“The technology features in the new F-Series trucks, in particular the all-new 2017 Super Duty, are generating even greater interest,” said Chaz Gilmore, managing partner, Grapevine Ford Lincoln, near Dallas. “This truck is bringing a lot of new buyers out of competitive brands and into the Ford family. Ford really knocked it out of the park with this truck’s performance, options and technology offerings.”
The all-new Super Duty beats the competition on virtually every metric, with 925 lb.-ft. of torque, a 7,630-pound payload and 32,500 pounds of gooseneck towing capacity. However, Ford reports that its 20 class-exclusive technologies are what’s really attracting more consumers. High-series trucks are equipped with such exclusive features like adaptive steering, Trailer Reverse Guidance, adaptive cruise control with collision mitigation, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert and trailer tow.
“Technology innovation is proving to be a differentiator,” said John Rieger, Ford Super Duty consumer marketing manager. “Our 20 class-exclusive, driver-assist technologies help increase productivity and boost driver confidence − especially when serving Super Duty’s primary mission of towing long, heavy trailers.”
With its first major redesign since being introduced in 1999, the all-new 2017 Super Duty takes heavy-duty pickups to the next level in toughness, smartness and capability.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article came from our sister publication, Hard Working Trucks.