Introducing the New 2017 F-250 Super Duty
After almost 20 years, the all new Super Duty is finally here! New style, new features, new frame, revised mechanicals, and an aluminum intensive body like the F-150. Click through and let's check it out.
New and Improved
The 2017 F-250 Super Duty has undergone plenty of significant changes to make one of America's greatest pickup trucks even better. Although the F-250 has seen more of an evolution rather than a revolution over nearly 20 years of production, Ford has completely redesigned all of the Super Duty trucks for the 2017 year model.
Although Ford has made minor (and a few major) improvements over the years on their heavy-duty pickups, they have been using the same basic design from when the original trucks were introduced in 1999. This is not to say that the Super Duty trucks were bad, because they have always been very good, but the platform was getting long in the tooth as it neared 20 years on the market. The introduction of the all-new fourth-generation (2017) Super Duty lineup marks the first true redesign of Ford's heavy-duty pickup trucks.
Daily Driver or Dedicated Workhorse
The Super Duty line of trucks was created to differentiate the F-150, which was thought of as more of an everyday truck for personal use, from the F-250 and F-350 (and above), that were considered to real work horses specifically made for hauling and towing. That said, the line between work truck and personal vehicle has blurred, and the new 2017 F-250 Super Duty has pleasant road manners and an impressive ride quality that is well suited to everyday use. While the interior isn't as advanced or luxurious as some other new vehicles, it still provides many modern amenities while still retaining quality materials that feel as if they will stand up to the harshness of a work environment.
Engine Options
ManyF-250 Super Duty buyers opt for the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel engine, however, those not planning to regularly tow with their truck should consider the trusty 6.2L SOHC gasoline/flex-fuel V8. The gasoline-powered 379 cubic-inch V8 produces a very respectable 385 horsepower and 430 pound feet of torque, by way of revised camshaft profiles and a new intake manifold design with longer runners. While the 6.2L engine is the baby motor of the Super Duty lineup, the F-250 is still capable of towing 12,600 lbs and has a 3,600 lbs weight capacity in the bed, thus making for a very versatile truck. The gas and diesel engines have roughly the same fuel economy which hovers around 15 mpg combined, but gasoline is cheaper than diesel at the pumps, and routine service on a gas truck typically costs less.
Colossal Chassis Changes
The big talking point of the new F-250 Super Duty is the newly redesigned chassis, coupled with the aluminum cab and bed similar to the F-150. The frame is now a fully-boxed unit made of 95 percent high strength steel and is reportedly 24 times more rigid than the outgoing model. The Super Duty line in now using aluminum in the body structure, including the doors, and much of the same interior as the F-150 in an effort to allow for rapid updates across all models. Additionally, the aluminum body has allowed Ford to shed significant weight from their trucks; on average 300 pounds on F-250 models.
Pavement-Pounding Performance
Car and Driver magazine reports the 6.2L engine, coupled with the new TorqShift-G automatic six-speed transmission, is capable of 0-60 mph accelerations in 6.7 seconds and the quarter mile in 15.3 seconds at 93 mph. The four-wheel-drive model uses Ford's traditional coil-spring, radius arm, solid axle front suspension, and leaf spring rear, but Ford beefed up and slightly tweaked everything to allow a touch more understeer, improved lateral stability, and the ability to handle larger payload capacities. The changes allow the F-250 to pull .79 g on the skid pad, and with its heavy-duty 14.29" brake rotors at all four corners, stop in less than 200 feet from 70 mph.
Pricing and Trim Levels
Pricing for the 2017 F-250 XL Supercab starts at $34,870 and includes the Flex-Fuel 6.2L V8 engine and 6.75 ft bed as standard, with a 4x4 adding about $3,00 to the price. The most basic single cab, with an 8 foot bed, starts at $32,535, while the crew cab starts at $36,130 and can go up to nearly $75,000 with all the options. The XL is the most basic trim level, but buyers can opt for the XLT, Lariat, or King Ranch (crew cab only) trim packages that add a variety of options such as exterior chrome, interior leather, additional lighting, premium wheels, infotainment system, backup camera, etc.
For help with service of your truck, check out the how to section of Ford-Trucks.com