Ford Ranger Super Duty Spotted Testing In Australia

January 2, 2025 10:13 am

Ford Ranger Super Duty Prototype Testing In Australia - Exterior 004 - Side

Last November, The Blue Oval teased something a bit unexpected – the new Ford Ranger Super Duty, which is a heavier-duty version of the mid-size pickup destined for markets such as Australia. It shared a few details about the new model, though it hasn’t been officially unveiled just yet. However, Ford Authority spotted the a Ford Ranger Super Duty prototype out testing in Michigan just a day after that announcement, and now, the beefed-up pickup has been spotted out and about in Australia as well.

Brock Gregg – a member of the Official Next-Gen Ranger Group Australia Facebook group – recently posted a few photos of this Ford Ranger Super Duty prototype driving around in Australia, which he spotted while out tooling around himself. It looks a lot like the prototypes we’ve seen previously, and is a regular cab model with camo covering the front end. Speaking of the front portion of the truck, it looks just like a regular old Ranger for the most part – save for wider wheel arches and a snorkel – but behind the cab, one will find a beefier bed setup with a protective barrier.

Another tell-tale sign is the presence of eight-lug wheels, which come straight from the Ford F-250, as Ford Authority previously reported, which are 18 inches in diameter and wrapped with 33-inch tires. Drew O’Shannassy, Ford Ranger Super Duty engineering program supervisor, recently noted that these wheels “offer a significant advantage in terms of load capacity and ensures an even distribution of weight across the wheel,” a necessary feature for a truck that’s slated to offer up 4,500 kilograms (9,920 pounds) of max towing capacity, 4,500 (9,920 pounds) of GVM, and 8,000 kilograms (17,636 pounds) of GCM.

In the rear, one can also spot a larger rear differential and a leaf spring setup, to boot. It’s unclear what sort of powertrain(s) the Ford Ranger Super Duty might come equipped with, but it’s slated to launch in Australia in 2026. In that market, it will co-exist with the Ford F-150 as well, even though both offer similar capabilities.

H/T: CarExpert

By Brett Foote

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.