NZ’s most-loved new ute is going all-American with a new edition set for 2026 release.

LATEST announced development of the country’s best-selling one tonne ute has seen its maker take a leaf from the parent’s American playbook.

Ford here has announced intention to muscle up the Ranger to a ‘Super Duty’ format.

The heavily-upgraded version of the best-selling ute will have maximum towing and carrying equal, or above, that delivered by prime competitors, America’s super-sized Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500.

The new model is due for introduction in 2026. Ford has released a single photo and the video here.

Keynote change is capability of towing up to 4.5 tonnes, which is 1000kg more than regular Ranger models, and two tonnes more than the high-performance Raptor.

Revised suspension helps carry a significantly upgraded gross vehicle mass of 4500kg, up from 3350kg in the Ranger Wildtrak.

An impressive gross combined mass when towing of 8000kg is 1600kg more than most Ranger variants.

Technical details for the model have yet to be shared; of the engines currently available in the Ranger line-up, the 3.0-litre, 180kW and 600Nm turbo diesel V6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission is surely the best fit.

The Super Duty will sit alongside the new Ford Ranger Stormtrak plug-in hybrid, coming out early next year, in a revamped range.

The model represents the first time the “Super Duty” badge has been applied to a vehicle developed outside North America.

Ford NZ pitches the Super Duty as a mobile powerhouse capable of carrying substantial payloads while also towing maximum loads, without compromising its off-road capabilities.

It says the type has been born from direct collaboration with fleet customers and suggests “Ranger Super Duty is a new mid-size truck that can do things no other mid-size truck can do.”

Targeted users include, but do not limit to, emergency service operators, farmers, utilities and forestry workers, miners, infrastructure technicians.

Conceivably, the enhanced type would have appeal to private buyers seeking even more impressive ground clearance, water wading and off-road traction than the standard editions offer.

The new variant was developed by Ford's IMG Product Development team, led by a 1500-strong group of designers, engineers and specialists in Australia, and will be manufactured in Thailand for sale in markets around the world.

Andrew Birkic, president and chief executive for Ford Australia and New Zealand, said the Super Duty is ready for “all kinds of work”.

Annaliese Atina, Ford New Zealand’s managing director, says the type further strengthens the commercial vehicle portfolio. Comment attributed to Birkic was also attributed to her in a media share today.

Both said: “As we move closer to launch, 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, and so much more.”

Another rival out of the US could be one that is also from Ford, the F-150 truck that is re-engineered to right hand drive in Australia and sold there. Ford NZ turned down opportunity to benefit from that project. 

Ford Australia has already indicated a Ranger Super Duty would complement F-150 rather the replacing it across the Tasman.