Photos: Ford's mid-sized truck takes brutal robotic test on rough tracks

Ford is rigorously testing its upcoming Ranger Super Duty mid-sized truck using an autonomous robotic driver to simulate over a decade of harsh driving conditions in just days. The truck, loaded to its maximum gross vehicle mass of about 9,921 pounds (4,500 kg), is subjected to relentless endurance trials on the Silver Creek course at the You Yangs Proving Ground in Australia. This track features 300 randomly placed bumps designed to replicate extreme road abuse, pushing the vehicle’s durability from wheels to roof under brutal forces, especially when fully loaded. The Ranger Super Duty aims to compete directly with the Toyota 79 Series LandCruiser, targeting the Australian market with a launch planned for early 2026. It is powered by a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 engine producing 184 kW and 600 Nm of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford has reinforced the truck’s chassis with thicker rails, upgraded suspension and tow mounts, heavy-duty axles,