Add another oil-burner to Ford’s upcoming F-Series lineup. First reported by the folks over at SEMA, spy photographers caught this 2017 F-350 prototype mule running around during cold weather testing completely undisguised in single-cab daully configuration and base XL trim. While Ford has already revealed its plans for most of the 2017 model year, this particular variant has not been seen before.
Along with the new four-door Super Duty trucks, 2017 also sees the F-350’s styling move closer in line with the F-150. But the family similarities are much more than just skin deep, as the F-350 will not only share its cab with the F-150, it will also get new aluminum body panels like its sibling in the interest of weight savings.
This particular variant looks to be a serious workhouse, one which will likely be used for lugging around heavy machinery and car hauling, a segment of the market that Ford has dominated in recent years. Since this version hasn’t been formerly announced as of yet, payload numbers remain a mystery, but they’re expected to increase over last year’s figures. Either way, we shouldn’t have to wait long to get all the details, as the first batch of updated F-350 models is expected to hit showrooms by the middle of 2016.