DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 2, 2002 – Ford is upping the ante in the diesel truck market with best-in-class 560 ft.-lbs. of torque at 2,000 rpm on its all-new Power Stroke® Diesel engine and five-speed TorqShift® automatic transmission. This is an increase of 10 ft.-lbs. since its pre-introduction in May.

Available early next year in Ford’s F-Series Super Duty trucks and Excursion SUV models, the all-new powertrain also will produce best-in-class 325 hp at 3,300 rpm.

“Ford has been the proven diesel leader since we introduced the Power Stroke eight years ago and we intend to remain the leader,” said Steve Lyons, Ford Division president. “Our customers need the power to get any job done and that’s exactly what the new powertrain will deliver.”

More torque allows a diesel engine to move or tow heavier loads, while enhancing the vehicle’s performance feel. It also allows drivers to maintain speed without frequent transmission shifting, easily launch highly loaded trucks from rest, and maintain speed while negotiating steep grades.

In addition to the improved power rating, the new diesel will offer up to 10 percent better fuel economy and 20 percent lower emission levels. The new diesel also has reduced noise levels, improving speech intelligibility while driving by more than 20 percent.

With a newly designed five-speed gearbox and new electronic control system to help provide smoother shifts, the new TorqShift features higher first- and second-gear ratios to launch a truck loaded with cargo quickly and smoothly. In addition, the new automatic transmission features a new driver-selected Tow-Haul Mode that senses when conditions call for increased engine braking and automatically schedules the appropriate downshift. The grade-braking feature functions in concert with speed control to help maintain the desired vehicle speed while descending grades.

The current 7.3-liter Power Stroke is the best-selling engine in its class – gas or diesel – and outsells all diesel competitors combined. Roughly 70 percent of all Super Duty trucks sold are equipped with a Power Stroke diesel engine. Of the 1.2 million Power Stroke engines sold during the last eight years, 98 percent are still on the road today.