I have been thinking about a few posts on why the next gen Lightning was canned. There is no reason that the next L cant be a low 13 second truck that gets 13/20 MPG if not better. The solution, put the freaking power stroke in it with a cam for more HP, free flowing exst. and a more HP agressive tune. Just a chip and cat back exst. in my 3500 cummins gains 150 hp and 200 plus Tq. There are 12 second duallys running around with very little work done to them. This is the anwser to the sport truck problem.

 

Those are turbo diesel vehicles youi are talking about...completely different. I don't think gas mileage is any better in a 400hp/700lb.ft. turbo diesel truck either that runs 12s. The problem is the lightning weighs a crapload - if they are going to get fuel economy up it needs to drop 1,000 pounds and a manual transmission wouldn't hurt matters any.

 

My dodge 3500 Quad cab Dually gets 12.5-15 city and 20 plus on the HWY. Why coulnt a version of a cummins tuned for HP not deliver the same if not better fuel economy in a much much lighter truck. The BANKS power packages often improve fuel economy. My truck with the hemi in it gets 5-10 MPG worse milage and makes less power. Diesel performance needs to come to these 1500 based sport trucks.

 

I think it was warranty concerns.
Everyone I've seen in a lightning seems to drive them like they're daddys work rental truck...including at least twice at a dealership.

 

Simple. Diesels don't fit with the sports image SVT (and most other performance divisions) would like to convey with their products. Hence why we rarely see diesel applications in such high-performance cars. The only vehicle that comes to mind is the diesel lambo's and they're only available in Europe where they worship and love everything diesel. American's aren't as fond of diesels unfortunantly. I love diesels and think they have a place in the mainstream cars/trucks, but not performance applications.

In the end, i doubt the person buying a 450+hp 5,000+lb performance truck is overly concerned with fuel economy.

At this stage, the best they can do is offer a 6spd manual tranny as an option or make the auto a 5spd unit.

 

Diesel also adds $6000 to the sticker price.

The 400HP LS2 SSR gets 13/20 mpg with the 6 speed manual, 15/19 with the 4 speed auto. I could see an SSR with an A6 and DoD getting 15/22

 

Our '01 Lightning has routinely acheived 18-19mpg on the highway (in mountainous country).

Want over 20............ put a 6-speed auto in it, with a real high second overdrive. That would do it.

However, this is in a 4700lb truck, and we all know the new version would have been quite a bit heavier. Even with extensive lightening, it would still probably come in at least a couple hundred pounds heavier.

We'll see I guess............. if or when Ford ever decides to make one again.