Posted by Mark Williams | March 14, 2014

Our spy shooters have been watching for the new Ford Super Dutys since they were announced at the 2013 State Fair of Texas. As a bonus, our shooters noticed the new turbo-diesel tailpipe, meaning the significantly upgraded 32-valve 6.7-liter V-8 is under the hood.

We're pretty sure this is an F-350 Super Duty and the towing mirrors are massive, likely to carry over the electronic ability to extend and fold against the doors. In the rear, the dual tailpipe is clearly seen, identifying it as the new Power Stroke turbo-diesel engine. We should not there is something odd about the back of the crew cab and front of the bed box--could be some kind of Super Cab XL or possibly a nine- or ten-foot box.

We should be getting more info from Ford soon about our first opportunity to get behind the wheel, but we're guessing that will happen later this summer. Here's what our spy photographers are hearing:

Ford has begun testing prototypes for its next-generation Super Duty trucks, and the massive pickup prototypes are thoroughly covered in camouflage for what appears to be their most significant overhaul in a very long time.

These prototypes have actually appeared sooner than our analyst sources had expected, suggesting that Ford is working to continue its momentum, having just finished the bulk of the development work on the new 2015 F-150 trucks. Ford representatives are very confident that the all-new, aluminum-intensive F-150 is a game-changer in the standard-duty pickup truck segment, so we are all left wondering if they are going to try to parlay that advantage into the Super Duty ranks, as well.

The continuous improvements necessary to compete in the truck segments means that Ford has already made several improvements to their Super Duty engines, many of which will likely find their way into these new trucks — including direct injection we hear is destined for the 6.2-liter V-8 for the 2015 model year. The prototype caught here is clearly a Power Stroke and likely the new one, to be rated at 440 horsepower and 860 pounds-feet of torque.

We're also hearing the Super Duty will get a beefed-up version of the new 10-speed transmission, as part of the GM/Ford joint-venture, further aiding in fuel-economy.

Photos by KGP Photography