2020 Ford Super Duty: Did the Blue Oval Go Far Enough?

• Competes with: Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500, GMC Sierra 2500/3500, Ram 2500/3500
• Looks like: The old Super Duty with a new grille and headlights
• Powertrains: gasoline 6.2- or 7.3-liter V-8, or turbo-diesel 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8; six- or 10-speed TorqShift automatic transmission; rear- or four-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Fall 2019

So far this year, we've seen new heavy-duty pickup trucks from Ram and GM. Now it looks like Ford has decided not to be left out of the party: Behold the new 2020 Ford Super Duty pickup, a mild refresh of the company's perennially popular heavy-duty rig revealed at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show.

Related: More 2019 Chicago Auto Show Coverage

The 2020 Super Duty might not look all that different, but the good stuff is underneath, where a new big-block V-8 engine migrates over from the to join the powertrain stable, while a new 10-speed transmission and new abilities keep the new Super Duty in the top truck hunt.

Exterior

No, the 2020 Super Duty doesn't look all that different from the outgoing model. The changes are subtle: The two-bar grille is gone, replaced by a variety of designs depending on which of the many trim levels you purchase — all of which offer improved cooling. Dual-rear-wheel Super Duty truck receive a special high-airflow grille designed to provide maximum powertrain cooling flow. Some have chrome, some don't, but there's always an option for more brightwork, it seems. Seven new wheel patterns have been included, new appliques have been created for the tailgates and the taillights have been mildly revised. While GM went all out in redoing the style of its heavy-duty trucks and Ram took a conservative approach, Ford decided to spend the money elsewhere.

Under the Hood

And that place was underneath the aluminum sheet metal. The biggest news comes in the powertrain department, where Ford has added a new gasoline 7.3-liter V-8 to the lineup. The new big-block engine also will be used in the company's medium-duty truck lineup, replacing the gasoline V-10 in that application. In the Super Duty, it's meant to bridge the gap between the base gasoline 6.2-liter V-8 and the optional (and expensive) turbo-diesel Power Stroke V-8 torque monster. The new 7.3-liter uses an all-new cam-in-block overhead valve architecture along with a cast-iron block for what Ford says will offer excellent durability. It also makes use of variable valve timing, port fuel injection and oil-cooled pistons.

While the gas 6.2-liter V-8 carries over unchanged, while the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 gets some significant revisions aimed at improving responsiveness and fuel economy. An all-new 36,000-pounds-per-square-inch fuel injection system has been fitted with new injectors that spray up to eight times per stroke. The exhaust has been rerouted to a new inboard location, while a fully electronically actuated (gone is the electrohydraulic actuation) variable-geometry turbocharger is meant to be more efficient and stronger. The Power Stroke receives several upgraded parts as well, including pistons, heads, block, connecting rods and bearings. Ford hasn't provided power, torque or fuel-economy numbers for any of the engines but says the information will be forthcoming as the on-sale date approaches.

All three engines can be had with a new 10-speed TorqShift transmission, which features a wider gear ratio than the six-speed automatic but retains the live-drive power takeoff function that allows for accessories to be operated while the truck is in motion. It will offer multiple drive modes as well, including Normal, Sport, Slippery, Eco, Tow/Haul and Deep Sand/Snow.

The six-speed remains; it's the only transmission available on the base F-250 with the standard 6.2-liter V-8. Opt for either of the alternative engines or bump up to an F-350 or above, and you get the 10-speed automatic as standard. Ford is proud of the fact that despite featuring four additional gears, the 10-speed fits in the same basic packaging as the old transmission and weighs just 3.5 pounds more.

Ford has brought the magical feature to the Super Duty for 2020. Just like the light-duty F-150, the system allows for hands-free operation while backing up a trailer, using the rear-view camera and a special knob to articulate the trailer while reversing. Given that the Super Duty often sees some big trailer action, Ford has engineered the system to work with all styles of trailers including fifth-wheel and gooseneck connections.

Interior

Changes to the cabin are limited to just colors, trim pieces and materials; no design changes have been enacted for 2020. The Lariat and Platinum trims have some new appliques on the doors and media bin door, while the Limited gets more extensive changes. New colors and materials like genuine leather, coarse black ash wood and brushed aluminum trim have been fitted, while a leather-wrapped dash top panel, armrests, seats and center console lid are present. The headliner's been done up in faux suede as well.

Related:

The onboard tech gets an upgrade, with FordPass Connect now standard for 2020. This provides a 4G LTE modem with Wi-Fi connectivity for up to 10 mobile devices. Wireless charging and USB-C ports are now available as well.

Safety

A few new safety systems have been added to the Super Duty for 2020, including an available lane-keeping alert system, blind spot information system with trailer coverage, precollision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and more. The new safety features are standard on the XLT trim level and up.

So, this is a mild redo for the Super Duty, with Ford figuring that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Super Duty has been popular for years, contributing to the F-Series' longtime dominance of the truck market. But with completely new, wildly styled GM heavy-duty trucks making their auto-show debut in Chicago and new ceiling and a luxury interior that rivals anything from Lincoln or Cadillac, one wonders if Ford has gone far enough to keep truck customers happy. Of course, we'll know exactly which truckmaker has the torque crown when Ford gives us Power Stroke horsepower and torque numbers.

Manufacturer images