Exterior design maintains bold, American look, improves capability

Super Duty designers have delivered a truck that makes a bold design statement by emphasizing Super Duty’s increased capability. The larger, more prominent grille, sharply sculpted fender flares and fender-mounted air vents are just a few of the new design cues that announce that Super Duty is all about working hard.

“The design of the 2008 Super Duty was driven by the improvements in the capability of the truck.” said Schiavone. “For example, we started by raising the nose and enlarging the grille to improve cooling, which in turn improves towing performance.”

Super Duty’s impressive, larger grille not only makes a bold statement, but also helps improve cooling, which in turn improves, among other things, trailer towing capability.

The grille sits on a horizontal cut line that defines the top of the bumper and also serves as a base for the stacked headlamps, delivering a clean, tight and more refined look. The step pad on the front bumper is specifically textured and designed for the customers who use the bumper while servicing the truck

Super Duty proudly announces itself with a large Ford Blue Oval badge sculpted into the grille and “SUPER DUTY” embossed into the grille’s leading edge – a tribute to Ford’s truck heritage – harking back to the embossed FORD letters on the tailgate of the original F-Series.

The raised grille emphasizes the sculpted sides of the powerdome hood and carries the theme to the air vents mounted on the fender just behind the crisply defined wheel arch. The vents dissipate engine compartment heat and designate the type of powertrain beneath the hood – red for diesel, black for gasoline.

The distinctive dropped beltline, a Ford truck design cue, improves visibility and carries the eye rearward to the revised tailgate, with the Lift-Assist System now standard across the model range, and the Ford oval mounted front-and-center, flanked by redesigned tail lamps. A deeper rear bumper helps to balance the design while providing easier access to the bed.

Five all-new wheel designs including standard 18-in. premium chromed steel wheels on Lariat and 20-in. premium polished forged aluminum wheels join a list of 10 wheel options across the line-up.

Along with XLT, Lariat and high-line King Ranch models, the 2008 Super Duty now offers an FX4 model available on 4x4 SuperCab and Crew Cab. The FX4 includes skid plates, Rancho branded dampers, a special body-color billet-style grille and many other features. The FX4 is available in five colors including a new Dark Blue Pearl Clearcoat Metallic (also new for King Ranch) over Shadow Grey Clearcoat Metallic. Forest Green Clearcoat Metallic replaces Forest Green Satin Clearcoat Metallic and a brighter, richer Pueblo Gold Clearcoat Metallic replaces Arizona Beige Clearcoat Metallic as the lower color on XLT, Lariat and King Ranch two-tone models.

Innovative ideas: industry-unique Tailgate Step and stowable bed extender

Ford’s unique relationship with the Super Duty customer has fostered the kind of innovation that creates products like the Tailgate Step and stowable bed extender. These new features are available only on Super Duty and designed specifically to meet the needs of Super Duty customers, making their jobs easier.

The optional Tailgate Step and the two-piece stowable bed extender provide customers with the convenience of using these systems when they need them, but at the same time not requiring the removal of the systems when they are not in use.

“When we see how people are working with their trucks, we react to that,” said Poore. “One example is the Tailgate Step. If you go to any job site and see how people get up into the back of the truck, hopping into the bed or climbing up on the tire, you say, ‘There has got to be a better way.’ That’s the genius behind the Tailgate Step, looking at the market and solving the need with an intuitive feature.”

The Tailgate Step is fully integrated into the tailgate and virtually invisible when not in use – the entire feature is housed in the tailgate with the lower step becoming the center of the top rail of the tailgate when not in use. To use the step, simply drop the tailgate into the down position, grab the bottom step, pull it straight out from the tailgate and drop it down into the step position – all in one easy motion. The 16.7 by 4.5-inch flip-down step pad makes it easy to step up into or down out of the bed to load or unload cargo.

The Tailgate Step is as tough as the Super Duty, made of high-strength steel construction, is MIG welded for added strength, and has been tested up to 1,000 pounds.

A unique grab handle folds up and out of the tailgate to provide extra support when using the Tailgate Step, supporting up to 300 pounds. When not in use, the grab handle fits snuggly into a channel molded into the tailgate inner-liner. For added safety, the tailgate liner has an added coating creating a non-slip walking surface.

“It’s just another example of the way we innovate differently,” said Poore. “I have seen guys who have made their own version of a step, but none as cleanly integrated into the truck.”

The stowable bed extender works like any other, extending storage space to the end of the bed, or it can set inside the tailgate leaving a small, enclosed section that keeps cargo from sliding forward near the cab. But the similarities end there. This innovative extender separates into two pieces that fold and snap securely to the sides of the bed, allowing full space and functionality of the bed when the extender is not needed.

Super Duty’s stowable bed extenderis made of strong, blow-molded polypropylene, is impact and corrosion resistant and can withstand up to 1,000 pounds of static pressure. The 21-inch tall cage folds out, clamps together in the center and is secured to the bed with a bolt-action latch. It easily folds out of the way when not needed and secures to the inside of the bed.