Ford Builds 5-Millionth Super Duty in Kentucky
2015 Ford F-450 Super Duty
Ford marks another momentous occasion for one of its linchpin namebadges in October as the 5-millionth Super Duty rolls off the line at the Kentucky Truck Plant.
It’s fitting that such an important milestone be realized at the Kentucky plant, where the F-Series Super Duty has been built since 1999.
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“Super Duty trucks are engineered to meet the needs of the toughest customers,” said Doug Scott, Ford Truck group marketing manager. “Their continued sales dominance with these demanding customers proves how hard they deliver.”
When it comes to the Super Duty, the term “sales dominance” may be somehow putting it mildly: over the course of the last year, the Super Duty has controlled a 44% market share in its segment. In addition, 72% of all metal mining workers, 70% of all law enforcement agencies, and 54% of all highway maintenance workers chose the F-Series Super Duty for their on-the-job needs.
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In the 15 years that led up to the 5-millionth Super Duty being produced, technological advances have been essential in keeping the Super Duty atop the heavy-duty truck heap.
Today’s Super Duty engine offerings—the 6.2-liter gasoline V8 and the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel—create 385 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque and 440 horsepower and 860 lb-ft of torque, respectively.
By comparison, equivalent powertrains being engineered in 1999—the Triton 6.8-liter V10 and the 7.3-liter diesel engine—generated 275 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque and 235 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, respectively.
Similarly, the maximum tow rating of a 1999 F-350 Super Duty was 14,600, while the max tow rating of a 2015 F-450 Super Duty is 31,200.
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