The Ford Ranger Super Duty combines power and workhorse capabilities
Ford has revealed the first-ever Ranger Super Duty, a factory-built heavy-duty version of its mid-size pickup. Designed for the toughest jobs and environments, the new model brings increased load capacity, rugged durability, and advanced towing technology to a segment not typically known for such capability.
Photo: Ford Australia
Set to launch in Australia in 2026, the Ranger Super Duty will be available in Single, Super, and Double Cab Chassis configurations. A Double Cab with a style-side box will follow mid-year, alongside the Ranger Super Duty XLT, which adds touring-oriented upgrades and unique styling, offered exclusively on Double Cab variants.
Photo: Ford Australia
According to Ford, the Super Duty was developed based on extensive feedback from fleet operators and professionals who rely on their vehicles daily. The result is a pickup engineered with reinforced components and smart features to maximize productivity. Jim Baumbick, Ford’s vice president of advanced product development, said the vehicle redefines global mid-size truck capability, offering heavy-duty performance directly from the factory.
Photo: Ford Australia
“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 Jim Baumbick, VP of advanced product development at Ford.
The Ranger Super Duty shares its overall chassis dimensions with the standard Ranger but runs a unique, strengthened frame. Reinforced suspension mounts, box brackets, and tow bar mounts contribute to the truck’s increased Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) rating of 4,500 kilograms. Upgraded axles, a new heavy-duty rear differential, and eight-stud wheel hubs ensure the truck can handle higher payloads and heavier towing demands.
Photo: Ford Australia
To prove its toughness, the Ranger Super Duty underwent a rigorous testing program. At Ford Australia’s You Yangs Proving Ground, autonomous driving robots ran 24-hour tests over Silver Creek, an unforgiving track that simulates dry riverbed terrain. Additional tests included a specially developed mud pack scenario to simulate mining site conditions, corrosion baths, towing dynos, and low-range heavy load trials.
The truck’s towing performance has also been enhanced. A recalibrated trailer brake controller and Ford’s updated Pro Trailer Backup Assist™ system make managing trailers easier. Using a yaw rate sensor, the system automatically tracks trailer angle and only needs to be calibrated once per trailer, with up to 10 profiles storable. Smart Hitch and Onboard Scales are also debuting on a Ranger for the first time, giving drivers insight into towball weight and payload as items are added to the load box.
Photo: Ford Australia
Under the bonnet, the Ranger Super Duty runs a 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6, tuned for heavy-duty use and compliant with EU6.2 emissions standards. The powertrain features enhanced cooling to maintain performance under load or during extended off-road use. A new feature allows drivers to delay automatic diesel particulate filter regeneration and manually initiate it, catering to those working in fire-prone environments.
Durability and off-road capability were key priorities in the truck’s development. High-mounted breathers for critical components improve water wading performance, while steel bash plates protect the underbody. A 130-litre long-range fuel tank extends travel range, and the four-wheel drive system has been upgraded with stronger components and a low-range gearset adapted from the F-Series Super Duty.
Selectable drive modes adjust the vehicle’s response to conditions such as mud, sand, rock, or towing. Standard front and rear locking differentials, with a front unit adapted from the Bronco Raptor, give the Ranger Super Duty a significant traction advantage in rough terrain.
Photo: Ford Australia
Ford designed the Ranger Super Duty with aftermarket modification in mind. Reinforced mounting points and an accessible chassis layout allow for easy upfitting with specialised equipment, making the truck well-suited for industries ranging from emergency services to off-grid exploration.
According to chief program engineer Dave Burn, the Ranger Super Duty combines all the best elements of Ford’s workhorse vehicles into a single platform. He said the vehicle’s capability has been proven in testing environments where typical trucks would struggle, and that it offers performance and durability unmatched in the mid-size pickup segment.
“The capability of Ranger Super Duty is unmatched in the mid-sized truck segment,” said Dave Burn, chief program engineer at Ford Australia. “Whether it’s for work or serious off-road use, this truck delivers.”
As of this writing, the Ranger Super Duty appears to be an Australia exclusive, but we think it could make for a compelling variant here in the Philippines.
