Watch: Ford Ranger Super Duty tested to near failure with brutal regimen

Ford's Ranger Super Duty undergoes brutal robot testing, simulating a decade of abuse in weeks.

June 14, 2025

CAR Magazine 1 minute read

Ford has shown the lengths it is willing to go to ensure the Ranger Super Duty is as tough as any Blue Oval bakkie that has ever come before it. Watch the robot-driven torture below.

Looking for a new or used Ford? Find it here with CARmag!

Development is already underway, and Ford recently gave a glimpse into the kind of punishment the Super Duty is going through at the You Yangs Proving Ground in Australia. To push the limits, they’ve handed the driving duties over to a robot, literally. The automated test driver has been running the Ranger Super Duty flat-out on the brutal Silver Creek track, a loop packed with 300 uneven bumps designed to simulate years of abuse. With the truck loaded to its full 4 500kg gross vehicle mass, the robot runs it nonstop, pounding everything from suspension components to door hinges. According to Ford, it’s the equivalent of a decade of rough treatment in just a few weeks.

In terms of the bakkie itself, it will be easily distinguishable from the standard Ranger. It is replete with a wider and taller stature, alongside 33-inch all-terrain tyres, a snorkel, bigger mirrors, and an off-road bumper, along with fender flares and a unique grille. Underneath, it rides on a reinforced chassis with more ground clearance and a wider track. Ford has also added practical upgrades like a larger fuel tank, built-in scales in the bed and front and rear diff locks.

Power comes from the same 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel found in the regular Ranger, but tuned to meet heavy-duty emissions standards. It’s still got enough muscle to haul a serious load, towing capacity has jumped to 4 500kg, a full tonne more than the standard model. For anyone who needs a bakkie that can take a beating and keep going, the Ranger Super Duty looks like it’s being built for exactly that.