Ford has pulled the wraps off its all-new Ranger pickup truck, which will be produced in Thailand and South Africa starting next year and sold in over 180 countries.
Ford’s new 1-ton truck is designed at the Ford Product Development Center in Australia and features a striking C-clamp treatment for the matrix LED headlights.
The new truck also has a longer wheelbase (+50mm) and wider track (+50mm) than the current-gen Ranger. According to Ford, this improves the Ranger’s off-road capability, while relocating the damper positions also help improve ride comfort.
The added length also benefits the pickup bed storage, allowing for longer objects. A new cargo management system with dividers can hold various sized items like timber or toolboxes. The tailgate can also double as a mobile work bench with an integrated ruler and clamp pockets to measure, grip and cut building materials.
They will be powered by 2.0-liter turbo diesel engines with two output levels to choose from, as well as six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. In certain markets, there will also be a 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 and 2.3-liter gasoline engine. The transmission system also features a new short-throw “e-shifter”, and there are six drive modes similar to those in the Ranger Raptor.
An onboard inverter provides 400W of power and an AC outlet.
Ford says customers will have a choice of two four-wheel drive systems, an electronic shift-on-the-fly system, or advanced full-time 4×4 system with a” set-and-forget mode”.
Interior highlights include a fully-digital instrument panel and a large center touchscreen (up to 12 inches) featuring the latest SYNC4 infotainment system. Many of the driving mode controls have also been relocated to the center screen, which is also linked to a 360-degree camera.
In double cab models, complementing the newly-designed front seats are new second-row seats that are foldable and feature under-seat storage.
