Ford is introducing a Ranger Super Duty next year, a special variant designed for the most demanding ute customers.
This is the first time the “Super Duty” name has been used on a non-F-Series vehicle. So far just the single teaser image and a few key details have been leaked but expect more very soon.
The special model resulted from asking fleet customers precisely what they want in a ute. What they asked for was higher levels of payload, towing and off-road ability. This is a vehicle designed for the likes of emergency service operators, farmers, forestry workers, and miners. It will also be relevant to lifestylers with big boats and horse floats.
Born from direct collaboration with fleet customers, Ranger Super Duty is a new mid-size truck that can do things no other mid-size truck can do currently.
It has been engineered and designed to deliver the higher levels of Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), Gross Combined Mass (GCM), towing and enhanced off-road capability required by those who genuinely need it.
And for some numbers, it will have a maximum braked towing capacity of 4500kg. It will also be able to tote more (4500kg GVM, max weight of vehicle with goods and passengers). And GCM (weight of vehicle and trailer combined) will be 8000kg.
Sondra Sutton Phung, General Manager, Global Truck, Ford Motor Company was asked for comment. She said “Ranger Super Duty blends the award-winning traits of Ranger…that customers love with heavy-duty capability and delivers something our buyers told us they needed but couldn’t get from any other manufacturer.
“This work-ready vehicle will give owners the flexibility they need to get the big jobs done and all with an extensive factory-backed warranty” she added.
This new model was developed in Australia by Ford’s International Markets Group (IMG) Product Development team. It involved a 1500-strong group of designers, engineers and specialists in Australia. The Super Duty Ranger willl be manufactured in Thailand for sale in markets around the world.
Annaliese Atina, Ford NZ MD explained “Ranger Super Duty further strengthens our commercial vehicle portfolio, with an offering for all kinds of work. We will continue to work closely with fleets and vehicle upfitters across the country to be sure that Ranger Super Duty does everything they expect it to” she added.
From the lone image, it appears the Super Duty will wear wider bodywork than standard. It will also feature wider front fenders, add-on black plastic wheelarches and likely a new bonnet.
The Super Duty looks set to give Ford a distinct advantage in the mid-sized ute segment.