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A new Ranger variant is on the way, and it will be rated to tow as much as an F-150, as well as featuring a higher Gross Vehicle Mass and Gross Combination Mass than its bigger sibling.
Ford will, for the first time outside the F-Series truck, apply the Super Duty moniker on another model to create the most capable Ranger ute to date.
Billed by Ford Australia as a “next-level, work-ready” model with “capability to serve the toughest customers”, the 2026 Ranger Super Duty will boast an increased towing capacity, Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), and Gross Combination Mass (GCM) when compared to ‘standard’ Ford one-tonne utes.
Whereas Ranger variants can currently tow a maximum braked towing capacity of 3500kg, the Super Duty version will up that figure to 4500kg, rating it to haul as much as full-sized models such as the F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram 1500.
Likewise, the GVM for the Super Duty is rated at 4500kg, up substantially from the 3060-3350kg range of the current Ranger line-up.
Finally, GCM tops out at 8000kg, again a significant increase of the 6400kg maximum offered by existing Rangers fitted with a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6.
While Ford is yet to confirm other details around the Super Duty, such as powertrain, suspension tweaks, and chassis upgrades for the Ranger to be suitable for the name, changes to the F-Series Super Duty give us clues.
The current Ranger engine line-up includes a 125kW/405Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, a 154kW/500Nm 2.0-litre twin-turbo-diesel, a 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, and a 292kW/583Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 seen exclusively in the range-topping Raptor.
Out of all the available powertrains, a version of the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 is most likely able to handle the increased demands of towing and payload, though this is yet to be confirmed by Ford.
If the diesel V6 makes it way into the Ranger Super Duty, expect revisions or changes to the engine.
Likewise, to earn its Super Duty name with increased GVM, GCM, towing – and likely payload capacity – the Ranger is expected to undergo a suspension and chassis upgrade to accommodate.
It is also still unclear if Ford will offer its Ranger Super Duty across all body styles – single cab, extra cab and double cab – and whether it will have cab chassis and/or pick-up options.
Crucially though for the Ranger Super Duty, Ford is still calling it a “mid-size truck”, meaning its footprint will match, or closely mirror, existing models.
For reference, the Ranger Wildtrak measures 5370mm long, 1918mm wide, 1886mm tall, and with a 3270mmmm wheelbase – meaning the Super Duty is likely to be much easier to park and manoeuvre, but not less capable, than the F-150 that is a full half a metre longer (at 5884mm) even in short wheelbase (SWB) form.
However, Ford says the Ranger Super Duty has been developed from the ground up for niche industries and fleet operators that require more capability from their vehicles, such as farmers, forestry workers, miners, and emergency service operators.
It is understood that while these buyers could make use of a full-sized pick-up, like the F-150, the limited payload capability (685kg for the SWB, increasing to 784kg for the long wheelbase) and large footprint make it harder to navigate in ultra-remote and rugged terrain.
Likewise, the limited payload capacity means adding aftermarket body accessories can be harder with the F-150, though the Ranger Super Duty’s figure is still unknown as most details are still under wraps.
Ford says the Ranger Super Duty won’t be available in showrooms until 2026, meaning a full reveal is expected at some point in 2025.
Pricing is also unclear, and it remains to be seen if Ford Australia will position the more capable Super Duty above or below the $90,440 before on-road costs Ranger Raptor performance flagship.
The asking price of the Ranger Super Duty will likely hinge on which grade Ford decides to base the new variant on, and given it is targeting fleets, the most likely candidate will be XLT.
In a media release, Sondra Sutton Phung, Ford Motor Company General Manager of Global Truck, hinted that many positive characteristics of the Ranger will carry over to the Super Duty, as well as a full five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty for buyers.
"Ranger Super Duty blends the smart features and advanced safety of our award-winning Ranger with heavy-duty capability and delivers what our buyers told us they needed but couldn’t get anywhere else," she said.
"This work-ready vehicle will give owners the flexibility they need to get the big jobs done, with the confidence of a factory-backed warranty."
For now, we have a shadowy teaser image of the new Super Duty's front grille, which shows off a new design that could hint at the facelifted Ranger due around 2026, but expect to see body work changes to accommodate the beefed-up suspension required to hit those higher towing, GVM and GCM numbers, as well as a strengthened chassis.
The teaser picture also shows wider wheel arch protectors, which could be a hint that the Ranger Super Duty will receive wider wheels and an increased track width like the Ranger Raptor to accommodate its increased capabilities.
The F-Series Super Duty also features a dual-rear axle option, though it is unclear if the Ranger can also accommodate such a set-up, or if Ford needs to have this in place for these higher numbers.
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
