Pattaya first drive: Ford Ranger Super Duty — is this pickup beast coming to Taiwan?

PATTAYA, Thailand (TCN) — Ford's most capable Ranger is a genuine beast, but whether Taiwanese buyers will ever get their hands on one remains an open question.

Stepping off the plane in Bangkok in late March, I was greeted by the humid air and — more relevantly — the sheer density of pickup trucks on Thai roads. During the two-hour drive south to Pattaya for Ford's Ranger Super Duty media event, it became clear why Thailand was chosen as Asia's launch market after the truck's global debut in Australia and New Zealand in late 2025: here, a pickup is not a lifestyle accessory. It is infrastructure.

The Super Duty's numbers back up the branding. Under the hood sits a 3.0-liter Power Stroke V6 turbo-diesel producing 207 hp (154 kW) and 600 Nm of torque. 

Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, full-time 4WD, and front and rear differential locks, the truck offers a towing capacity of 4,500 kg and a gross combined mass (GCM) of 8,000 kg. A wading depth of 850 mm, factory snorkel, and standard all-terrain tires round out a specification sheet built for punishment.

Testing limits: from man-made obstacles to primal jungles

Our host, the RMA Group, is a Bangkok-based firm specializing in mission-critical vehicles — ambulances, armored cars, polar exploration rigs. As a Ford-certified Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM), RMA engineered 11 extreme challenges at a dust-blown test site outside Pattaya: sand trails, water wading, a twist track, and steep hill climbs, among others.

The standout feature was Trail Turn Assist. Navigating tight hairpin turns, the inside rear wheel effectively pins to the ground and acts as a pivot point, rotating the entire truck around the corner with unsettling ease. The water wading section was equally surreal — the sensation was closer to piloting a boat than driving a truck.

The second venue, which RMA billed as the "Natural Road," was less a road than a primal forest. We pushed through deep mud pits and significant elevation drops. 

At one point our guide paused and pointed to a tree with smooth, polished bark. "Wild elephants come here to scratch themselves," he said.

For all the chaos outside, the cabin remained composed. 

Engaging Trail Control — an off-road cruise control system that manages throttle and braking automatically — the driver's only job was steering. Even steep, muddy descents felt manageable.

Is a Taiwan launch on the horizon?

That is the question most Taiwanese readers will have, and the answer is: possibly.

Since a 2017 regulatory change permitted rear-seat passengers in pickup trucks, Taiwan's market has shifted from purely commercial use to a lifestyle segment. According to figures from automotive data site 7car.tw, 1,601 imported pickups were sold in Taiwan in 2025, with monthly sales consistently topping 100 units across all brands.

Significantly, the Ford Lio Ho (Ford Taiwan) team was present at the RMA event. Mark Tennant, Business Development Director at RMA Group, told TCN that the event's primary purpose was to allow regional teams to evaluate the vehicle for their respective markets. 

He said the evaluation includes key markets such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Taiwan, and that feedback from the event would inform the vehicle's broader regional rollout.

That stops well short of a launch confirmation. But Taiwan's active pickup community and its demonstrated purchasing power make it a credible candidate. 

Disclosure: The writer traveled to Pattaya at the invitation of RMA Group's PR agency, which covered transportation and accommodation costs. TCN maintained full editorial control over this report.