SPY PICS: Ford Super Duty monster trucks sprung

Big enough to make the likes of Ford's Ranger or Toyota's HiLux look decidedly minuscule, Ford's oversize Super Duty F-250/F-350/F-450 line-up is about to join the smaller, Australia-bound "light-duty" F-150 range that was updated for the US market earlier this year.

The Super Duty Ford trucks, with load capacities up to 3.9 tonnes, were introduced in the USA during 1998 to cater for the top end of the pick-up market where they were suitable for a range of heavy-duty applications with the help of a range of petrol and turbo-diesel V8 engines, as well as a 6.8-litre petrol V10.

The new range of Super Duty Fords will flaunt a bigger-is-better theme with slab-like body panelling and a decidedly macho on-road posture elevated way above regular traffic.

Automedia's pics indicate the styling is clearly evolutionary and will undoubtedly reflect the same themes as the current F-150. The Super Heavy Duty Fords appear equally as massive as their forebears with a high-set chassis, bluff front end and what is suggestive of a blindingly large, reclining U-shaped headlight assembly. And the side window lines, with the step-down in the A-pillar area, can be expected to mimic those of the F-150 too.

These spy photos shot in the USA show the Super Duty Ford trucks echo the looks of the F-150, but up-scaled with bolder looks and a range of engines expected to include the existing 6.7-litre turbo-diesel as well as a 5.0-litre V8 or a 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 from the F-150. A 10-speed automatic, as fitted to the F-150-based Raptor pickup previewed at this year's Detroit show, could be part of the picture too.

The new trucks are also said to include a lot of weight-reducing technology – including extensive use of aluminium – to improve fuel efficiency and exhaust emissions. According to Ford, the F-150 Series weighs as much as 320kg less than the previous generation. That's a pointer to the magnitude of weight savings for the larger F-250/350 models.

Safety technology and new-generation infotainment systems as introduced with the F-150 can be expected to find their way into the Super Duty Fords, which are mooted for release in the US market next year.

The Super Duty series is expected to include F-250/350 Single Cab, F-250/350 Super Cab, F-250/350 Crew Cab, F-450 Crew Cab Dually, and F-450 Crew Cab and Chassis Cab models.

Ford-sourced F-Series Fords dropped off the Australian scene in 2005. The Thailand-built Ford Ranger is currently the factory's sole representative in the highly-competitive local LCV segment.

The new-generation F-150 is expected to become available locally via Harrison F-Trucks at the end of this year. It will be followed by the Super Duty F series Fords some time after their US launch as 2017 models in 2016.

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