Ford released its all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup with class-exclusive driver-assist technologies.
Adaptive cruise control, adaptive steering, and Blind Spot Information System with trailer coverage are three of the new class-exclusive features available to heavy-duty pickup truck drivers for the first time on Super Duty.
“The all-new Super Duty is the toughest, most capable Super Duty ever,” says Brian Rathsburg, Ford Super Duty marketing manager. “With a host of driver-assist technologies, it is also the smartest Super Duty ever.”
According to Ford, these 17 new class-exclusive features are available in the new Super Duty pickup:
- Adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support
- Adaptive steering
- BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with trailer coverage
- BoxLink with premium locking cleats
- Factory-installed customer-placed trailer camera
- Inflatable rear outboard safety belts
- Multicontour front seats with Active Motion®
- Power-deployable running boards
- PowerScope power-telescoping and power-folding trailer tow mirrors
- Remote tailgate release with power lock
- Standard flat load floor on SuperCab and Crew Cab
- Stowable loading ramps
- SYNC 3
- Tailgate step
- Trailer Reverse Guidance
- Trailer tire pressure monitoring system
- Utility lighting system (LED side-mirror spotlights)
“Drivers can set cruise control at a comfortable following distance using Super Duty’s adaptive cruise control,” Ford said. “The feature uses radar to measure the distance and speed of vehicles ahead, then automatically slows truck and trailer to maintain that preset distance at speeds above 20 mph.”
Adaptive cruise control with Super Duty’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine uses the engine brake to assist drivers towing heavy trailers, allowing truckers to traverse steep mountain grades while maintaining speed – even with a trailer weighing more than 31,500 lbs., Ford added.
“Towing is core to the Super Duty mission, and drivers will appreciate the engineering sophistication that enables adaptive cruise control to determine speed uphill and downhill with a trailer,” says Craig Schmatz, Ford Super Duty chief engineer. “We have torture-tested the technology in high elevations and on significant grades at places like Davis Dam in Arizona, Loveland Pass in Colorado and the mountain roads surrounding Beckley, West Virginia.”
A number of systems work in tandem to enable adaptive cruise control – including powertrain control, trailer brake control and the anti-lock brake system. According to the company, speed is further controlled on descents with the 6.7-liter Power Stroke engine’s integrated engine brake.
Adaptive cruise control is optional on Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum Super Duty pickups, including the Ford F-450 Super Duty.
Another feature, according to the company, is adaptive steering. The technology changes the ratio between the driver’s actions at the steering wheel – the number of turns – and how much the front wheels turn. Vehicles without the technology have a fixed ratio, but with adaptive steering, the ratio continually changes with vehicle speed, optimizing steering response in all conditions. Housed entirely within the steering wheel, the precision-controlled actuator – an electric motor and gearing system – can add to or subtract from a driver’s inputs.
BLIS with trailer coverage is another Super Duty feature, according to the company. It uses radar hidden in the taillights to detect a vehicle entering a driver’s blind spot while driving or backing up, and alerts the driver with a yellow light in the sideview mirror.
The new pickup will be built at Kentucky Truck Plant. It goes on sale late this year.