FORD Australia has lifted the covers from its new Ranger this week, the fifth-generation gentle business utility debuting with a robust new V6 turbo-diesel engine, a considerably revised chassis and suspension package deal and extensively up to date expertise and tools ranges together with an enormous portrait-oriented central touchscreen.
Although it’s but to announce pricing, payload, towing capability, engine outputs or dimensions of the load space and cabin, Ford Australia has revealed the Ranger will launch regionally with 5 core fashions – XL, XLS, XLT, Sport (new), and Wildtrak – whereas the Raptor anticipated to hitch later because the mannequin line’s flagship.
The most recent mannequin is Ford’s first utterly redesigned Ranger for the reason that launch of the T6 collection in 2011. Additionally it is the primary Ford gentle business automobile to supply the mixture of a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine and 10-speed computerized transmission, the Energy Stroke unit acquainted to the American F-150 and to be provided alongside single- and twin-turbo four-cylinder items.
Ford Australia has not but confirmed output and gasoline economic system figures for the newly adopted engine, however in different markets it develops 186kW at 3250rpm and 597Nm from 1750rpm. Ford says the engine is prone to be a favorite with prospects wanting “extra energy and torque for towing heavy hundreds and excessive off-roading”.
“The three-litre turbo-diesel V6 delivers. While you drive a Ranger with the V6 turbo-diesel, it seems like a a lot larger truck, and it feels actually robust within the sense that it is received limitless energy and torque, which is strictly what our prospects needed,” mentioned Ford Ranger program supervisor Pritika Maharaj.
The two.2-litre four-cylinder and three.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel choices from the outgoing Ranger will likely be absent from the brand new mannequin, changed by Ford’s YN2S-series single- and twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel items.
Ford Australia didn’t reveal output and gasoline economic system figures for both engine on the Ranger’s reveal, the twin-turbocharged engine anticipated to develop the identical 157kW at 3750rpm and 500Nm from 1750-2000rpm as earlier than.
Transmission decisions embody an up to date 10-speed and six-speed computerized. Each are shift-by-wire and the guide gearbox will likely be absent from Australia’s Ranger line-up.
“We all know our prospects push their Rangers to the intense, in order that’s how we check them. We go the additional mile to ensure Ranger will do the whole lot our prospects need, again and again,” Ms Maharaj added.
Visually, the Ranger intently emulates the styling of its American cousin, the F-150. Ford mentioned it “spent a whole lot of time with pick-up homeowners across the globe” to create a “daring and assured” Ranger that “shares its world truck design DNA”.
A distinguished new grille and Ford’s signature C-clamp headlight remedy dominates the entrance finish, whereas a refined shoulder line and bolder wheel-arches give the brand new Ranger a “sure-footed stance”. LED headlights can be found whereas, on the rear, the taillights are designed to enrich the Ranger’s frontal graphics.
“Clients advised us the Ranger must look robust and must encourage confidence. They had been very clear in what Ranger ought to be, each in the best way it seems to be and the best way it makes them really feel,” mentioned Ford Ranger chief designer Max Tran.
Beneath the brand new physique is an upgraded chassis driving on a wheelbase 50mm longer and a observe 50mm wider than the outgoing mannequin. A hydro-formed front-end construction creates extra space within the engine bay for the brand new V6 engine and helps future-proof the Ranger for different propulsion applied sciences, Ford hinting that hybridisation and even electrification of the Ranger is feasible sooner or later.
The brand new front-end design ensures improved engine cooling for the Ranger’s turbo-diesel trio, Ford saying the bigger aperture ensures working temperatures stay low when off-roading, hauling, and towing, or in any of the myriad eventualities for which the automobile is used throughout the globe.
“With Ranger, we’ve had a giant prolonged household for many years. This truck has at all times been a trusted companion to small enterprise homeowners, farmers, households, adventurers, business fleets, and so many extra in over 180 markets around the globe,” mentioned Ford president and CEO Jim Farley.
“And with the brand new Ranger, that is our second to ship. Not only a product our prospects will love, however an always-on expertise that can assist us construct sturdy and lasting relationships with them. That is the midsize truck individuals will need to personal and expertise.”
The following-generation Ranger challenge was led by Ford’s Product Improvement Centre in Australia. Its 2000-strong crew of internationally sourced designers and engineers labored with groups across the globe to make sure the brand new Ranger met “Ford’s hardest requirements”.
In comparison with the outgoing mannequin, the entrance wheels of the brand new Ranger are situated additional ahead (+50mm) to supply an improved strategy angle and additional outboard (+50mm) to extend off-road articulation.
The rear shock absorbers are relocated outboard of the body rails to enhance journey high quality over all surfaces and when absolutely laden, whereas the supply of two four-wheel drive techniques and distinguished twin restoration hooks within the entrance bumper guarantee off-road duties are correctly catered to.
“Our crew was centered on one aim – to make this Ranger the hardest and most succesful we’ve ever created. They put it via probably the most exhaustive world testing schedules we’ve ever developed and wouldn’t relaxation till we had been happy that it was Constructed Ford Powerful,” mentioned Ford Ranger automobile program director Graham Pearson.
“We’ve a extremely vast spectrum of shoppers. On one finish, you may need small enterprise homeowners in search of very work-oriented transportation. They need conventional two-wheel drive with a single cab and a load field to move their items. On the excessive different finish, you might have the intense off-roaders who actually push their Rangers to the restrict with endurance races like King of the Hammers or the Dakar Rally.
“The following-generation Ranger will meet the wants of each kinds of prospects and everybody in between … we’ve elevated the tuning vary to present our prospects the perfect of each worlds – consider this as Constructed Ford Powerful Plus – so that you’ve received the aptitude, toughness and sturdiness that Ford vans are recognized for, plus consolation and a extra car-like journey that Ranger is understood for.”
Mr Pearson mentioned that Ford labored alongside Australian off-road tools provider ARB to supply a spread of “virtually 600 absolutely factory-backed work, city and journey equipment”.
The ARB equipment collaboration will initially be rolling out in choose markets, Australia understood to be “high of the checklist”.
The load field of the brand new Ranger has additionally undergone a big redesign, an built-in side-step behind the rear tyres offering improved entry to the broader tray mattress, which now incorporates a typical plastic tub-liner, vary of fit-and-stay load securing options, and extra tie-down factors.
Its tailgate has been designed to function a cell workbench with clamp pockets to measure, grip, and lower constructing supplies, the realm lit by LEDs beneath the left- and right-hand rails – becoming a member of further exterior lighting to create a 360-degree discipline of illumination across the automobile.
“Once we met with our prospects and noticed how they climbed as much as the load field, we noticed a giant enchancment alternative. There have been individuals stepping on the tyre after which going over the aspect of the truck or hoisting themselves onto the open tailgate,” mentioned Ford Ranger automobile engineering supervisor Anthony Corridor.
“Widening the truck by 50mm could not seem to be quite a bit, but it surely makes an enormous distinction, particularly within the cargo field. It implies that prospects will have the ability to load flat some fairly basic gadgets, resembling a sheet of constructing plywood or a full-size pallet.”
Inside, the Ranger now offers higher oddment storage and extra house behind the rear seats. New door pockets present further carrying capability, as do a dash-top storage field and rear under-seat drawers.
Ford mentioned it was aware that the Ranger’s cabin met work and household duties in equal measure, providing SYNC4-equipped infotainment techniques with 10.1- or 12.0-inch touchscreens to enrich the absolutely digital instrument panel and embedded factory-fitted cell web connectivity.
Most of the centre stack’s arduous buttons have been eliminated, with features integrated into the touchscreen, a devoted off-road mode now offering driveline, steering angle, automobile pitch and roll angles and different controls for four-wheel drive lovers.
The Ranger can be obtainable with a 360-degree digital camera, and the flexibility to permit homeowners to begin their automobile, examine varied features, and lock and unlock from their cell phone by way of the FordPass Join app.
“We all know our prospects are in search of a wise and practical inside house that feels snug. So, we set about designing it with a excessive degree of well-integrated expertise, intelligent practical storage, and visible cues so the surroundings feels snug and spacious,” mentioned Mr Tran.
“You’ll discover the inside plush however with the twin function of labor and play in thoughts. The brand new short-throw e-shifter is central to the structure and is one other instance of the place prospects actually guided our resolution making. Clients overwhelmingly favored the e-shifter – they favored the actual fact it seemed higher-tech and that it was intuitive to make use of,” he mentioned.
It’s understood the Ranger will likely be joined “later” by a brand new Everest SUV – its twin-under-the-skin Volkswagen Amarok additionally due someday subsequent yr.
The fifth-generation Ranger will likely be constructed at Ford’s manufacturing crops in Thailand and South Africa from 2022. Native specs and pricing will likely be introduced nearer to launch.
