The new 2008 Ford F-Series Super Duty – the boldest, most capable and cleanest F-Series truck ever – hits dealerships this week; 50,000 orders placed even before truck went on sale.

The new 2008 Ford F-Series Super Duty – the boldest, most capable and cleanest F-Series truck ever – hits dealerships this week; 50,000 orders placed even before truck went on sale.

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 2, 2007 – Ford began selling the most capable F-Series truck ever – the new 2008 Ford F-Series Super Duty – and will begin advertising it heavily on Sunday’s Super Bowl XLI broadcast and at NASCAR’s Super Bowl, the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. This major push is expected to build on the 50,000 2008 F-Series Super Duty orders Ford received before the first trucks were shipped.

The new Super Duty features an available all-new, more powerful 6.4-liter Power Stroke ® dual-turbo diesel engine; an industry first Ford F-450 pickup with unmatched capability; and numerous class-exclusive, innovative features such as the Tailgate Step and PowerScope Mirrors.

“This will be a Super February for the boldest and most capable F-Series Super Duty ever,” says Cisco Codina, Ford group vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service. “The truck market is heating up this year – Ford plans to fortify its 30 years of F-Series truck leadership by bringing the biggest, boldest and most capable truck to this battle.”

Customers are buying a heavy mix of high-end models – including the heavy-duty truck segment’s first Class 4 pickup, the Ford F-450 – out of the gate. Ford also is selling more diesel-powered Super Duty models – generally 75 percent of Super Duty sales – than projected. This diesel mix demonstrates that Ford truck customers buy F-Series for the most extreme jobs that cannot be handled by any other truck without moving up to commercial-grade vehicles.

Other popular Super Duty models include the upscale Lariat “Tough Luxury” series that brings the striking design and comfort of luxury cars to big work trucks to the first time. This model, which includes the top-of-the-line King Ranch model, is selling at a faster pace than projected.

The new Super Duty also is flying off the lots with innovative, industry-first features such as the TailGate Step that allows easier access to the pickup bed. The industry-first Powerscope power-folding, power-telescoping trailer tow mirrors and stowable bed extender are proving popular.

Charles Howard, the first 2008 F-Series Super Duty customer, loaded up his new Ford F-450 King Ranch with nearly every option. But, the Winchester, Kent. resident bought the truck for its most common purpose, to work on his 80-acre farm.

“This is the best truck I’ve ever owned and I’ve had all kinds of them,” says Howard. “I will use it to tow hay this time of year. I also will tow cattle and tobacco.”

Howard says he’s been getting more visitors these days, “People follow me to the story to talk about the new truck.”

Howard also confirmed that the 2008 F-Series Super Duty engineering team achieved its goal of making the Ford F-450 handle and ride as well as smaller trucks, even when unloaded.

“This truck drives and rides better than my 2005 F-350, which is like the little brother now since it’s the same color King Ranch, too.”

SUPER DUTY’S SUPER SUNDAYS

Ford will begin widespread promotion of the new 2008 F-Series Super Duty this weekend. The new truck will get built before your eyes in an innovative, 60-second advertisement that will launch during the Super Bowl “Built Ford Tough Pre Kick” show this Sunday on CBS.

“We are launching the most capable Ford F-Series Super Duty ever,” says Codina. “While the outcome of the big game is in doubt – we will leave no doubts about who is America’s Truck leader and why.”

The new ads showcase Super Duty’s capability and features. All three ads were developed using CAD-based engineering data that when brought to life show what it takes to build the new F-Series Super Duty.

Two 15-second teaser spots are airing now and highlight the class-exclusive, integrated TailGate Step and the all-new 6.4-liter Power Stroke diesel featuring dual turbochargers and Ford Clean Diesel Technology.

The 60-second spot literally brings together all of the new Super Duty ’s parts and sub-systems. It provides a visual tour of the design and engineering prowess built into every Super Duty through the features and benefits that matter most to truck consumers. The viewer is guided on the tour by a Super Duty “owner” who, in the closing scene, puts on his hard hat and goes to work knowing that the new Super Duty is built to work harder day in and day out.

The new F-Series Super Duty also will take center stage at NASCAR’s biggest race of the year – the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. Ford Racing fans are invited to the “Super Duty Saloon” at one of Daytona’s most exclusive clubs, the Ocean Deck Restaurant and Beach Club, Feb. 15-17. Fans also can enter a Super Duty sweepstakes at www.fordracingevents.com to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the big race.

More Features, Lower Prices

Even with so many improvements, Ford is lowering the 2008 F-Series Super Duty’s base manufacturer ’s suggested retail prices (MSRPs) while adding more standard content to provide more value to truck customers.

The base MSRPs (including destination and delivery) for the 2008 F-250 Super Duty range from $23,305 for a Regular Cab XL 4×2 model to $38,425 for a top of the line F-250 Crew Cab Lariat 4×4. The same configurations for the 2007 model year were priced at $23,455 and $38,670, respectively.

The improved customer value is well illustrated by the 2008 F-250 Crew Cab Lariat 4×4, which is priced $235 lower than the same 2007 model, but has $545 worth of new standard equipment. The new standard equipment includes: trailer hitch, 18-in. versus 17-in. wheels, auxiliary audio input jack, rear seat ducts, SecuriLock®, and dual zone electronic automatic temperature control.

Among the key options available for the 2008 F-Series Super Duty:

6.4-liter Power Stroke diesel: $6,895
DVD Navigation radio: $1,875
Rear-seat DVD entertainment system: $1,315
Sirius satellite radio: $200
Stowable bed extender: $250
Powerscope trailer-tow mirrors: $370
Rapid-heat supplemental cab heater: $250
TailGate Step: $375

Additional product information is available at www.insidesuperduty.com.