Towing to match US full-sized pick-ups, toughened up styling, and a full safety suite for Ford's category-busting Ranger Super Duty.
Ford has lifted the lid on the 2026 Ranger Super Duty, an up-rated version of its top-selling one-tonne ute that ups its capabilities to F-150 levels.
Sporting a new front end, with bespoke fenders, steel bumper and front grille, the Super Duty is also easily distinguished by its variant-specific stamped bonnet.
The Super Duty also sports larger side mirrors, helping with its up-rated towing capacity of 4500kg, up from 3500kg afforded to all standard Rangers bar Raptor.
Aside from braked towing capacity, the gross vehicle mass (GVM) and gross combination mass (GCM) is also up to 4500kg and 8000kg respectively.
Without a kerb weight figure, Ford is yet to disclose the payload capacity. But with a 4500kg GVM and expected kerb weight of around 2500kg, the Super Duty’s payload could be around 2000kg, or double the existing circa-1000kg figure.
To achieve the new numbers, the Super Duty’s underbody has been significantly reworked, starting with a reinforced and strengthened chassis.
Suspension, brakes, and underbody protection have also been tweaked to suit the Super Duty’s up-rated capabilities.
Although Ford is yet to detail specifics, the Ranger Super Duty is as wide as a Raptor (2028mm), and features the same track width due to new control arms and wider tyres.
The Super Duty is also taller and longer than a Raptor, though exact measurements are still a mystery for now. For reference, the Raptor is 1926mm tall and 5380mm long.
In fact, Ford says the Super Duty's size will be key to its appeal, as its Ranger-esque footprint allows easier parking and maneuverability – without a compromise to capability – when compared to something like an F-150.
Fitted with 33-inch all-terrain tyres, shod in eight-stud 18-inch wheels, the Super Duty is designed from factory to accommodate varying fleet customer and adventurous buyers’ needs.
Other changes to the Super Duty include a larger 130-litre fuel tank that will enable a cruising range of over 1000km, vinyl floors, and a new accessory mount on the passenger dashboard for fitment of laptops and other ancillaries.
Billed as a work-first ute, the Super Duty also features scales at each corner, allowing customers to determine if they have overloaded the vehicle via Ford’s Sync infotainment system.
There is also a smart hitch system, which can let drivers know if there is sufficient downball weight over the tow bar, in case they need to shift their load for safer towing conditions.
There will also be a manual diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration switch, so drivers can choose the most opportune time for the system to do its cleaning and not be caught out in a compromising situation.
Ford is yet to fully detail the powertrain of the Super Duty, but it does feature the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 already found in select Ranger grades.
Under the bonnet of the current Ranger, it produces 184kW/600Nm, but Ford Australia is remaining tight lipped on any output changes.
Like the Ranger, the Super Duty also sports a 10-speed automatic transmission, with the entire drivetrain modified to suit its unique purpose.
Ford specifically stated it has made hardware changes to the V6 engine to improve reliability, as earlier versions could overheat and leak.
Some of these changes have already been introduced in the V6, with more to come before the Super Duty’s market launch.
The Super Duty will also come with the full array of advanced safety features found on the Ranger, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, a surround-view monitor (courtesy of a new driver assist bar for cab-chassis body styles), and blind-spot detection.
The Blue Oval brand is keeping pricing a secret for now, but will reveal more towards the Super Duty’s Australian launch in 2026.
Cab-chassis versions will be available first, in single-, extra- and double-cab, followed by a pick-up later in the year.
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.
