DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is aiming its re-engineered 2005 F-series Super Duty pickup at General Motors' dominance in gasoline-powered heavy pickups.
Ford is boosting the horsepower of gasoline engines on F-250 and F-350 pickups debuting this summer.
Ford remains the overall sales leader in the heavy pickup, or 8,500-pound-plus, segment. But Ford has lagged in gasoline engine sales, which represent about one-third of the segment.
"Right now, GM leads in gasoline," said Bill Osborne, executive director of Ford's pickup and commercial vehicle platforms. "We want to lead in gasoline the way we lead in diesel."
Through May, GM held a 50 percent share of gasoline-powered heavy-truck sales, according to R.L. Polk data provided by Ford. Ford's share was 38 percent, followed by Dodge at 12 percent. In diesel engines, Ford held a 51 percent share for the same period, followed by GM at 25 percent and Dodge at 24 percent.
For the 2005 model Super Duty, Ford is offering gasoline engines with three valves per cylinder, rather than two. Horsepower on the 5.4-liter V-8 engine increases 13 percent to 300. Horsepower on the 6.8-liter V-10 engine also jumps by 13 percent to 355.
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Ford is boosting the horsepower of gasoline engines on F-250 and F-350 pickups debuting this summer.
Ford remains the overall sales leader in the heavy pickup, or 8,500-pound-plus, segment. But Ford has lagged in gasoline engine sales, which represent about one-third of the segment.
"Right now, GM leads in gasoline," said Bill Osborne, executive director of Ford's pickup and commercial vehicle platforms. "We want to lead in gasoline the way we lead in diesel."
Through May, GM held a 50 percent share of gasoline-powered heavy-truck sales, according to R.L. Polk data provided by Ford. Ford's share was 38 percent, followed by Dodge at 12 percent. In diesel engines, Ford held a 51 percent share for the same period, followed by GM at 25 percent and Dodge at 24 percent.
For the 2005 model Super Duty, Ford is offering gasoline engines with three valves per cylinder, rather than two. Horsepower on the 5.4-liter V-8 engine increases 13 percent to 300. Horsepower on the 6.8-liter V-10 engine also jumps by 13 percent to 355.
Full Story HERE