1999 Ford Contour Provides Fun Driving in Practical Package

1999 Ford Super Duty F-Series Can Handle Anything Thrown Its Way

Ford Motor Company continues to meet customer demand for trucks that work and play tough, offering more power, room and capability with the 1999-model Super Duty F-Series. The over-8,500-pound gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) Super DutyF-Series is an all-new full-size truck developed and built on a separate platform from the under-8,500-pound GVWR F-150 and F-250. This two-platform strategy recognizes the significant differences between the commercial and personal-use markets, and meets the needs of both.

44 configurations,15 exclusive offerings

These new Super Duty F-Series trucks, offered as F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550, replaced the F-250HD, F-350 and F-Super Duty models in Ford's lineup. Super Duty models are available in Regular Cab, four-door SuperCab or Crew Cab models, as well as in a Class A Motor Home Customers have a choice of 44 model configurations, 21 of which are new and 15 of which are unique to the industry.

"The real volume opportunities with our work truck depend on our ability to compete in multiple niche markets," said Ken Farr, Super Duty F-Series branch manager, "So we've added four-wheel drive to the dual-rear-wheel trucks and raised the GVWR ratings, increased horsepower and torque on our engines, and designed the vehicle to be capable of snowplowing in SuperCab and Crew Cab configurations."

The 1999 Super Duty F-Series trucks feature 5.4-liter Triton"' V-8 and 6.8-liter Triton"' V- 10 aasoline engines, both new to the lineup, and an improved intercooled 7.3-liter Power Stroke", diesel encyine. Each enume offers more horsepower, higher torque and better fuel economy than the one it replaced.

New power steering gears and pumps and an enhanced suspension system result in significant improvements in vehicle ride, handling, responsiveness and maneuverability.

Super Duty F-Series also offers several new Ford exclusives, including the F-350 SuperCab dual rear wheel 44 Chassis Cab and selected F-450s and F-550s in Crew Cab models and 44 confiourations. As well as an F-350 SRW Chassis Cab at 9900-pound GVWR.

(Chassis cabs are pickup trucks without the bed or box. "Up fitters," or body companies, mount unique function bodies, called "second-unit" bodies, onto chassis cabs and return them to dealers for sale to customers. Commercial applications include ambulances, dump trucks, stake beds, and service bodies. Personal-use applications include fifth-wheel horse trailers and fifth-wheel travel trailers.)

SuperCab models are available in the 1999 F-250 and F-350. The SuperCab's rear seat is standard on XLT and Lariat models and optional with the XL trim level. The rear seat cushion folds up and forward, and the seat back folds down to create a steel flat-loading surface. Many commercial users use the rear space for storage only.

Super Duty F-Series trucks also are equipped with standard four-wheel power disc brakes. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are standard on all SUPER DUTY vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR and optional on 8,800- to 9.0(X)- pound GVWR vehicles.

RAPID GROWTH IN SEGMENT

Ford leads segment The over-8,000-pound GVWR truck segment has expanded nearly with 45 percent share 80 percent over the past five years. Ford leads the segment with around 45 percent share. This growth has been spurred, in part, by the 1 million annual business start-ups in the United States. "As the service sector explodes in growth, we're finding that the over- 8,500-pound truck has become the vehicle of choice for small-business owners," said Guy Bertram, Ford Commercial Truck brand manager. "We've been No. I in the business because we've been there from the beginning, anticipating and listening to the market. We saw start-up businesses as an opportunity to grow with the market, and we answered by building the most complete lineup of over- 8,500-pou nd GVWR trucks illustrates the industry."

WIDE SELECTION OF CHOICES

Super Duty is available in 44 different configurations, 21 of which are new to Ford and 15 of which are unique to the industry. Among the choices are:

· Pickups or Chassis Cabs available as Reaular Cab, SuperCab or Crew Cab models, as well as a Class A Motor Home Chassis model.
· An industry-first 17,500-pound and 19,000-pound gross vehicle weight offering designated as the F-550.
· Two- or four-wheel drive.
Short- or long-box configurations and a box-delete option.
Super Duty F-Series pickups and Chassis Cabs are configured as follows:
Body styles: - Regular Cab
- SuperCab (four-door, pickup models only)
Class A Motor Home Chassis Short box (6 3/4 feet) - available only on SuperCab and Crew Cab Long box (8 feet) - Box delete

- Single rear-wheel axle (SRW)

- Dual-rear-wheel axle (DRW)

Powertrains: * 5.4-11ter Triton" V-8
(235 hp, 335 foot-pounds of torque)

- 6.8-liter Triton"' V- 10

(275 hp, 4 10 foot-pounds of torque)

- 7.3-liter direct- i njection Power Stroke"" diesel

(235 hp, 500 foot-pounds of torque)

- 4R 100 automatic transmission

(replaces the E40D transmission)

- M60D six-speed manual - standard with the diesel engine

Series: - Super Duty F-250/350 Pickups

- XL - standard trim

- XLT - value level trim

- Lariat - luxury trim

- Super Duty F-350/450/550 Chassis Cabs

- XL - standard trim

- XLT - value level trim

- Lariat - luxury trim (available in January 1999)

Gross Super Duty F-Series Weight Ratings (in pounds):

· F-250 Pickups and Long Wheelbase

(LWB) Box Delete

· F-350 SRW Pickups and Chassis Cabs 9,900

· F-350 DRW Pickups and LWB Box Delete 11,200

· F-350 DRW

Chassis Cab -as engines 11,200

· F-350 DRW Chassis Cab diesel engine 12,500

F-450 DRW Chassis Cabs 15,000

· F-550 DRW Chassis Cabs (6.8-liter gas engine/7.3-liter Power Stroke"' diesel) 17,500

· Reaular Cab 4x2 only 19,000

The over-8,500-pound GVW Super Duty F-Series is built at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville. The F- 150 and F-250 (under8,500-pound GVW models) are manufactured at the Kansas City (Missouri) Assembly, Norfolk (Virginia) Assembly and Oakville (Ontanio) Assembly plants.

F-Series had calendar year sales of 746,111 in 1997,making it the best-selling vehicle in America for the l6th consecutive year.

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