Ford has officially announced that the Ranger Super Duty is coming to South Africa in 2027.
The Super Duty is a larger, more powerful version of the popular bakkie we’re all familiar with, engineered as a serious workhorse for consumers and businesses.
“Born from direct collaboration with customers, Ranger Super Duty is a new, bigger bakkie that is set to redefine capability in the already hard-working bakkie segment,” said the automaker.
“It has been engineered and designed to deliver enhanced towing, carrying and off-road capability required by those who need it to deliver more functionality on demand, including emergency service operators, farmers, utilities and forestry workers, miners, infrastructure technicians and many more.”
The Super Duty series has been around since 1999, but the nameplate has been almost exclusively associated with the Ford F-Series sold in North America, such as the F-250, F-350, and F-450, until now.
The new Ranger Super Duty was unveiled in April 2025 and is intended for global markets, including Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and South Africa, where there is a growing demand for heavy-duty pickup trucks.
“Ranger Super Duty blends the smart features and advanced safety of the award-winning Ranger with heavy-duty capability and delivers what our buyers told us they needed but couldn’t get anywhere else,” said Neale Hill, President Africa Operations.
“This enhanced capability of the vehicle will give owners the flexibility they need to get the big jobs done, with the confidence of a factory-backed warranty.”
“This will be a first of its kind model introduction in South Africa, and aligns with Ford’s vision to match superior product capability directly with customer needs.”
What we know so far
Ford claimed that the new model will “serve as the ultimate overlanding platform, providing the heavy-duty backbone needed to traverse extreme terrains and tow large caravans to the most remote corners of the continent.”
It was created by the Blue Oval’s International Markets Group Product Development team, headed by a group of 1,500 engineers, designers, and specialists.
In South Africa, it will be offered in both single cab and double cab configurations, making it suitable for both commercial customers and private consumers.
The Ranger’s body has been extensively reworked to accommodate the Super Duty’s new fittings, receiving a wider track and better ground clearance.
In other markets, the bakkie features a set of 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain tyres, and the suspension and driveshaft have been strengthened to improve the vehicle’s load capacity.
As a result, the Super Duty can tow up to 4,500kg – a 1,000kg improvement over the standard models.
The load-carrying capacity clocks in just shy of 2,000kg.
It also boasts the strongest rear differential ever added to a production Ranger.
Other improvements include a much larger 130-litre fuel tank, underbody steel bash plates, and an onboard scale to assess the weight of the rear payload.
It is equipped with the brand’s 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 diesel engine, which generates 184kW and 600Nm.
This is sent to a four-wheel-drive system via a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
One important detail to keep in mind is that the Super Duty has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 4,500kg, which means buyers may need to upgrade their standard Code B driver’s licences to drive it in South Africa.
Ford said it would confirm the vehicle’s licence code closer to its launch next year once it has completed the homologation process.
“The Ranger Super Duty further strengthens our commercial vehicle portfolio, with an offering for all kinds of work,” said Hill.
“As we move towards launch in 2027, we will continue to work closely with customers from various sectors as well as vehicle modifiers through the Ford Pro™ Convertor program, to be sure that Ranger Super Duty is configured for the on-the-ground needs of South African consumers.”
Ford Ranger Super Duty
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