Available in spring 2023, the new 2023 F-350 in new Azure Gray
The history of American trucks has been dominated by a fixation on engine, payload and towing specifications, with all three of Detroit’s automakers looking to edge out the competition through best-in-class numbers. And for good reason, as the heavy duty truck segment makes up a substantial portion of all three companies’ business model.
Has that changed with the new 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty? Well…no. The new truck once again introduces upgraded drivetrains and updated payload and towing specs intended to outgun the competition, although final numbers haven’t yet been released. Butthe latest F-Series Super Duty also puts an aggressive emphasis on technology, adding an expanded list of capabilities that will likely prove more daunting to one-up Ford’s competition.
The new 6.8-liter V8 will offer more low-end torque and better fuel efficiency
Drivetrain Evolution
On the mechanical front, the 2023 F-Series Super Duty benefits from a new standard drivetrain, featuring a 6.8-liter V8 gas engine running through a 10-speed automatic transmission. This is a notable displacement and gear count bump from the current Super Duty’s base drivetrain, which uses a 6.2-liter engine running through a 6-speed transmission. Much of this new engine’s architecture is based on the existing 7.3-liter V8 gasoline engine, and while specific horsepower and torque figures aren’t available Ford says it will provide more low-end torque and improved fuel efficiency.
The new 6.8-liter V8 should improve low-speed climbing in the Super Duty
The Super Duty’s existing engines, the 7.3-liter gasoline V8 and the 6.7-liter diesel V8, continue in the new 2023 model, with updated calibrations for improved performance. There’s also a new high-output 6.7-liter diesel V8 with turbo technology. This engine is targeting best-in-class horsepower and torque figures. Other mechanical improvements include upgraded brake calipers and rotors for improved stopping. The brake system is now more sophisticated for full integration with accompanying technology upgrades for 2023, such as Ford’s latest version of adaptive cruise control.
New Super Duty off-road tech includes Trail Control and Trail Turn Assist
Expanded Technology Pedigree
The technology wave sweeping the auto industry has completely washed over the 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty, with a long list of new features. Much of the technology is what you’d expect in a modern truck staying competitive in 2023. This includes the aforementioned adaptive cruise control, which includes low-speed stop-and-go speed management and lane centering to assist the driver with lane placement. A full-color head-up display, front and rear parking assist systems, and a 360-degree/blind spot camera system — for trailers — also seem par for the course in today’s world.
The new 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty benefits from a standard 5G modem
But there are plenty of new features debuting on the Super Duty that we haven’t previously seen in the heavy duty truck world. These include a 5G modem that powers connected technology like trailer theft notification (alerts the owner if anyone tries to disconnect the trailer), Ford Pro Fleet management software to monitor vehicle activity in multiple areas, and trailer navigation, which incorporates a trailer’s dimensions into driving routes to avoid issues with low bridges or tunnels. This new modem can now also power the truck’s over-the-air software and system updates.
Towing is popular with heavy duty truck buyers, so Ford focused on this area
Much of the new technology on the Super Duty focuses on trailer towing, including onboard scales monitoring trailer tongue weight and providing real-time feedback via its 8- or 12-inch display screens in the cabin, or through an innovative metering system within the truck’s taillights. Ford’s trailer hitch assist system can automatically align and reverse the truck when hooking up a trailer, while a new camera mounted on the top of the tailgate allows for improved rear visibility, even when the tailgate is down.
Updated interior components include larger screens and an improved interface
Interior Amenities
Heavy duty truck buyers have come to expect an increasingly accommodating level of creature comforts. The new F-Series Super Duty now offers a 12-inch customizable instrument cluster, four USB ports, wireless smartphone charging, a center console capable of holding an upright smartphone and tablet, and front seats that fold nearly flat. There’s also an available 18-speaker, 1,080-watt Bang and Olufsen audio system, and premium interior materials like leather and woodgrain continue to be offered on high-end trims like King Ranch, Platinum and Limited.
The F-Series Super Duty has the largest market share in the heavy duty segment
Big Trucks = Big Money
Ford’s Super Duty has more than 50 percent market share in the mining, utility, construction, and emergency response industries. The company says its F-Series Super Duty business, within Ford Motor Company, generates more revenue than the entire Fortune 500 companies, including Southwest Airlines, Marriott International, and Nordstrom. As a key component of the automaker’s future financial health, Ford has to maintain the Super Duty’s prominent role in these industries. This is driving the new truck’s expansion into connected technology as a way to enhance fleet management through reduced operator costs.
More details on the new 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty will be revealed in the coming months, but Ford clearly intends to maintain market dominance in this segment.
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