The Ford Ranger is already Australia’s best-selling vehicle, but the Blue Oval wants to give buyers even more choice by offering a beefed-up Super Duty version of the popular ute.
Ford Australia today announced it will launch the Ranger Super Duty in 2026, and the ute will boast figures that rival its F-150 showroom-mate and other large American pickups such as the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Toyota Tundra.
It’ll be built in Thailand alongside other Australian-market Rangers, however, local engineering input has come courtesy of Ford’s 1500-strong IMG Product Development team based in Melbourne.
“Ranger Super Duty further strengthens our commercial vehicle portfolio, with an offering for all kinds of work,” said Ford Australia president and CEO Andrew Birkic.
“As we move closer to launch, we will continue to work closely with fleets and vehicle modifiers across Australia to be sure that Ranger Super Duty does everything they expect it to, and so much more.”
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Ford has only shared a dimly lit teaser image of the Ranger Super Duty, however, it appears the tougher flagship will feature a bespoke grille and wider wheel-arches than the current dual-cab.
The revised grille and bonnet design could also preview the Ranger’s upcoming facelift, which is expected soon given the ute’s late-2021 unveiling.
When fitted with an optional 70mm tow ball, the Ranger Super Duty will be capable of towing up to 4500kg braked – a one-tonne upgrade on the existing Ranger’s 3500kg figure (fitted with a 50mm tow ball), and a full two tonnes more than the Ranger Raptor (2500kg).
That figure is also on par with 70mm tow ball-equipped versions of the F-150, all Ram 1500s, the Toyota Tundra and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ.
Ranger Wildtrak
Ford isn’t just increasing the Ranger’s braked towing capacity, with the Super Duty set to feature a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 4500kg – right on the limit of what can be driven on a full passenger vehicle licence.
The existing Ranger lineup has a maximum GVM of 3350kg (Wildtrak V6), while the Ranger Raptor yet again has the lowest figure of 3130kg.
According to Ford, the Ranger Super Duty will have a gross combined mass (GCM) – the maximum recommended weight of what’s in the ute and what it’s towing – of 8000kg.
Payload is yet to be announced, but the Super Duty’s GVM and GCM figures guarantee it will eclipse the Ranger dual-cab’s current maximum (1158kg) and step even further ahead of the F-150’s (878kg).
Ranger V6 turbo-diesel
Ford is also yet to detail what’s under the Ranger Super Duty’s bonnet, but it could be an engine with more power and torque than what’s in the current lineup.
Flagship versions of the Australian-market Ranger are powered by a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 that produces 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque.
The performance Ranger Raptor’s twin-turbo 3.0-litre petrol V6 puts out 292kW and 583Nm.
It’s unclear whether either of these engines will be used in the Super Duty, or if Ford will raid its parts bin for another powerplant.
F-150 twin-turbo V6
The larger Ford F-150 uses a 3.5-litre version of the Ranger Raptor’s 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 engine, which produces 298kW and 678Nm.
In the US, the popular pickup has previously been offered with the same 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 as the Ranger, suggesting there can be some crossover between the two platforms.
Ford will launch the Ranger Super Duty in Australia after the local debut of its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute in 2025.
More information about the Ford Ranger Super Duty is expected closer to its 2026 launch.
MORE: Everything Ford Ranger
