Ford bringing new luxury to Super Duty trucks

[March 10, 2012]  DETROIT (AP) -- Ford Motor Co. is introducing its most luxurious big truck yet.

The Super Duty Platinum will have standard navigation, a rear-view camera and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel when it goes on sale later this year. Ford's touch-screen entertainment and climate control system is in the wood-grain dashboard, with special knobs so workers can use it with gloves on.

Ford has had a high-end Platinum version of the light-duty F-150 since 2009. Around 10 percent of buyers choose that option. It's now bringing that level of luxury to Super Duty trucks, which have a towing capacity of 17,000 pounds or more.

Ford isn't saying how much the Super Duty Platinum will cost, but buyers should expect a hefty price tag. The current top-of-the-line F-250 Super Duty starts at nearly $50,000.

[Associated Press; By DEE-ANN DURBIN]

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