The Ford Ranger Super Duty, initially dismissed as a laughable concept by American executives, is now facing growing calls for a US release. Developed in Australia as an ultra-capable work truck, the Super Duty’s robust design has sparked unexpected interest from North American Ford enthusiasts.
Initial Skepticism & Development
Ford Australia’s leadership, including Andrew Birkic, revealed that the idea of a “Super Duty” Ranger – traditionally reserved for massive F-250 and F-350 pickups – was met with skepticism at Ford HQ. However, after substantial engineering work focused on significantly upgrading the chassis and powertrain, the Super Duty proved its worth.
The model shares key interior and front-end components with the standard Ranger, but its heavy-duty capabilities justified the Super Duty nameplate, and now consumers are taking notice.
US Demand and Production Feasibility
Following the Ranger Super Duty’s reveal, many US Ford fans have expressed disappointment that there are no current plans to sell the vehicle in North America. Despite the lack of official announcements, the vehicle was designed as a global product.
Crucially, Ford already manufactures Rangers in left-hand drive configurations in Thailand, South Africa, the US, and other countries. This means that essential components like dashboards, pedal boxes, and steering systems for right-hand drive markets are already in production.
The Path Forward
While the chassis components require upgrades, adapting the Super Duty for left-hand drive production would be relatively straightforward. The key obstacle might not be engineering but internal buy-in at Ford HQ, given the initial resistance to the concept.
The Super Duty’s development highlights a shift in how global vehicle platforms are approached: what starts as a niche project can quickly gain momentum if it meets real consumer demand.
The possibility of a US-bound Ranger Super Duty remains open, and it’s clear that market pressure could override initial skepticism.
