With electrification taking over the truck segment, workhorses such as the upcoming 2023 Ford Super Duty are also expected to jump the battery bandwagon. And with prototypes of the Blue Oval truck having been recently spotted testing again, we need to discuss the possibility of a hybrid powertrain, which would allow the introduction of high-output Pro Power onboard generators.
Multiple 2023 Ford Super Duty test vehicles have been caught on camera by amateur enthusiasts over in Arizona and New Mexico and while there’s no clear sign of electrification, the need for such an upgrade is certainly present—the resulting spy video, which comes to us courtesy of TFL Truck, shows prototypes ranging from a crew cab example with a standard bed and even a dually model to a chassis cab.
How to use the Pro Power onboard generator?
The all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning and the F-150 Hybrid have already taken the carmaker’s Pro Power onboard generator way past the 2kW power offered on gas-only models, with the first offering up to 9.6 kW and the latter coming with up to 7.2 kW.
Thus, owners can use these to power their homes in case of an emergency such as the Texas outage of 2021, add a bit of juice to a potentially stranded EV, use their power tools, and, of course, during camping trips.
The 2023 Super Duty is a mid-cycle update, which means that if the Blue Oval does introduce the said hardware via a Hybrid model, this feature should be one of the main novelties.
Due to the added weight of the electrical system, the setup is expected to involve a gas engine rather than a diesel. And while adding muscle to the 5.0L or the 6.2L isn’t likely to result in greater numbers than what the Godzilla 7.3L V8 has to offer, the said benefits, along with the improved fuel efficiency should still make for a serious asset.
Pricing for the 2023 Super Duty
We can use the financial side of the current 2022 SD range as a starting point. This kicks off with the F-250 in XL trim, which will set you back at least $36,495, and goes all the way to the F-450 Limited, which kicks off at $93,365. We live in a time when work trucks can demand six-figure sums and the 2023 revamp is naturally expected to add a premium, especially since the cabin should receive a digital instrument cluster, along with other infotainment updates and extra safety features—keep in mind that the 2022 Super Duty has already received SYNC 4 with a larger 12-inch central display and cloud connectivity as standard for the Lariat and superior trims.
Even so, the XL trim will continue to focus on keeping the budget in check, with previous prototype sightings having hinted this will retain the analog cluster and the column shifter setup of the current truck.
Since Ford has already strengthened the rest of its pickup range, starting with the all-new 2022 Maverick compact and the also-fresh 2022 Ranger mid-size, together with the said F-150 models, the timing is ideal for the arrival of the facelifted Super Duty models, which should land by the end of the year, coming as 2023 units.
