2023 Ford F-Collection Tremendous Obligation Debuts Commonplace 6.8-liter V8, New Towing Tech

When Ford rolled out the redesigned F-150 in 2021, it hid substantial technological modifications and new options beneath a flippantly restyled – however nonetheless new – exterior. Regardless of the visible similarities to its predecessor, although, the brand new truck pushed the F-150 ahead in nearly excessive methods. With the introduction of the 2023 F-Collection Tremendous Obligation, Ford is taking an analogous strategy.

Look previous the revised grille, which evolves on the twin-bar look of the present truck, and past the crisp (however acquainted) headlights, and the Tremendous Obligation’s exterior design does little to point simply how new it’s. However the sides of the brand new Tremendous Obligation give that away considerably. It’s stunningly slab-sided and freed from fuss, except for the aspect grilles, which function warmth extractors. Easy, modest wheel arches barely protrude from the bodysides, whereas even high-end fashions lack the standard ornamentation outdoors of the entrance or rear finish.

Ford was equally conservative within the cabin, which retains the identical primary format as final 12 months’s truck. The middle stack is just about indistinguishable to what got here earlier than, though Ford did replace the Tremendous Obligation’s steering wheel and added the 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster as an possibility. However prospects upgrading from a Tremendous Obligation constructed since 2017 will really feel instantly at residence on this new truck.

Just like the F-150, the massive modifications are beneath the pores and skin. As reported, a brand new 6.8-liter gas-powered V8 arrives and sits on the backside of the engine lineup. Based mostly on the 7.3-liter Godzilla V8, Ford is promising a rise in low-end torque relative to the outgoing 6.2-liter engine. And if you happen to’re a fan of diesel energy, Ford is introducing a high-output model of the 6.7-liter PowerStroke.

Together with the brand new four-engine lineup, each Tremendous Obligation will use a 10-speed automated. Lastly, the times of paying additional for four-wheel drive are gone – it’s customary on XLT trims and above. The dangerous information right here is that Ford isn’t but sharing horsepower, torque, gas economic system, and even towing/payload for its newest workhorse.

Becoming a member of the powertrain modifications are some huge technological additions beginning with a brand new head-up show. Additionally becoming a member of the fray is ProPower Onboard, and whereas it’s solely out there with a 2.0-kilowatt capability (identical to non-hybrid F-150s), the critically acclaimed generator system ought to be a welcome addition on the campground or job web site. Talking of tenting, Ford is including extra know-how to make towing simpler, together with a completely hands-free enchancment on Professional Trailer Backup Help referred to as Professional Trailer Hitch Help. Faucet the button and the Tremendous Obligation will steer itself to the fitting choice to drop a trailer onto the hitch.

Gooseneck and fifth-wheel towers get into the tech recreation, too, as high-end Tremendous Obligation fashions take the why-didn’t-I-think-of-that strategy and add a secondary digital camera and proximity sensors to the highest of the tailgate. So even when the mattress is open, drivers will nonetheless have a digital camera’s eye view out the again. Past that, a blind-spot complement makes towing safer, whereas the navigation system will now contemplate a trailer’s dimensions and solely plot a course on roads that may accommodate large or tall hundreds.

Ford can also be increasing on the Tremendous Obligation’s off-road talents, declaring throughout a backgrounder that the hardcore F-Collection dominates trades that depend on working within the filth, corresponding to mining and excavating and forestry. The Tremor off-road pack returns, though at a time it’s a devoted trim on the Maverick, Ranger, and F-150, it stays an possibility pack out there on quite a lot of Tremendous Obligation trims. A brand new XL Off-Highway pack provides 33-inch rubber, a locking rear diff, and underbody safety with a revised air dam for higher clearance and water fording, too.

For companies, the 2023 Tremendous Obligation’s customary 5G modem will make conserving monitoring vehicles simpler through the Ford Professional Telematics and Fleet Administration Software program (try our assessment of the E-Transit to study extra about simply what these programs can do). And those self same companies will discover the Tremendous Obligation simpler to upfit, because of the Upfit Integration System. As a substitute of cumbersome controls, UIS will give aftermarket firms the choice so as to add digital switches to the Tremendous Obligation’s infotainment to regulate add-ons together with security measures to maintain employees protected.

The dangerous information? The Tremendous Obligation stays an ICE-only affair and Ford isn’t including BlueCruise to its fashionable pickup simply but. However even with these annoyances, there’s extra know-how right here that ought to make life simpler for the facility customers that gobble up this workhorse on the common. Search for way more on the Tremendous Obligation’s output, efficiency, and worth as its early 2023 on-sale date approaches.