Ford engineers have put the upcoming Ranger Super Duty through a gruelling new mud endurance trial designed to replicate – and exaggerate – the worst real-world conditions.
Conducted at the company’s You Yangs Proving Ground in Victoria, the “mud-pack test” was created specifically for the heavy-duty ute and involved days of repeated runs through deep ruts, bog holes and thick clay.
Rather than cleaning the test vehicle between laps, the team allowed layers of mud to accumulate until the ute was carrying more than 600kg of Australia – roughly equivalent to a fully grown beef cow – plastered across its underbody, engine bay and exterior panels.
Ford says the build-up not only adds substantial mass but also blocks airflow, traps heat, and clogs vital components such as the alternator and cooling fans, all while exposing the vehicle to highly corrosive material. The aim was to find the breaking point of every system, from powertrain to electronics.
The company claims the Ranger Super Duty endured more packed-on mud during development than any Ford product before it, with the testing forming a key part of the brand’s “Built Ford Tough” durability program.
While most owners are unlikely to encounter such conditions, Ford says the results give confidence to those working in remote, harsh environments or venturing into challenging off-road terrain.
As previously confirmed, the new Ranger Super Duty will be offered in a variety of body styles, including cab-chassis and dual-cab, all powered by a 154kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine. The party piece is the towing and GVM ratings, both at 4500kg.
Prices have been confirmed for the cab-chassis to start from $82,990 (excluding on-roads). Showroom arrival is scheduled to commence early in 2026.
