DEARBORN, MI - One of every two heavy-duty pickups sold in the United States in the first nine months of the year is a Ford F-Series Super Duty, according to the manufacturer. The new Super Duty dominates the heavy-duty pickup segment with 50 percent of total heavy-duty sales, an increase in market share of 5 percentage points over the same period last year - its highest share since 2001. This is according to a Ford analysis of recently released registration data by R.L. Polk.  

Furthermore, the heavy-duty pickup segment is growing - up 17 percent over last year - and Super Duty accounts for 80 percent of that heavy-duty segment growth.   The all-new Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine has helped drive Super Duty's sales performance in 2010. In September, the engine was recognized by Ward's Automotive as Best Diesel Truck Engine after rigorous testing against competitive trucks.  

Rated at 400 horsepower and 800 lb.-ft. of torque, the new engine delivers the best-in-class towing and hauling capability as well as highest fuel economy in its class, a full 20 percent better than the outgoing model. Click www.fordvehicles.com/2011superduty/.

The 2011 Super Duty, which went on sale in April, also received a new 6.2-liter gas engine. Other upgrades include a new six-speed automatic transmission, live-drive power takeoff technology, a new instrument panel, factory-installed fifth-wheel towing package and more.  

"As always, our goal is to better satisfy the needs of our customers. Super Duty's continued sales and share leadership is validation that whether those needs are capability, durability, quality, power, performance, fuel economy, technology or safety, we are succeeding," says Doug Scott, Ford Truck Group marketing manager.

In October, Ford's entire F-Series lineup became the first nameplate in the industry in 2010 to top 400,000 units sold.  

The new 2011 F-150 arrives in dealerships later this month with the most extensive powertrain makeover in the 62-year history of F-Series. Among the new engines coming are two fuel economy leaders: the 3.7-liter V6 at 17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway; and the 5.0-liter V8 at 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway. The truck also offers the 6.2-liter V8 in specialized models. The highly anticipated 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine-powered F-150 comes to market early next year