First-ever Ford Ranger Super Duty coming to South Africa – Pricing revealed

The Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has confirmed that the first-ever Ranger Super Duty will arrive in South Africa next year.

According to the auto giant, the bakkie will arrive with a variety of body styles, including a Single Chassis-Cab, Super Chassis-Cab, Double Chassis-Cab and Double-Cab.

The new variant of one of South Africa’s favourite bakkies promises to be the toughest yet, thanks to Ford’s extensive durability testing programme.

Ryan Searle, the company’s Director of Sales Operations, said the company listened to what its hardest-working customers said they needed and developed a hard-working, heavy-duty vehicle to match.

“We are taking global mid-size truck capability to a whole new level, straight from the factory and making it a unique offer for South African Ranger fans,” he said.

“We torture test our vehicles to earn the name Super Duty. For instance, to ensure the Ranger Super Duty is ready for almost any work-and-play environment, we created an even tougher mud pack test to simulate mining and leisure conditions.”

“The Ranger Super Duty had to continue working, even with 600 kilograms of mud stuck to the bottom of the truck.”

While local pricing is yet to be finalised, Ford indicated that prices for the Ranger Super Duty will start at around R1,100,000 for the Single Chassis-Cab, up to R1,300,000 for the Double-Cab, with final model-specific pricing to be confirmed next year.

3.0-litre V6 performance

Powering the Ranger Super Duty is Ford’s 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 found in other high-performance models, including the Wildtrak and Tremor.

This 154kW and 600Nm-producing motor is then mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, which Ford says ensures smooth and responsive performance.

The American carmaker has also improved the powertrain’s cooling system to ensure optimal temperature management when the vehicle is carrying heavy loads or taking on difficult terrain.

The bakkie’s two-speed transfer case features larger, stronger components than other Ranger variants for enhanced durability, while its low-range gearset has also been upgraded for extreme terrain.

It boasts front and rear locking differentials as standard on all Super Duty variants, with the front differential modified for enhanced load capacity.

To ensure the Ranger Super Duty has extensive off-road range, Ford fitted the model with a 130-litre long-range fuel tank as standard, with thick steel shielding to protect it from the impact of off-road driving.

Local performance specifications, including fuel consumption and total range, will also only be confirmed closer to the bakkie’s official launch.

Impressive carrying capacity

Classified as a Code 10 (C1) vehicle in South Africa, the bakkie earned a 4,500kg Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) rating, making it ideal for customers who require serious towing performance.

Alongside the armoured fuel tank, the Ranger Super Duty boasts an armoured underbelly, which shields the engine, front differential and transfer case, and transmission.

The bakkie also boasts an improved water wading depth of 850mm, and an impressive ground clearance of nearly 300mm.

All of these factors combine to enable the new Ranger model to tow more than any other mid-size factory-built bakkie.

Ford’s Pro-Trailer Backup Assist makes hooking a trailer as easy as turning a dial, thanks to its yaw rate sensor that automatically manages trailer angle, and stores up to 10 trailers and requires calibration only once per trailer.

The new model also features Smart Hitch and Onboard Scales, which help customers better understand the weight on their vehicle’s towbar and how to adjust the trailer load to ensure optimal load distribution.

Its standard towbar accommodates a 3,500kg load while an uprated towball is optional for customers who require the Super Duty’s maximum towing weight of 4,500kg.

Sensors are then mounted in the suspension on all four wheels so Ford’s Onboard Scales can help customers estimate their payload as they add items to the vehicle.

This allows customers to specify additional load to be included in payload estimation, allowing them to monitor the weight loaded into the load box via the SYNC screen.  

Interior specifications are still under wraps, but as a Ranger, the Super Duty is likely to be well-equipped and feature a comfortable cabin, no matter the guise.

Ford Ranger Super Duty