Latest news with #FordRangerSuperDuty
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty punished by robot test drivers
The latest phase of durability testing for the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty, which will bring a class-leading 4500kg towing capacity and other heavy-duty capabilities, has left its development driver speechless. Ford Australia has turned to robot drivers for durability testing at the Blue Oval brand's You Yangs proving ground in Victoria, which is shielded from public view as the company develops its upcoming models and pulls apart its rivals. The use of robotic drivers has enabled rigorous 24/7 testing of the hardcore Super Duty ahead of its scheduled arrival in Australian showrooms next year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "With robotic drivers behind the wheel, we can simulate years and years of punishment," Ford said in a video clip released this week. Ford Australia said it used robots to test the locally developed Super Duty to its full 4500kg GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) while tackling the You Yangs facility's Silver Creek torture test. "Silver Creek is our toughest man-made durability track," said Ranger Super Duty program manager Justin Capicchiano in a statement. "It stressed the Ranger Super Duty from the wheels to the roof, simulating the wear and tear you'd typically experience across a decade of driving on the world's harshest road conditions." A first of its kind in Australia, the Ranger Super Duty borrows its Super Duty name from the biggest and most capable F-Series pickups sold in the US, but its was conceived and is being developed in Australia. Without the same towing capability from rivals like the Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max, the Super Duty will target buyers of the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series by adding F-150 towing capability in a smaller package. The Ranger Super Duty earns its name by employing a reinforced chassis, 33-inch wheels attached to eight-stud hubs, and uprated differentials, all of which help enable its 4500kg braked tow capacity (when fitted with a 70mm tow ball) – a full 1000kg above the standard Ranger's towing limit. Full specifications and pricing are yet to be announced, but Ford has confirmed the Super Duty will be powered by the same 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and 10-speed automatic transmission available in the mainstream Ranger lineup. It has also announced the toughest Ranger yet will be released initially in eponymous Super Duty cab/chassis form across two-door single-cab and extended-cab and four-door dual-cab body styles, with more touring-focused XLT four-door pickup and cab/chassis versions to join the lineup in mid-2026. Content originally sourced from: The latest phase of durability testing for the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty, which will bring a class-leading 4500kg towing capacity and other heavy-duty capabilities, has left its development driver speechless. Ford Australia has turned to robot drivers for durability testing at the Blue Oval brand's You Yangs proving ground in Victoria, which is shielded from public view as the company develops its upcoming models and pulls apart its rivals. The use of robotic drivers has enabled rigorous 24/7 testing of the hardcore Super Duty ahead of its scheduled arrival in Australian showrooms next year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "With robotic drivers behind the wheel, we can simulate years and years of punishment," Ford said in a video clip released this week. Ford Australia said it used robots to test the locally developed Super Duty to its full 4500kg GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) while tackling the You Yangs facility's Silver Creek torture test. "Silver Creek is our toughest man-made durability track," said Ranger Super Duty program manager Justin Capicchiano in a statement. "It stressed the Ranger Super Duty from the wheels to the roof, simulating the wear and tear you'd typically experience across a decade of driving on the world's harshest road conditions." A first of its kind in Australia, the Ranger Super Duty borrows its Super Duty name from the biggest and most capable F-Series pickups sold in the US, but its was conceived and is being developed in Australia. Without the same towing capability from rivals like the Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max, the Super Duty will target buyers of the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series by adding F-150 towing capability in a smaller package. The Ranger Super Duty earns its name by employing a reinforced chassis, 33-inch wheels attached to eight-stud hubs, and uprated differentials, all of which help enable its 4500kg braked tow capacity (when fitted with a 70mm tow ball) – a full 1000kg above the standard Ranger's towing limit. Full specifications and pricing are yet to be announced, but Ford has confirmed the Super Duty will be powered by the same 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and 10-speed automatic transmission available in the mainstream Ranger lineup. It has also announced the toughest Ranger yet will be released initially in eponymous Super Duty cab/chassis form across two-door single-cab and extended-cab and four-door dual-cab body styles, with more touring-focused XLT four-door pickup and cab/chassis versions to join the lineup in mid-2026. Content originally sourced from: The latest phase of durability testing for the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty, which will bring a class-leading 4500kg towing capacity and other heavy-duty capabilities, has left its development driver speechless. Ford Australia has turned to robot drivers for durability testing at the Blue Oval brand's You Yangs proving ground in Victoria, which is shielded from public view as the company develops its upcoming models and pulls apart its rivals. The use of robotic drivers has enabled rigorous 24/7 testing of the hardcore Super Duty ahead of its scheduled arrival in Australian showrooms next year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "With robotic drivers behind the wheel, we can simulate years and years of punishment," Ford said in a video clip released this week. Ford Australia said it used robots to test the locally developed Super Duty to its full 4500kg GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) while tackling the You Yangs facility's Silver Creek torture test. "Silver Creek is our toughest man-made durability track," said Ranger Super Duty program manager Justin Capicchiano in a statement. "It stressed the Ranger Super Duty from the wheels to the roof, simulating the wear and tear you'd typically experience across a decade of driving on the world's harshest road conditions." A first of its kind in Australia, the Ranger Super Duty borrows its Super Duty name from the biggest and most capable F-Series pickups sold in the US, but its was conceived and is being developed in Australia. Without the same towing capability from rivals like the Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max, the Super Duty will target buyers of the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series by adding F-150 towing capability in a smaller package. The Ranger Super Duty earns its name by employing a reinforced chassis, 33-inch wheels attached to eight-stud hubs, and uprated differentials, all of which help enable its 4500kg braked tow capacity (when fitted with a 70mm tow ball) – a full 1000kg above the standard Ranger's towing limit. Full specifications and pricing are yet to be announced, but Ford has confirmed the Super Duty will be powered by the same 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and 10-speed automatic transmission available in the mainstream Ranger lineup. It has also announced the toughest Ranger yet will be released initially in eponymous Super Duty cab/chassis form across two-door single-cab and extended-cab and four-door dual-cab body styles, with more touring-focused XLT four-door pickup and cab/chassis versions to join the lineup in mid-2026. Content originally sourced from: The latest phase of durability testing for the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty, which will bring a class-leading 4500kg towing capacity and other heavy-duty capabilities, has left its development driver speechless. Ford Australia has turned to robot drivers for durability testing at the Blue Oval brand's You Yangs proving ground in Victoria, which is shielded from public view as the company develops its upcoming models and pulls apart its rivals. The use of robotic drivers has enabled rigorous 24/7 testing of the hardcore Super Duty ahead of its scheduled arrival in Australian showrooms next year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "With robotic drivers behind the wheel, we can simulate years and years of punishment," Ford said in a video clip released this week. Ford Australia said it used robots to test the locally developed Super Duty to its full 4500kg GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) while tackling the You Yangs facility's Silver Creek torture test. "Silver Creek is our toughest man-made durability track," said Ranger Super Duty program manager Justin Capicchiano in a statement. "It stressed the Ranger Super Duty from the wheels to the roof, simulating the wear and tear you'd typically experience across a decade of driving on the world's harshest road conditions." A first of its kind in Australia, the Ranger Super Duty borrows its Super Duty name from the biggest and most capable F-Series pickups sold in the US, but its was conceived and is being developed in Australia. Without the same towing capability from rivals like the Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max, the Super Duty will target buyers of the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series by adding F-150 towing capability in a smaller package. The Ranger Super Duty earns its name by employing a reinforced chassis, 33-inch wheels attached to eight-stud hubs, and uprated differentials, all of which help enable its 4500kg braked tow capacity (when fitted with a 70mm tow ball) – a full 1000kg above the standard Ranger's towing limit. Full specifications and pricing are yet to be announced, but Ford has confirmed the Super Duty will be powered by the same 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and 10-speed automatic transmission available in the mainstream Ranger lineup. It has also announced the toughest Ranger yet will be released initially in eponymous Super Duty cab/chassis form across two-door single-cab and extended-cab and four-door dual-cab body styles, with more touring-focused XLT four-door pickup and cab/chassis versions to join the lineup in mid-2026. Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty punished by robot test drivers
The latest phase of durability testing for the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty, which will bring a class-leading 4500kg towing capacity and other heavy-duty capabilities, has left its development driver speechless. Ford Australia has turned to robot drivers for durability testing at the Blue Oval brand's You Yangs proving ground in Victoria, which is shielded from public view as the company develops its upcoming models and pulls apart its rivals. The use of robotic drivers has enabled rigorous 24/7 testing of the hardcore Super Duty ahead of its scheduled arrival in Australian showrooms next year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 'With robotic drivers behind the wheel, we can simulate years and years of punishment,' Ford said in a video clip released this week. Ford Australia said it used robots to test the locally developed Super Duty to its full 4500kg GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) while tackling the You Yangs facility's Silver Creek torture test. 'Silver Creek is our toughest man-made durability track,' said Ranger Super Duty program manager Justin Capicchiano in a statement. 'It stressed the Ranger Super Duty from the wheels to the roof, simulating the wear and tear you'd typically experience across a decade of driving on the world's harshest road conditions.' A first of its kind in Australia, the Ranger Super Duty borrows its Super Duty name from the biggest and most capable F-Series pickups sold in the US, but its was conceived and is being developed in Australia. Without the same towing capability from rivals like the Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max, the Super Duty will target buyers of the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series by adding F-150 towing capability in a smaller package. The Ranger Super Duty earns its name by employing a reinforced chassis, 33-inch wheels attached to eight-stud hubs, and uprated differentials, all of which help enable its 4500kg braked tow capacity (when fitted with a 70mm tow ball) – a full 1000kg above the standard Ranger's towing limit. Full specifications and pricing are yet to be announced, but Ford has confirmed the Super Duty will be powered by the same 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and 10-speed automatic transmission available in the mainstream Ranger lineup. It has also announced the toughest Ranger yet will be released initially in eponymous Super Duty cab/chassis form across two-door single-cab and extended-cab and four-door dual-cab body styles, with more touring-focused XLT four-door pickup and cab/chassis versions to join the lineup in mid-2026.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty punished by robot test drivers
The latest phase of durability testing for the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty, which will bring a class-leading 4500kg towing capacity and other heavy-duty capabilities, has left its development driver speechless. Ford Australia has turned to robot drivers for durability testing at the Blue Oval brand's You Yangs proving ground in Victoria, which is shielded from public view as the company develops its upcoming models and pulls apart its rivals. The use of robotic drivers has enabled rigorous 24/7 testing of the hardcore Super Duty ahead of its scheduled arrival in Australian showrooms next year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'With robotic drivers behind the wheel, we can simulate years and years of punishment,' Ford said in a video clip released this week. Ford Australia said it used robots to test the locally developed Super Duty to its full 4500kg GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) while tackling the You Yangs facility's Silver Creek torture test. 'Silver Creek is our toughest man-made durability track,' said Ranger Super Duty program manager Justin Capicchiano in a statement. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'It stressed the Ranger Super Duty from the wheels to the roof, simulating the wear and tear you'd typically experience across a decade of driving on the world's harshest road conditions.' A first of its kind in Australia, the Ranger Super Duty borrows its Super Duty name from the biggest and most capable F-Series pickups sold in the US, but its was conceived and is being developed in Australia. Without the same towing capability from rivals like the Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max, the Super Duty will target buyers of the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series by adding F-150 towing capability in a smaller package. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Ranger Super Duty earns its name by employing a reinforced chassis, 33-inch wheels attached to eight-stud hubs, and uprated differentials, all of which help enable its 4500kg braked tow capacity (when fitted with a 70mm tow ball) – a full 1000kg above the standard Ranger's towing limit. Full specifications and pricing are yet to be announced, but Ford has confirmed the Super Duty will be powered by the same 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and 10-speed automatic transmission available in the mainstream Ranger lineup. It has also announced the toughest Ranger yet will be released initially in eponymous Super Duty cab/chassis form across two-door single-cab and extended-cab and four-door dual-cab body styles, with more touring-focused XLT four-door pickup and cab/chassis versions to join the lineup in mid-2026.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Ford Ranger Super Duty is Real - But Could It Ever Come to the US?
While the Ranger Super Duty might sound like some sort of fever dream or AI hallucination, it isn't. It's a real product that Ford is bringing to market, although it's currently relegated to Australia and New Zealand. Even more interestingly, it's a product born sheerly out of demand, with Ford citing feedback from the 'hardest working fleet operators' as a driving force behind the truck's introduction. Ultimately, the Ford Ranger Super Duty—available from early 2026—promises almost everything an F-150 can do in a smaller package. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Let's start with the basics: Ford is evasive about providing exact measurements of the 2026 Ranger Super Duty. However, the truck will be available in Double, Super, and Single Cab configurations, and in mid-2026, Ford will release a 'Touring' variant of sorts. That model, the Super Duty XLT, will have unique alloy wheels and other upgrades that offer 'refined long-distance capability.' Based on the press photos, we have to assume they're talking about radical additions like the very Raptor-esque snorkel. Ford claims the engineering team has gone above and beyond to make a Ranger that's 'commercial grade but consumer friendly.' Injecting the Ranger into the commercial space means a few things needed to be addressed from the standard issue truck. For one, the Super Duty gets a 130-liter (34-gallon) fuel tank, which is considerably bigger than the default 21-gallon (80-liter) unit Australian-market trucks get or the 18-gallon one US trucks are stuck with. The Ranger Super Duty also borrows some Raptor hardware, presumably, as Ford says the truck touts some standard undercarriage armor covering the engine, differential, transfer case, transmission, and fuel tank, as well as front/rear locking differentials. Perhaps it goes without saying, but the Ranger Super Duty has improved towing capacities and a long list of towing cameras and sensors. The maximum braked towing capacity increases to 4500 kilograms (9920 pounds), up from 7500 in the regular Ranger. There aren't any plans to bring the Ranger Super Duty to the US, but we think there's a solid case, at least in a fleet capacity. The Ranger has enjoyed decent sales in the US since its reintroduction in 2019, selling nearly 100,000 examples in the first three years of its run. In the here and now, sales have grown year-over-year and are on track to be the best since 2022. There's a clear demand for the standard truck. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Towing just under 10,000 pounds—short of the F-150's max of 13,500—while likely remaining a few inches shorter than an F-150 could make it the perfect balance for people who need a Ranger-sized truck to tow F-150-sized loads. The additional underside protection and differentials would also be a good fit for ranchers and drivers frequently venturing off the beaten path. However, full-size trucks are particularly popular with the former. Either way, paired with just-right pricing, which hasn't been announced, there's a way the Ranger Super Duty finds homes in the US. Pricing and positioning are the main reasons Ford wouldn't bring the Ranger Super Duty to the US market. The standard F-150 starts at around $40,000—likely close to what the Ranger Super Duty will command. While the Ranger Super Duty brings good equipment and tows slightly more than the base F-150, it's reliant on another problematic detail: its diesel powertrain, the turbocharged Power Stroke 3.0-liter V6. The smaller diesel mill's time came and went in the American market and hasn't returned since 2021. Therefore, chances of seeing the Ranger Super Duty quickly approach zero, but hey, it never hurts to ask. Please?
