Ford pushes into the $100,000 range with new F-450 Limited

The $100,000 pickup is almost here.

For 2018, Ford is adding a new top-of-the-line model, the F-450 Limited 4x4. The starting price, including $1,295 for shipping, is $87,100. Ford says customers who check every available option will push the price to $94,455. Add in sales taxes and title fees, and most buyers are looking at a six-figure purchase price.

And that's OK with Ford.

"We still haven't found the ceiling for luxury trucks," said Ford spokesman Mike Levine.

The truck's interior is even more opulent than the King Ranch and Platinum, Ford's two luxury pickups. The F-450 Limited features custom camelback leather two-tone seats, a suede headliner and stitched leather on the steering wheel and instrument panel. The interior is bedecked with hand-finished dark ash wood trim.

But the F-450 Limited isn't just about leather seats, an advanced infotainment system and a full menu of safety equipment.

Ford says it can tow up to 15 tons.

The truck is powered by a 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V-8 mated to a six-speed automatic that drives all four wheels. Dual rear wheels are optional.

"Super Duty Limited is the most luxurious and advanced heavy-duty pickup truck ever created by Ford for accomplished buyers with appetites for the high life and hard-earned dollars to match," Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager, said in a statement.

Ford unveiled the F-450 Limited on Thursday at a press preview at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas.

Nissan's SUV

Meanwhile, Nissan used the fair to unveil its most expensive SUV offering, the 2018 Armada Platinum Reserve.

With a 4WD version starting at $65,885, including destination, the model comes with dark chrome front grille, door handles, exterior mirrors and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the package uses two-tone leather-appointed stitched seats and premium wood tone interior trim.

A 2WD version of the Platinum Reserve is priced at $62,985, including destination.

The SUVs are scheduled to arrive in showrooms in late October.

In a statement issued by Nissan, Billy Hayes, division vice president for light commercial vehicles and trucks, said Nissan chose the Texas fair for the SUV’s unveiling to take advantage of “its annual attendance approaching 2.5 million fairgoers.”

"And of course, we know Texans love trucks,” Hayes said in the release.

Ground zero

The fair, ground zero in the pickup marketing wars, is a venue where automakers often up the ante in towing, torque, horsepower and luxury models. The truck display at the fair, which opens to the public Friday and runs through Oct. 22, is like a giant amusement park for truck buyers.

It is filled with interactive events, outsized displays, engineers, product information specialists and demonstrations of towing and hauling capabilities. Last year, more than 2.4 million people attended the fair.