Here is a quick rundown of scheduled product changes for the 2010 SD's. As you will see, the engine/transmission choices have become a little confusing. My apologies to all the handshaker purists, but its truely looking to be the beginning of the end for the manual transmission...


5.4L V8 w/ 6-speed manual not available on Super Cab, Crew Cab, SRW 4X2 or F-350 DRW.

5.4L V8 w/ TorqShift not available on F-350 Crew Cab DRW.

6.8L V10 w/ 6-speed manual not available on Super Cab, Crew Cab, SRW 4X2 or F-350 DRW.

6.4L diesel w/ 6-speed manual not available on 4X2.

5-Speed TorqShift automatic transmission is now standard on XL (F-350 DRW Regular Cab and Super Cab w/ 5.4L only), XLT (F-350 DRW Regular Cab and Super Cab w/ 5.4L only), Lariat and Cabela's.

Added 3.31 axle ratio for 6.4L diesel engine with 17" wheels/tires.

Harley-Davidson package is now only available with 6.4L diesel engine.

Cabela's has been added as a series. Color choices include Forest Green CCM, Black CC, Ingot Silver CCM and Oxford White CC. Available as monotone or two-tone w/ Sterling Grey.

FX4 series has been deleted. Now available as FX4 Off Road Package option on XL, XLT and Lariat. Not available on Cabela's or Harley-Davidson.

New Exterior Paint Colors: Steel Blue, Ingot Silver, White Platinum Tri-Coat, Tuxedo Black (Harley-Davidson premium two-tone only).

New 17" aluminum wheel.

20" wheels and tires only available with 6.4L diesel engine.

Quad captains chairs for both King Ranch and Harley-Davidson have been deleted.

40/20/40 leather seat now option on XLT (not including regular cab)

Upgraded SYNC with traffic, directions and information.

 

what!? no 6 speed for the 4x2 F250?

well...time to find a new truck again...again

 

I don't get it. Apparently the 2010s will be available mid-year and yet the dealers around here don't even have any '09s yet.

 

BOO. HISS.

So when are the 2010's due out? Are the 2011's coming out in Jan 2010? Last I heard the 6.4 won't meet 2010 emissions as it is now, and Ford plans on switching to the 6.7 to meet EPA requirements.

 

Interesting to see they finally did away with quad captain chairs option. Guess they never really had an adequate take rate to continue offering it.

 

Come 2011 I do not expect you will see a manual transmission option on any of the SD's. The biggest problem with manual transmissions is they are just not emissions friendly. Second problem is lack of demand...


2010 Job 1 is slated for mid May and is looking like it will only run thru December with a good possibility that the 2011's will Job 1 early January 2010 with the 6.7L and the new 6-speed TorqShift.

The 6.4L could me made 2010 emission compliant, but it looks unlikely that is going to happen at least as far as it is related to Ford...

 

One positive-fx4 is again a package not a series. Hopefully an e-locker is on the way.

 

Eh, I'll drive a standard until the day I die...

Either that'll be earlier than I hope...or I'm going to drive a really old truck

 

I don't believe that. They says this is the cleanest diesel ever. Anyone else have more info?

 

I always like the FX4 as a series. I just ordered my second.

 

very interesting,looks like a short run as with the MY 07

 

I can't see any reason why Ford needs 3 well 4 high end SD models. King ranch, Cabelas, HD and Lariet. Lots of guys like the 6spd and their getting rid of it. Glad the FX4 is a package, I hate all painted trucks, give me some chrome. Where in a recession and Ford keeps coming out with more and more high dollar trucks. Doesn't make sense to me at all. Whats next.....drop the XL and XLT from the SD line up?

 

how is that? An automatic transmisson is 100% inefficent when stopped at a light and still just pumping away trying to fight the brakes. A manual is disconnected from the wheels, either by clutch or put in neutral, the engine only has to use as much power as it needs to continue to idle.

It seems the 6-speed will still be available on the reg cab XL with a diesel or 4x4... I guess I could live with two shifters... Then again, I'm keeping this '08 until it dies so maybe they'll get their vision correct come 2020

 

You are correct in that sense, but the problem with the manual transmission is variability, i.e. the driver. When Ford writes a calibration for a manual transmission they have to factor that in and with EPA regulations becoming more strict that is becoming harder to do. For example, you could put you and myself behind the wheel of the same truck and it may meet emission standards with the way I drive it and could fail with the way you drive the same truck. With a auto it takes that variability out of the equation as the calibration keeps everything inline no matter who is driving. Plus it is just plain cheaper to write a single calibration for a engine then it is to write 2...



That is pretty much how I am reading it too. 6-speed manual will be available to the gassers only on regular cab 4x4 XL and XLT. For diesel it will be available on all cab styles of 4X4 XL and XLT...

Who knows what will happen in the future, but I would say the next thing will be along the lines of a paddle shift auto/manual rather then going back to a standard manual...

 

I guess I don't see how the transmission changes the emissons output of the engnie. If they are still measuring in ppm wouldn't a simple solution be to just inject air at the exhaust valve again? If they are measuring in something else, then what?

the biggest difference between trucks today and before is that you have no mechanical connection between the gas pedal and the throttle...it's electronic. This should allow the truck to regulate A/F ratios and rich/lean mixtures no matter what transmission is in which gear behind it.

This simply has to be because they don't sell enough. If it was a coding issue they would drop it entirely all at once. They probably see that most of the gear jammers are also buying 4x4, so they are strong-arming us 4x2 guys into either paying more for a slushbox, a diesel, or a couple of drive wheels we don't need.