Ford Shows Aluminum-Bodied Super-Duty Pickup

Ford Motor Co. says its 2017 F-Series Super Duty pickup truck will set new benchmarks for capability, performance and efficiency.

Ford unveiled the big truck, which will be launched next year, this week at the Texas state fair. Payload, towing, fuel economy ratings and other details will be announced later.

As previously reported, the redesigned Super Duty model will feature an aluminum body, which will make it as much as 350 lbs lighter than the current model. The savings is half what the carmaker achieved with the aluminum-bodied F-150, which also benefited from lighter axles, fenders and other components that need to be stronger on the larger Super-Duty trucks.

The new Super Duty also gets a reworked box frame. Ford says the structure is made of 95% high-strength steel that is 24 times stiffer than the current model. Other enhancements include an upgraded driveline and axles, along with beefier four-wheel-drive components and towing hardware, which Ford expects will yield best-in-class towing and payload ratings.

Other goodies include an in-cab trailer tire-pressure monitoring system, blind spot detection that takes into account the trailer, remote tailgate lock and release, and adaptive steering that reduces steering wheel input for low speed maneuvers. As many as seven cameras will be available, including a new attachable trailer camera to improve visibility when reversing.