Was the Tiger II a surprise?

From the evidence available it seems that Allied intelligence was not aware of the Tiger II.

…it appears from a captured document that the 8.8cm KwK 43 (L/71) is or will be mounted in the Pz. Kpfw Tiger in place of the original 8.8cm KwK 36 (L/56). It is, however, not stated whether the mounting of the new gun is accompanied by any major alterations in the design of the tank.
War Office Technical Intelligence Summary 16 June 1944.

According to a document captured in Normandy, the ammunition carried in Pz. Kpfw Tigers mounting the 8.8cm KwK 43 is as follows.
In a fighting tank 40 rounds APCBC plus 40 rounds HE.
In a commander's tank 32 rounds APCBC plus 31 rounds HE.
The total of 80 rounds carried for the 8.8cm KwK43 compares with 92 of the somewhat smaller rounds for the 8.8cm KwK 36 mounted in earlier Tiger tanks.
War Office Technical Intelligence Summary 30 June 1944

Tank Museum photo No. 2405/B/5

Having discovered an example the experts were soon swarming all over it but their first efforts at rendering it on paper left something to be desired.

This drawing was made in August 1944 but in due course knowledge increased.

The tank resembles a scaled-up Panther in appearance. The general layout conforms with normal German practice. The clean slope of the glacis plate is broken only by the ball mounting for the hull M. G.; driver and wireless operator have no direct vision and can see only through episcopes in the superstructure roof.
War Office Technical Intelligence Summary 30 August 1944