Ford unveils hardcore Ranger Super Duty

HAVING teased its incoming Ranger Super Duty for a number of months, promising a part-ute, part-truck workhorse aimed at serious off-roaders and severe-duty fleet users, Ford Australia finally rolled it out as part of today’s 100-year celebrations in Melbourne. 

The model was born out of talks with fleet customers that wanted enhanced capability, durability and productivity out of the box rather than having to rely on aftermarket GVM upgrades. But it seems the Blue Oval went way further than that.

“We listened to what the hardest-working fleet operators told us they needed to be more productive, and we’ve developed a Ranger with heavy-duty hardware and enhanced capability to stay on the job longer and help get it done sooner,” said Ford Motor Company vice president, advanced product development, cycle planning and programs Jim Baumbick.

Ford Australia borrowed the Super Duty moniker from its North American arm, producing an Australian take on the concept that seemingly covers all bases. In fact, it will be the first non-F Series truck to bear the Super Duty badge when it arrives in 2026.

What we know so far…

It was initially revealed in November last year that the Super Duty would feature a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 4500kg (the legal limit for a standard car licence), maximum braked towing capacity of 4500kg, and a gross combination mass (GCM) of 8000kg – putting it miles ahead of conventional dual-cab and even 1500-class North American pickups including Ford’s own F-150. 

Now Ford has revealed the Ranger Super Duty and more technical details, it is clear – both on paper and in the flesh – that this model is a ground-up effort and not a simple GVM upgrade.

Instead, Ford has created a factory-backed ute option on par with the car-licence-suitable light trucks offered by dedicated commercial vehicle players like Isuzu, Iveco, Hino and others. 

A major point of difference is that the Super Duty maintains the wheelbase, length, and – presumably – driveability of a standard Ranger rather than being inflated to the dimensions of light trucks it competes with in terms of productivity potential. 

The Super Duty will be available as either a single-, super- or dual-cab chassis when it launches next year, with a subsequent dual-cab option featuring a style-side tray launching shortly after.

A pair of trim options have been confirmed, consisting of no-bull base Super Duty and a touring-focused Super Duty XLT that scores some additional creature comforts.

Powering the new model will be Ford’s 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine, used in other Ranger models, but it features improved cooling and has been calibrated to meet heavy-duty Euro 6.2 emissions standards. At this point, however, power and torque outputs have not been disclosed.

Due to the Super Duty’s intended use in severe off-road fleet applications, for industries like rural fire service, utilities and mining, operators will have the ability to delay diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration, opting instead to manually engage it when safe to do so. 

Underpinning the Super Duty is a heavy-duty chassis consisting of a thicker frame and, while its dimensions remain the same as a standard Ranger, the model has an increased ride height, wider wheel track and significant reinforcements throughout.

According to Ford, the suspension mounts, box mount brackets and tow-bar mounts have all been reinforced, and mounting points remain easily accessible to ensure easy upfitting of service bodies and accessories.

Beyond the chassis, the driveline consists of stronger front and rear driveshafts, transfer case and rear axle, while heavy-duty axles and eight-stud hubs send drive to beefy 33-inch General Grabber tyres. 

The Super Duty also benefits from off-road-focused items like a sealed snorkel, locking front and rear differentials, and breathers for the transmission, transfer case and diffs that are placed higher than usual to allow for an improved wading depth.

Underneath the Super Duty sits a 130-litre long-range fuel tank and the underbody is protected by thick steel from bumper to bumper – protecting the engine, transmission, diffs and fuel tank.

In a serious nod to its commercial focus, the Super Duty features on-board scales to allow operators to monitor vehicle weight on the fly – technology typically reserved for trucks – relying on sensors at all four corners.

Towing is also a clear focus for the Super Duty, evident in its 4500kg maximum capacity but helped along by an integrated brake controller, taller side mirrors, and Ford’s Pro-Trailer Backup Assist that uses a yaw rate sensor to manage trailer angle. 

A Smart Hitch feature also provides information about the towball down weight, helping operators adjust the load in a trailer to improve distribution and prevent overloading of the towball. 

Ford also outlined a rigorous validation program for the Super Duty, which included using robots to perform hardcore off-road torture testing not deemed safe for humans (or Ford employees).

“We torture test our trucks to earn the name Super Duty,” said Mr Baumbick.

“For instance, to make sure Ranger Super Duty is ready for almost any work environment, we created an even tougher mud pack test to simulate mine work. Ranger Super Duty had to continue working, even with 600 kilograms of mud stuck to the bottom of the truck.”

While the Super Duty was put through the usual durability testing, like corrosion baths, shaker rigs, towing dynos and hardcore off-road use, robots handled the arduous 24/7 testing at Ford’s You Yangs Proving Ground in Silver Creek. 

“Our Silver Creek and autonomous driving robots were designed and developed in North America for the testing and development of the original F-Series Super Duty and have been a part of global Built Ford Tough testing ever since,” said Mr Baumbick.

Ford has confirmed that the Ranger Super Duty order books will open in Australia and New Zealand later this year, with deliveries set for 2026, but pricing is yet to be outlined.