2008 Ford F-250
Consumers are excited to see the new line-up for the trucks that are in store. They are bigger, badder, and even better than before. Full of all the power that one looks for in a heavy duty truck.
The 2008 Ford F-250 is offered in three different styles; regular cab, supercab and crew cab. It also comes with two bed lengths. Major functional and engineering changes include a new 6.4-liter Power Stroke diesel that features twin sequential turbos for linear boost through the operating range and a particulate filter that brings emissions down to a level comparable to that of an equivalent gasoline engine, according to Ford. Power output has been increased to 350 horsepower, with 650 lb-ft of torque available at 2000 rpm. This brings it on par with the 6.7-liter Cummins engine used in the current Dodge Ram 2500, which produces the same 350 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, and within a tick of GM’s 6.6-liter Duramax diesel, currently rated at 365 horses and 660 lb-ft of torque.
Ford claims zero-to-60 times for the diesel F-250 have dropped by one full second relative to the ‘06 model. A day of driving wide-open,Texas highways confirmed the spec sheet. Despite its almost 7000-lb curb weight (that’s empty, too) the F-250 accelerates strongly and easily cruises at 80 mph with impressive civility. The diesel engine comes only with a heavy-duty TorqShift five-speed automatic (with Tow/Haul mode) working through a 4.30 geared axle (a 4.88 ratio may be ordered). The steep rear gears aid pulling power and off-the-line starts, while the overdrive ratio of the new five-speed automatic provides a reasonably economical 2200 rpm or so at cruise speeds of 75-80 mph.
Another big change for ‘07 is the redone interior, which now rivals anything you’d find in an XLT or Limited Expedition. A handsome main cluster is anchored by a tach to the left and a speedo to the right, with four smaller secondary gauges in between (including a transmission temperature and boost gauge with the beefy diesel engine). Rugged-looking chrome trim rings surround the vent outlets, even on the base XL, while the swanky King Ranch gets baseball-style leather, wood grain appliques and contrast colors for the main dash pad, glove box and door panels.
On the outside, designers really amped up the F-250’s stance with stacked headlights and a huge grille flanked by massive vertical vents, all of it capped off by “Super Duty” stamped on top. On the side of each front fender are prominent (and functional) engine compartment vents, red inserts for models with the diesel engine, black for the gas models.