New: Ford mods their Super Duty pickups ... chin spoiler + final drive changes

[MetroMPG]

Via ABG & Pickuptruck.com

"Ford is replacing standard 3.73 ratio rear axles on certain F-250 and F-350 Super Dutys with 3.55 running gear and has lengthened the underbody chin spoiler by 100-mm (3.93-in)."

Ford trucks spokesperson Wes Sherwood says, "We are making the 3.55 standard and when that's combined with new front-end aerodynamic improvements, there will be about a 1.5 miles-per-gallon improvement."

It's difficult to quantify the fuel economy improvement in percentage terms because three-quarter and one-ton heavy duty pickups aren't required to carry EPA mileage ratings. But this could mean as much as a 10 to 15-percent improvement for some drivers, depending on how they use their truck.

[...]


"Fuel economy is on people's minds right now and we're not going to wait until the next model year to make a change. We're going to implement changes like this as soon as we can."

[Daox]

Its about time. They complain so much about how they can't do this, or can't do that, and fight effeciency legislation tooth and nail. This change will cost nothing for the consumer, and not much for the manufacturer! How oh how will they ever get better fuel economy? Oh wait, they just pulled 10% out of the truck for near nothing.