Re: [A/S] Tow Vehicles

["Tom Patterson" <pattersontom@xxxxxxxxx>]

Interesting news out today, as follows:
Ford, Navistar unveil new diesel truck engine
DETROIT, May 28 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. said on Tuesday it would use a
new diesel engine from Navistar International Corp. in its large trucks, as
competition for buyers of heavy-duty vehicles stiffens.
Ford said the 6-liter Power Stroke V-8 would offer more power, better fuel
economy and lower emissions than the 7.3-liter Navistar engine it will
replace. The engine, rated at 325 horsepower and 550 foot-pounds of torque,
will be offered in F-Series Super Duty pickups and the Ford Excursion sport
utility vehicle starting early next year.

Truck sales are a key money maker for the world's second-largest automaker,
which is in the midst of a turnaround plan aimed at generating $7 billion in
annual pre-tax profits by mid-decade. Ford sells about 250,000 of the
heavy-duty diesel engines a year, mostly to buyers who tow heavy loads.

But after dominating the market for years, Ford has come under pressure in
the past year from General Motors Corp. , which has increased production of
its Isuzu-designed V-8 Duramax diesel. And later this year, the Chrysler arm
of DaimlerChrysler AG will begin selling a revamped version of its
heavy-duty Dodge Ram pickups with a six-cylinder diesel supplied by Cummins
Inc.