Ford
It'll be a short model year for Ford's SuperDuty F-350, F-450 and F-550, to be replaced early next year with new products. The SuperDuties, which range from F-250 to F-750, are available as F-250 and F-350 pickups (and in F-450 and 550 with an Accubuilt aftermarket box) and chassis-cabs in all models by virtue of a box-delete option for the F-250. All models come with a two-door Regular Cab, four-door Super Cab or four-door Crew Cab, with a variety of wheelbases, and with two Triton gasoline engines (300-horsepower 5.4-liter V-8 or 362-horsepower 6.8-liter V-10) and the 365-horsepower Power Stroke diesel V-8, mated to a 6-speed manual or 5-speed TorqShift automatic transmission. The International-built diesel gets a bump in displacement to 6.4 liters to help meet stiffer '07 emissions limits. The 4.5-liter V-6 diesel used in the LCF low-cabover (and International's LC series) is enlarged to 4.8 liters. Ford's E-series SuperDuties come in van and cab-chassis configurations with the same engines as the conventionals; there's also an E-350 and 450 parcel chassis with gasoline engines only.
General Motors
Chevrolet and GMC cover the Class 3 to 5 range with the Silverado/Sierra 3500 pickups and the Kodiak/TopKick C4500 and C5500 conventionals, both available with the DuraMax 6600 diesel V-8, as well as several low-cab-forward models built in conjunction with its partner Isuzu. The 2500 and 3500 pickups will be replaced in a few months with next-generation vehicles with cabs and hoods from the recently unveiled 1500 Sierra/Silverado/ Sierra 1500. The current 3500 is standard with the 352-horsepower Vortec 6000 gasoline V-8 and the 4500 and 5500 with a 325-horsepower Vortec 8100 gasoline V-8. The diesel for '07 uses mechanical and electronic advances plus aftertreatment with split O2 catalyst and particulate filter. Allison automatics are now 6 speeds, and 6-speed manuals remain available. Newly available on the 4500 and 5500 are 22.5-inch wheels and tires on 4x4 Regular Cabs with 35-gallon, driver-side, under-cab diesel fuel tank. GM has been promoting the C4500 with a Monroe-built pickup bed (shown) to compete with similar large pickups from Ford and International.
