Ford is holding the line on diesel engine pricing for the new 2011 F-Series Super Duty pickup, which features Ford's all-new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 oil burner. The invoice price starts at $6,503, according to Randy Wilson, fleet and commercial truck manager for Riverside Autoplex of Poteau, a Ford dealer in Oklahoma.
"That's the same invoice price as the current 6.4-liter [V-8]," Wilson said. "That also includes the price of the new 6-speed automatic transmission, because the six-speed is now part of the base price of the truck. $6,503 is the cost to move from the new 6.2-liter V-8 to the new 6.7-liter."
Ford will no longer offer a manual transmission for the Super Duty after the 2010 model year. Wilson did not know the if the Super Duty's base price (the price paid for the standard truck and powertrain) would remain the same or if it would increase.
Asked to comment, Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari provided PickupTrucks.com with the following statement Tuesday afternoon.
"F-Series has been the best-selling truck brand for 33 straight years by delivering class-leading capability, durability, and value," Gattari said. "That formula for success will continue with the all-new 2011 Super Duty and the all-new powertrain lineup. The truck, as well as the 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine, will offer tremendous value to our demanding customers. A more detailed pricing announcement will be made within the next few months."
The 6.7-liter V-8 is Ford's first in-house designed and built diesel engine for the Super Duty after ending its 27-year relationship with Navistar. It's most notable design feature is that the intake and exhaust flow through the cylinder heads is reversed when compared to a conventional diesel engine, with the exhaust exiting directly into the engine’s turbo that sits in the engine's valley, mounted between V-style cylinder banks.
What also makes this pricing news notable is that the Power Stroke has to meet tough new emissions limits for diesel engines that go into effect for all diesel engines manufactured after Jan. 1. This has already caused price spikes of more than $6,000 for big over-the-road trucks from manufacturers like Navistar and Hino. Even the new Ram Heavy Duty pickups, which met 2010 emissions regulations as of the 2007 model year, have increased the price of their 6.7-liter Cummins I-6 diesel by $500 for 2010.
Ford will use a new Diesel Exhaust Fluid system to scrub Nitrogen Oxide from the exhaust stream, which will require periodic DEF refills and creates a new maintenance item for owners.
NOx is a major air pollutant that contributes to smog, asthma, and respiratory and heart diseases. It's caused by diesel’s high combustion temperatures, which results from the high frictional heat created by compressing air in the cylinders to the point where it can ignite diesel fuel without using a spark.
2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty production starts in February, though orders can be placed at local Ford dealers today. The 6.7-liter V-8 will be built at Ford's engine plant in Chihuahua, Mexico.
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/12/ford-holding-the-line-on-2011-diesel-engine-pricing.html
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