Ford Introduces 2017 Ford Super Duty

Screen Shot 2015-10-06 at 11.25.29 PMTalk about some heavy duty news being talked about at Planet Ford in Spring, Texas (serving The Woodlands, Cypress, Conroe and Houston). This week, Ford, America’s truck leader, introduced the automakers new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty. Ford says this is the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty truck lineup ever.

Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas said, “Ford Super Duty is the truck America’s hardest-working men and women trust and depend on. We are helping these customers build a better world by delivering a new generation of pickups that set new benchmarks in capability, performance and efficiency.”

What’s new?
Ford is utilizing advanced materials to reduce the vehicle’s weight. Plus, the 2017 Super Duty truck and chassis cab feature all-new, segment-exclusive smart technology to help increase customer productivity, comfort and convenience.

“While Super Duty is America’s best-selling heavy-duty truck, we never take our leadership for granted,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development and chief technical officer. “Our team is using relentless innovation in materials, technology and Built Ford Tough engineering to deliver customers our best Super Duty yet.”

The Tough Stuff
At the core of Fords new F-series is a new, fully boxed frame that is made from more than 95 percent high-strength steel. It’s up to 24 times stiffer than the previous frame – enabling the most towing and hauling capability ever delivered by Super Duty. In addition, the Ford truck line up features heavier-duty four-wheel-drive components, driveline, axles and towing hardware.

And for the very first time, Ford’s Super Duty body utilizes high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy, which is more dent- and ding-resistant than the outgoing steel body.

Weigh Down
Implementing the new high-strength steel and high-strength aluminum alloy help reduce weight by up to 350 pounds while Ford is reinvesting additional weight savings everywhere it counts, to give customers more towing and hauling capability.

Smarts
Towing is always a primary focus when designing the Super Duty. All-new advanced coaching and camera technology makes conventional and gooseneck/fifth-wheel towing easier and more efficient.

Ford unveiled 16 segment-first new features – from LED lighting to adaptive cruise control – that assist Super Duty drivers to make driving and work situations easier and more comfortable.

As many as seven cameras help customers see more angles and monitor conditions surrounding the truck, and provide better trailering than ever before.

A center high-mounted stop lamp camera aids in visibility into the cargo box, especially for easier hook-up of gooseneck/fifth-wheel trailers. The 360-degree camera system will use four digital, high-definition cameras to give truck drivers a bird’s-eye view surrounding Super Duty. Trailer reverse guidance provides visual cues and tips to help ease backing up a trailer. A first-ever, factory-available trailer camera can be attached to a trailer to improve visibility backing up.

Super Duty owners will also appreciate in-cab trailer tire pressure monitoring system from the comfort of the cab while stopped or on the highway.

Adaptive steering allows drivers to have increased confidence to help make towing the heaviest of loads easier and brings greater ease to navigating job sites and parking lots – with or without a trailer. The technology reduces the amount of steering input needed to change direction at low speed, while reducing sensitivity to steering input at higher speeds.

The all-new Super Duty is available with a number of driver-assist technologies:

SYNC® 3 is Ford Motor Company’s new communications and entertainment system. the system will feature faster performance, conversational voice recognition and an easier-to-understand graphical interface, along with an intuitive smartphone-like 8-inch touch screen

Blind Spot Information System with trailer tow is optimized for Super Duty to include the length of the trailer; BLIS® uses radar sensors in the taillamps to monitor areas that may not be visible to the driver

Lane departure warning provides a warning when a driver strays from a lane through a series of steering wheel vibrations that mimic rumble strips

Adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support use sensors to detect slower vehicles moving in the same direction. If another vehicle is too close, red lights flash on the windshield and a warning sound chimes. If the driver does not hit the brakes, the brake system is pre-charged to stop faster when the brake pedal is pressed
Advanced light-emitting diode technology sheds light all around the new Super Duty, including:

  • New LED sideview mirror spotlights enable illumination surrounding the truck to light up a work site or camp site
  • Class-exclusive quad-beam LED headlamps and taillamps
  • New LED cargo box lighting

New Generation
The second-generation Ford-designed, Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 diesel engine is available for pickup trucks and chassis cabs providing the highest combination of horsepower and torque ever.

The 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine comes equipped with the new TorqShift-G transmission for the F-250 pickup – allowing for improved capability.

The Super Duty chassis cab lineup offers a choice of 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel, 6.8-liter V10 gasoline or 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engines.

“The bottom line is Super Duty customers will be able to tow and haul more than ever before,” said Schmatz.

Interior and Cargo Space
All three cabs (Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab) will be longer and feature a new interior design, including dual compartment glove box, overhead console-mounted auxiliary switches to operate aftermarket equipment, and completely flat SuperCab and Crew Cab second-row floors that make loading large items in the cab easy. Vital controls are close at hand, with the integrated trailer brake controller switch located even closer to the driver.

Customer accessibility and ease of use extend outside the truck as well, with the cargo box offering customers these class-exclusive features:

BoxLink™: Ford-patented combination of metal brackets and custom cleats that can be used to secure a variety of accessories in the cargo box

Remote tailgate lock and release: Tailgate can be locked/unlocked and opened with the key fob, eliminating manual locking and increasing convenience and security. The tailgate is damped – dropping gently down, hands-free, to a flat position when opened

There are five models in the Super Duty lineup – XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum. We expect to see them available at Planet Ford on I-45  late next year. If you’re ready to shop for your Super Duty now, we invite you to take a short drive down I-45 or shop online anytime at www.PlanetFord45.com.

Posted in 2017 Ford SuperDuty | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Ford Introduces 2017 Ford Super Duty

Test Drive the Ford Super Duty in Spring!

The Ford Super Duty in Spring is blowing the competition away again and this time it’s the GMC Sierra HD! When the Ford Super Duty and GMC Sierra HD are compared side by side, the Super Duty’s strong and capable features easily overtake the GMC Sierra HD. Learn more about the Ford Super Duty in Spring below with Planet Ford.

Ford Super Duty vs. GMC Sierra HD: Safety

  • Both the Ford Super Duty and GMC Sierra HD come fully equipped with driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height-adjustable front seatbelts and four-wheel antilock brakes. The Super Duty takes safety a step further and uses smart airbags that deploy with varying levels of force to better protect passengers of all sizes.

Ford Super Duty vs. GMC Sierra HD: Engine

  • If you’re looking for the more powerful truck the Super Duty is the way to go! Its 6.7-liter turbo V8 diesel engine produces 440 horsepower and 860 lbs.-ft. of torque compared to the Sierra that only produces 397 horsepower and 756 lbs.-ft. of torque.

Ford Super Duty vs. GMC Sierra HD: Suspension and Handling

  • The Ford Super Duty may intimidate some but its superior features give you optimal suspension and handling. Front and rear stabilizer bars help keep the Super Duty flat and controlled during cornering but the Sierra doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar. The Super Duty also has a wider track that contributes to its better handling and stability so you can navigate the streets with ease.

Ford Super Duty vs. GMC Sierra HD: Cargo Space

  • One of the benefits of driving a large truck is all the cargo space you’ll get to haul everything. Choose the Super Duty and you’ll get a larger cargo box to store all of your belongings in. Not to mention the low lift-over bed design makes loading and unloading the Super Duty much easier.

Do you feel like an expert on the Ford Super Duty in Spring yet? Visit Planet Ford to see what else you have to learn about this powerful truck!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Test Drive the Ford Super Duty in Spring!

Check Out the Ford Super Duty in Spring

Last week Planet Ford showed you some of the 2015 Ford F-Super Duty’s impressive features and today we’re giving you another comparison between the 2015 Ram HD and Ford Super Duty in Spring. The Ford F-Super Duty is a force to reckon with causing competitors in its class to fall short. Don’t take our word for it-see for yourself below!

These are some of the Ford F-Super Duty’s most noteworthy features that cause the 2015 Ram HD to miss the mark:

  • The F-Super Duty offers an optional Hill Descent Control feature so you can safely descend down a slope but the Ram HD doesn’t offer this feature.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration performed side impact tests on new vehicles and the F-Super Duty outperformed the Ram HD.
  • The F-Super Duty was also found to be the safer vehicle in the NHTSA’s front crash tests.
  • There are no mileage limits on the F-Super Duty’s five-year corrosion warranty but the HD’s warranty ends at 100,000 miles, which could be problematic if you travel a lot.
  • The F-Super Duty Gas comes with a “limp home system” that keeps drivers from being stranded if engine coolant is lost. This allows you enough time to make it to a service station to get repairs.
  • If you’re looking for the more powerful vehicle, look no further than the F-Super Duty that provides more horsepower and torque than its competitor.
  • The Ford F-Super Duty uses regular unleaded gasoline but the Ram HD 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade gasoline that will cost more.
  • You and your passengers will prefer the interior of the F-Super Duty that offers more passenger space than the Ram HD as well as more cargo capacity for all of your hauling and storage needs.
  • The minimum standard towing capacity on the F-Super Duty is much higher than the Ram HD’s (12,100 vs. 10,770 lbs.) so you can tackle any job that comes your way!

Visit Planet Ford today to learn more about the Ford Super Duty in Spring and what makes it such a catch compared to the competition!

Posted in super duty | Comments Off on Check Out the Ford Super Duty in Spring

Planet Ford Presents the 2015 Ford F-Super Duty in Spring

Looking for a truck that can handle all of your towing and hauling needs? The Ford F-Super Duty in Spring is up for the challenge! Today Planet Ford is highlighting some of the Ford F-Super Duty’s top features that cause it to stand out from competitors in its class like the Chevrolet Silverado HD. Find out what makes the Ford F-Super Duty in Spring the toughest truck on the block!

  1. Suspension and Handling: The Ford F-Super Duty may be large in size but its suspension and handling features make it easy to maneuver. Optional front and rear stabilizer bars help keep the F-Super Duty flat and controlled during cornering but the Silverado HD only offers a rear stabilizer bar. The F-Super Duty also has a wider track and longer wheelbase that contributes to its smoother ride and stable handling.
  2. Cargo Capacity: You’ll never have to leave anything behind if you choose the Ford F-Super Duty. The Super Duty has a much larger cargo box compared to the Silverado HD in almost every dimension and the low lift-over bed design makes loading and unloading the F-Super Duty easier.
  3. Payload and Towing: F-Super Duty has a higher standard payload capacity than the Silverado HD so you can haul it all! The F-Super Duty Crew Cab 250 can haul 3,540 lbs. but the Silverado HD falls short with only 3,240 lbs. The F-Super Duty optional payload capacity also beats with the Silverado HD offers.
  4. Convenient Features: Convenient features are the icing on the cake when you choose the F-Super Duty. Front power windows, exterior keypad and speed-sensitive wipers do the work for you while heated front seats and rear air conditioning vents ensure that you and your passengers are comfortable.

Are you interested in learning more about the Ford F-Super Duty’s features? Visit Planet Ford today to check out the Ford F-Super Duty in Spring and take it for a test drive!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Planet Ford Presents the 2015 Ford F-Super Duty in Spring

More Reasons to Drive the Ford Explorer in Spring

If you’re looking for additional reasons to test drive the 2015 Ford Explorer in Spring, Planet Ford is here to help! Shopping for your next SUV can be a daunting and draining process but our comparison of the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Equinox will help you see why Explorer stands out from the competition!

  1. Safety-Whether you’re driving around by yourself or transporting friends and family, safety features allow you to drive around town worry-free. The Explorer XLT/Limited/Sport offers optional middle row seat belts that inflate during an accident to prevent injuries. The optional driver alert monitor can detect an inattentive driver and sound a warning to make sure you are always focused on the road. The Explorer also outperforms the Equinox in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s front crash test and side impact tests.
  2. Engine-The Explorer will give you more power than the Equinox when you hit the accelerator. The Explorer 3.5 DOHC V6 engine produces 290 horsepower but the Traverse LS/LT 3.6 DOHC V6 engine produces only 281 horsepower. Popular Mechanics tested the Ford Explorer V6 and Chevrolet Traverse LTZ and the Explorer was faster.
  3. Passenger/Cargo Space-A cramped backseat is no fun for passengers but luckily the Explorer offers a roomy interior that all occupants will enjoy. The Explorer has more headroom and legroom than the Traverse so you and your passengers can get comfortable on the way to your destination. The Explorer’s third row seat folds flat to offer extra cargo space but that Traverse doesn’t offer this configuration. Choose the Explorer Limited/Sport model and you can lower the second and third row seats with the touch of a button.

After examining some of its features more closely, it’s easy to see why the Ford Explorer in Spring stands out from the competition. Visit Planet Ford today to take the Ford Explorer for a spin and see what it can do on the road!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on More Reasons to Drive the Ford Explorer in Spring

2015 Toyota Highlander vs. Ford Explorer in Spring

The 2015 Ford Explorer in Spring beats the competition yet again at Planet Ford in this comparison with the Toyota Highlander. The Toyota Highlander puts up a good fight but in the end, the Ford Explorer is the better buy with its numerous safety features and expertly designed interior. Take a closer look at the 2015 Ford Explorer with Planet Ford!

These are some of the features that make the Ford Explorer stand out from the competition:

  • Choose the optional driver alert monitor that can detect an inattentive driver and sound a warning to help you avoid nodding off at the wheel.
  • In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s front crash test, the Explorer received five stars overall but the Highlander fell short with only four stars overall.
  • If you’re looking for the more powerful ride on the road the Ford Explorer is a great choice and its 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine produces 240 horsepower and 270 lbs.-ft. of torque. The comparable Highlander model will not give you the same power.
  • The Explorer 4 cylinder FWD gets 28 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg in the city, which is more efficient than what the Highlander is capable of.
  • You’ll get better traction with the Explorer that has larger optional tires that will give you the best traction on all types of surfaces.
  • The Explorer has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, which makes parking easier and gives you better control on the highway at top speeds.
  • A roomy interior can make a big difference when traveling with multiple passengers and the Explorer offers much more passenger volume than the Highlander. The Explorer also offers an optional rear tailgate seat that can be used during picnics when the car is parked.
  • Storing cargo has never been easier thanks to the Explorer’s third row seat that folds completely flat to create more space.

Interested in learning more about the 2015 Ford Explorer in Spring? Visit Planet Ford today and speak with one of our sales associates about the rest of the Explorer’s awesome features!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 2015 Toyota Highlander vs. Ford Explorer in Spring

Planet Ford Celebrate Employee Milestones

p45joseemployeemay2015image004At Planet Ford and Planet Lincoln in Spring (serving The Woodlands, Houston, Aldine, Conroe, Cypress) we are lucky to have an amazing, award-winning team. We like to pause each month to celebrate their birthdays and anniversaries!

Our celebration also recognized the Planet Ford/Planet Lincoln Employee of the Month, and Employee Excellence. A big thank you and congratulations to Sean Currie for 21 years of service. Our Employee of the Month is Jose Chavez.planetfordseancurrie21yearsimage002

Shawn Burns, the General Manager/Operating Partner of Planet Ford presented a several of employees with an Employee Excellence Award in recognition of outstanding performance in customer satisfaction, sales, and training.  These employees have exceeded the highest levels of performance in their area of expertise.  Great job to all of the employees honored with this award!

May Anniversaries Celebrated:

Sean Currie
Daniel Trevino
George Vinery
Jesse Williams
Amanda Holiday
Randall Crooks
Rogelio Gonzales
David Moran
Delia Ramos
Aaron Smith
Ted Matthews
Reynaldo Flores
Karen Ferguson
Anibal Hernandez
Ken Lazard
Marco Moreno
Alex Chavarria
Roosevelt Woods, Jr.
Erika Tristan
Jaime Arenas
Amber Davila
Devin Duoto
Carlos Duca

May Birthdays Celebrated:
Tom Dejohn
Stephen Tucker
Arthur Wooten
Randall Crooks
Morieta Treat
David Schultz
Dawn Eaton
Michael Murfin
Vance Deer
Vickie Pscion
Denise Kelley
David Sherman
Esivel Gonzalez
Tran Keels
Tomas Castillo, Jr.
Derick Brown
Luis Gonzalez
Ean Mizell
Evan Cotter
Nazaret Cruz
Tina Ivy
Michael Knight
Adam Perez

Posted in community, Planet Ford Employee Recognition | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Planet Ford Celebrate Employee Milestones

Drive the 2015 Ford Explorer in Spring

Cruise into summer behind the wheel of a 2015 Ford Explorer in Spring. The Ford Explorer is superior to other vehicles in its class like the GMC Acadia and comes with features that can’t be beat! Planet Ford is giving you the details on the match up between the Ford Explorer and GMC Acadia so read on to learn what makes the Ford Explorer the better buy!

The Explorer can tackle any obstacle, on the road or off-road, and its front and rear gas charged shocks give you better control on uneven surfaces. The Explorer comes standard with front and rear stabilizer bars that help keep the Explorer flat and under control when cornering, however the Acadia only offers a front stabilizer bar. You’ll maneuver with ease in the Explorer that performs better than the Acadia in both the skidpad test and figure eight test.

The convenient features you’ll get when you choose the Ford Explorer are endless. The Explorer comes standard with driver power windows with one-touch opening and closing, speed-sensitive windshield wipers, and an exterior keypad with the Explorer XLT/Limited/Sports editions. The Explorer Limited offers even more helpful features like sensitive light sensors on front headlights, heated front and rear seats, and active park assist that takes the stress out of parallel parking.

Need another reason to love the Ford Explorer? The Car Book estimates that the Explorer is less expensive to own and operate than the Acadia and you’ll pay $96 less for front brakepads, $141 less for fuel injection and $44 less for front struts just to name a few. Five-year ownership costs are also estimated to be less expensive and that includes fuel, fees, depreciation, financing, insurance and maintenance.

Want to learn more about the 2015 Ford Explorer in Spring? Visit Planet Ford today and we would be happy to tell you more about this exciting SUV!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Drive the 2015 Ford Explorer in Spring

Houston Food Bank Collections at Planet Ford, Gives Oil Change

FoodbankP59Planet Ford in Spring (serving The Woodlands, Houston, Aldine, Cypress, Conroe) believes it is key to help your community whenever possible.

Right now the Houston Food Bank needs a helping hand.  There are a lot of families who are in great need. Can you lend a hand and a few cans of food or non-perishable items? Now through June 6, 2015, bring in 10 canned food items or non-perishable food items and receive a complimentary oil change* from Planet Ford.

“Especially with all of the horrible weather in the Houston area recently, our Ford dealership wants to pitch in and help,” said Shawn Burns, GM/OP of Planet Ford on I-45. “Many of us have extra and unwanted non-perishable items. Why not clear out the cabinets and pass them onto someone who wants and needs them? As a thank you, we will be giving a complimentary oil change.”

Randall Reed, owner of Planet Ford agrees. “When we all work to give a little, we can help a lot!”

*Gas engine cars, SUV & light-duty trucks. Oil filter, oil change up to 5 qts. (excludes synthetic oil). Exp. 6/6/15.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Houston Food Bank Collections at Planet Ford, Gives Oil Change

Planet Ford Delivers $6K to Westfield HS

p45 drive One for Ur School westfield high school image003Today, Planet Ford in Spring delivered a check for nearly $6,000 to Westfield High School. The money was earned during a Ford Drive One 4 UR School fundraising event held March 7th at school.

“We want to thank the community, students and staff for coming out to help make this event a big success for the kids,” said Shawn Burns, GM/OP of Planet Ford on I-45. “We had a lot of fun test driving new Fords and answering questions from our community.”

Planet Ford partnered with Westfield High School for the event that benefited Westfield’s S.A.N.E. Senior Organization, a senior students association. S.A.N.E. hosted Drive One to help raise money for Prom 2015.  A total of 298 test drives. At $20 per drive donated by Ford, the students raised $5,960!

Ford’s Drive One 4 UR School program was developed as a fun, engaging way to help high schools raise money to support various programs and extracurricular activities.  Ford dealerships partner with local schools to conduct the fundraising test-drive events.  Participants get to drive a new Ford, such as the F-150, Fusion, Mustang or Focus, among others.  For every valid test drive completed, Ford donates $20 to the high school  – up to $6,000.

To learn more about Planet Ford in Spring (serving Houston, The Woodlands, Aldine, Cypress, Conroe), take the short drive on I-45 to the Louetta exit or log on anytime to www.PlanetFord45.com. We also invite you to visit our all-new, world’s largest Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center.

Posted in Drive One 4 UR School | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Planet Ford Delivers $6K to Westfield HS