First Drive: 2020 Ford F-Series Super Duty 

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Litchfield, ARIZ. — Crossing the 1,000 pound-foot threshold for torque must be a little like summiting Everest, a feat reserved for only the strongest, and perhaps the craziest. While Ram reached the 1,000 mark first , engineers at Ford are nevertheless stoked: the V8 diesel in the 2020 Super Duty now exceeds the 1,000 peak, with 1,050 lb.-ft of torque.

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Say this number out loud: One thousand and fifty pound-feet. This is the first time ever that much torque has come from the factory in this class of truck. Just a few years ago, 700 was a lot. To put that in perspective, the average semi-trailer comes with anywhere between 1,000 and 2,000. A locomotive might have as much as 60,000, but your average Kia runs on about 150; the average half-ton pickup uses about 300 to 400. In other words, the new Super Duty diesel is the Sir Edmund Hillary of three-quarter-ton trucks. Plant the flag and take pictures.

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First Drive: 2020 Ford F-Series Super Duty  Back to video

To get that much power from the 475-horsepower, 6.7-litre Power Stroke V8 diesel, engineers came up with a new fuel delivery system, a new double-axle, a variable geometry turbocharger, new piston heads, and a new variable displacement oil pump. Structural enhancements were made to the compacted-graphite iron block, the head, connecting rods and bearings to keep them from failing. This third-generation diesel also gets a 36,000-psi fuel injection system that can spray fuel up to eight times per stroke for better combustion and noise control.

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But how does it feel from way up here? With all available torque available as early as 1,600 rpm, touching the throttle is a little like preparing for launch. Going over rocks requires a gentle foot — one on the gas, one on the brake. Even though one of these trucks weighs as much as two Honda Accords, the Super Duty releases its massive stockpile of energy with enough force to push the driver hard into the seat. Reaching 120 km/h is effortless. Eighty to 120 is equally easy. Climbing a long, nearly 30-per-cent grade was a walk in the park.

This diesel is also beautifully quiet at speed. Even one of Ford’s product managers, riding with us in the back seat of the 2020 Super Duty, had to ask which engine was in our truck. When I floored it, the 10-speed automatic (with selectable drive modes) kicked down several gears and he knew instantly — the marriage of torque, acceleration and the heady rasp of diesel leaving an unmistakable signature. It’s indeed remarkable just how quiet this truck is on the highway, but even at idle and around town, the typical racket of a diesel is all but contained, leaving just enough to know there’s no ordinary engine up front. Still, it’s never bothersome.

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Fuel economy, even with our acceleration testing, wasn’t bad either, our highway average between 12 and 13 L/100 kilometres an impressive feat. With a 181-litre tank on long box, Crewcab trucks, (128 litres for 6.75-foot boxes) the highway range of the diesel Super Duty could come close to 1,500 kilometres unladen.

Just remember the diesel is $10,500 option, so if you’re not doing a lot of towing, the optional cost might be hard to justify. Of course, that much power ups the towing stakes across the Super Duty range that comes in 18 different trims, from the workhorse-spec F-250 XL for $41,850, to the fully loaded F-450 Limited at close to $105,000. And then there’s a whole bunch of commercial chassis trucks that follow the consumer line.

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But the 6.7L diesel helps raise conventional maximum towing to 24,200 pounds, an increase of 3,200 pounds over the 2019 truck. Max fifth-wheel towing climbs to 32,500 pounds (up 5,000) and a gooseneck will handle up to 37,000 pounds. Descending mountains with that much weight is helped by a driver-activated engine-exhaust brake that restricts the turbocharger’s exhaust flow to generate back pressure and slow the truck without using the brakes, without making much noise.

If you need to tow more than that, it’s time to buy a Freightliner. Payload numbers are also up, maxing out at 7,850 pounds with the 6.2-liter gas-powered work truck and the dually F-350, while a more typical F-250 4×4 Crewcab can carry more than 3,300.

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And while these trucks are very much geared for work, Ford has now bridged the gap between the standard 6.2L gas engine and the diesel with a new, 7.3-litre gas engine. While the current 6.2L V8 carries over unchanged into 2020 as the entry-level engine making 385 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. of torque, the new 7.3L V8 returns 430 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque.

And does it ever feel good. With a pleasing V8 rasp under acceleration, the engine throttled our F-250 4×4 Supercab along with absolute ease. At low speeds and on the highway, it’s shockingly quiet and smooth. Passing power was plentiful, with no vibration entering the cabin at any point of the throttle map. A $2,750 option on the F-250 and $2,250 option on the F-350, the 7.3 averaged about 20 L/100 kilometres in our testing — which included plenty of full throttle starts. It’s possible, with some steady-state 100 km/h cruising, that number will fall to about 15, but the power and refinement of this new engine makes it seriously compelling.

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The F-250 and F-350 Supercrew 4x4s also get a new Tremor package that makes these trucks look better than any Super Duty before. The $5,790 package includes a two-inch front-end lift for a ground clearance of 10.8 inches. It can also ford through [I see what you did there. — Ed. ] 33 inches of water, and the approach and departure angles measure 31.65 and 24.51 degrees, respectively. Skid plates, high-volume dampers and modified springs, a Dana limited-slip differential up front, a locking rear differential, a rock-crawl mode, trail control, and 18-inch wheels wearing Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac all-terrain tires round out the package, although the very cool ( and very bright ) new dual LED headlamps — that add 20 per cent more lumens of light — don’t come with the Tremor package alone; the LEDs are only optional on the Lariat and above. But the Tremor package can optioned with a new, integrated 12,000-pound Warn winch with wireless remote control. The cost for the winch will probably come in at $3,995.

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Also new for 2020 Super Duty is Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist system that lets drivers use a small knob below the integrated trailer brake, instead of the steering wheel, to maneuver a trailer via the backup camera. It works in conjunction with the hydraulic steering that now offers variable assist according to speed. Indeed, the hydraulic steering lends for excellent steering feedback and feel. The truck is a joy to steer and drive.

Inside, not much has changed for 2020. On-board 4G WiFi and wireless charging are available, leaving the big changes for 2020 all under the hood. Still, that easily makes the 2020 Super Duty, especially with the diesel engine and Tremor package, the undeniable king of the hill.