Big Fords dropping Cummins and Allison

carringb wrote:

Lessmore wrote:

I'm surprised that the new Ford medium duty (F650/750)doesn't offer engines/transmissions more typical in other MDT brands, in order to be competitive.

I don't know if they are going to be selling for less than IH , Freightliner, etc...given the engine lineups include just two...a diesel engine till now, just used in pickups (6.7 diesel) and a gas engine. Not sure if any other current MDT's even have a gas engine as an available option.

I'm a bit disappointed. I used to drive MDT F series trucks a number of years ago. Thought they were good trucks and competitive in the market.

I guess we shall see.

Maybe their strategy is to be different? Really there's a half-dozen MDTs which all have the same engine, transmissions, and axles. There only so much you can do with 34" wide ladder frame, so the only thing effectively separating many MDTs is just the cabs!

I think Ford has to be careful about being different. If their difference is to offer two engines that may have lesser durability than the competition than I can't think that will give them the competitive edge in the MDT market. In the MDT market it's important to have vehicles that can take severe service, with little downtime. I'm not saying the new Ford MDT won't be in the same class as the other MDT...I don't know...but given these engines were originally designed for light(er) duty trucks (pickups), I wonder if this strategy to use these engines is the best plan.

I think it comes down to durability ratings of these engines. Are they comparable to the typical MDT engines used in the competition is my question ?

And yes, the V10 is currently the only MDT gas engine for sale. PSI did try to sell a 8.8L V8 (based on the GM 8.1L architecture), however they took the information down from their website (or maybe they didn't get EPA compliance?). A few RV makers even listed it as a future option, and PSI had marketing material for potential MDT applications.