2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty Preview

Design
Heralding the changes to the 2011 Ford Super Duty are styling modifications to the front of the truck. The SD receives a new hood, revised grille with giant Ford oval, freshened bumper, the biggest headlights ever put on a Ford pickup, and new wheel designs ranging from 17 inches to 20 inches in diameter, depending on trim level selected: XL, XLT, Lariat or King Ranch. The Super Duty’s new grille can be finished in a charcoal appearance, chrome, or body color, depending on trim and packages.

Inside, the Super Duty gets new seats with available 10-way power adjustment on the driver’s side, available heating and cooling functions, upgraded materials, and underseat storage boxes. Ford also notes that the Super Duty’s new cupholders can be configured to hold anything from a 12-ounce can of soda to, in one case anyway, a 64-ouncer of Dew.

The truck also has a new flow-through center console with 60-percent greater storage capacity, 110-volt power inverter, and two 12-volt power outlets. Ford says the new console organizes as much as $7.53 in loose change, can be set up as file storage, and includes nooks and crannies for such things as pens, business cards, small flashlights, and—we’re sure Mike Rowe, Ford’s TV commercial pitch man and star of “Dirty Jobs,” loves this—facial tissues. Maybe in a floral package, scented with lavender and infused with lotion for smoother, softer skin.

Model Lineup
Ford plans to sell the new 2011 Super Duty in F-250, F-350 and F-450 model ranges. Depending on model range, expect a selection of regular, extended (SuperCab) and crew cab body styles equipped with short or long bed lengths underpinned by single- or dual-rear-wheel axles with 2- or 4-wheel drive. Ford has announced XL, XLT, Lariat and King Ranch trim levels; today’s Cabela’s and Harley-Davidson special-edition trucks are not on the roster at this writing. Put simply, the XL is the least expensive truck, the XLT is the most popular truck, the Lariat is the upscale truck, and the King Ranch is the luxury truck.