Ford Motor Co. is redesigning the Tremendous Obligation line of its F-Collection pickups with new know-how and new engine choices in a bid to keep up considered one of its most worthwhile nameplates and higher cater to business prospects.
The 2023 Tremendous Obligation lineup, revealed Tuesday night and anticipated to go on sale early subsequent yr, will get an embedded 5G modem with over-the-air replace compatibility, an on-board generator and an upfit integration system for fleet consumers. It is also including new driver-assist know-how for towing and hauling, in addition to options corresponding to a brand new backup digicam for use when a tailgate is down.
Ford is also including two new engine choices: a normal 6.8-litre V-8 that replaces the present 6.2-liter V-8, and a high-output 6.7-litre PowerStroke V-8 diesel. These will be a part of the carryover 7.3-litre V-8 and 6.7-litre PowerStroke V-8 diesel to provide the vans what Ford says will probably be best-in-class towing, payload, torque and horsepower figures.
“It is this concept of steady enchancment, steady innovation,” Todd Eckert, Ford’s truck group advertising supervisor, informed Automotive Information. “Our buyer calls for that. The world they stay in does not stand nonetheless. The necessity for excellent functionality, however extra effectivity and productiveness with that functionality, is de facto on the core.”
The Tremendous Obligation’s redesign comes as Ford seems to be to concurrently fund future investments in electrification and software program applied sciences whereas persevering with to keep up worthwhile gasoline-powered automobile gross sales in focused segments.
Whereas the Tremendous Obligation’s revenue margins may assist Ford construct future electrical autos, executives say there are not any plans to impress the Tremendous Obligation.
“Fairly frankly, these applied sciences aren’t capable of ship the sorts of wants from a towing and payload functionality standpoint that you must have for Tremendous Obligation prospects who’re on the prime finish of professional quality work and recreation,” Eckert mentioned.
The redesign consists of all new sheet steel, though Ford will proceed to make use of aluminum on the Tremendous Obligation and F-150 pickups.
The Tremendous Obligation will get a brand new grille design that was prolonged to suit across the headlamps for what designers say is “a large, planted look” up entrance. Ford added aspect steps in entrance of the rear wheels to assist customers entry cargo within the mattress.
Ford’s Professional Energy Onboard generator gives as much as 2 kilowatts of electrical energy output.
Inside, 8- and 12-inch touchscreens can be found; the smaller dimension is normal on the XL trim whereas the 12-inch display screen is normal on larger fashions. Ford additionally added totally reclining seats first used on the F-150.
A head-up show is on the market.
Expertise within the vans features a “trailer navigation” system that takes into consideration trailer peak, width and weight and can plan a path to keep away from low bridges and tight turns. Ford added a trailer hitch help characteristic and 360-degree cameras to offer a chook’s-eye view of the trailer.
A brand new digicam and reverse sensors within the prime of the tailgate may also help homeowners again up when the tailgate is down.
“Our objective was to go away drivers with zero blind spots, even when towing the longest trailers,” Andrew Kernahan, the Tremendous Obligation’s chief engineer, mentioned in an announcement. “Digital camera views present each angle, from simulating a drone to creating certain prospects can see behind the truck even when the tailgate is down. Hitching and towing has by no means been simpler.”
The automaker mentioned it should reveal pricing and energy figures nearer to launch early subsequent yr. Ford builds the Tremendous Obligation line at its Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky., and Ohio Meeting Plant close to Cleveland.
General U.S. F-Collection gross sales, together with Tremendous Obligation, have fallen almost 11 per cent to 420,969 this yr by means of August, in accordance with Ford.
In Canada, gross sales have been down 15 per cent to 50,440 by means of June. Ford doesn’t report gross sales on a month-to-month foundation in Canada.
The Tremendous Obligation reveal comes a day after rival Chevrolet confirmed a midcycle replace to the Silverado HD that can attain dealerships within the first half of 2023. Chevy is giving its heavy-duty pickups a brand new inside, a extra highly effective diesel engine and new trailering know-how.