What’s up in the Forums: 2018 Super Duty Diesel Makes Epic Power
Ford is upping the ante once again with an even more powerful 2018 Super Duty. But do we really need it?
As you probably already know, we’re smack in the middle of a heavy-duty diesel power race. With every passing year, manufacturers keep topping each other in terms of horsepower and torque figures, as well as towing and payload capacity. Ford officially dropped the mic with the all-new 2017 Super Duty, however. With 440 hp and a whopping 925 lb-ft of torque, the 6.7-liter Powerstroke is a literal powerhouse. But they aren’t resting on their laurels, as the 2018 Super Duty ups that ante.
Officially, the 2018 Super Duty diesel now pumps out 450 hp and 935 lb-ft of torque. And the fact that Ford wasted no time upgrading the 6.7 is just a testament to how heated the heavy-duty truck wars are right now. As died-in-the-wool Blue Oval fans, we’ll certainly take it. And it didn’t take long for Ford Truck Enthusiasts members to sound off on the upgrade, either.
“Sweet, Ford staying on top of it,” said theboom. “This is why the information on the 2018s took so long to come out. I wonder who’s going to be the first to get to the magical 500 hp/1000 lb-ft mark? Lets hope it’s Ford”
“2.3% increase in hp and 1.1% increase in torque. Playing games with the others at this point,” remarked Remmy.
But as Seastacker points out, we’re probably at the point where any boost in power is kind of unnecessary. But that doesn’t make it any less fun.
“More power is cool, but it is more for marketing at this point. I have done some fairly heavy towing with mine. There is more than enough power there to tow anything most of us can legally tow behind a pickup. BUT, it is always fun to see them duke it out.”
However, theboom disagrees with that notion and doesn’t think we’ve reached that point just yet.
“People always say, when a truck comes out with more power, that what we have now is plenty and there is no need for more. I say we still have a long way to go before we truly have enough. Can you accelerate with a max load at the same rate as normal cars in casual acceleration? No, so not enough. Can you maintain 65-70 up a 7% grade (max legal for interstate)? No, so not enough. Even with semis that are pushing 600+ hp and 2,000+ lb-ft of torque. Can they maintain 65 on a 7% grade at 80,000 lbs? No, so not enough. That’s how I look at it, anyway.”
For troverman, the most impressive thing to note is that Ford is increasing power without sacrificing gas mileage or emissions.
“I think what’s impressive is that Ford is putting out class-leading numbers. And really, if you think about it, 450 hp and 935 lb-ft is a huge amount of power. But fuel efficiency will likely stay the same or even improve, while also meeting ever-stricter emissions standards.”
Still, plenty of folks would prefer better gas mileage or a better warranty in lieu of power. And this topic has sparked a fascinating discussion debating those merits. No matter which side of the fence you land on, this thread is well worth a read. And we’d like to know what you think, too! So head over here and add your thoughts to this rather interesting debate!
