Huge order bank for new Ford Ranger

DEMAND for the brand new Ford Ranger has seen the corporate scramble to cowl the quantity of pre-orders it holds, even resorting to air-freighting components to assist fulfil buyer expectations and organising a particular inventory availability monitoring web site to assist handle these expectations.

As of Monday July 11, the day earlier than new Ranger ute was formally launched, Ford was holding in extra of 17,000 orders for numerous fashions, greater than 4000 of them for high of the road Ranger Raptors.

Trade insiders say such a surge of pre-launch orders can be unprecedented within the native motor market and was probably pushed by quite a few elements, not the least being pent-up demand and tax write-offs, but additionally by Ford’s mannequin line-up itself.

An F-150 – to which the brand new Ranger owes a lot of its styling –  is due quickly, shipped out of the US and transformed in Melbourne to right-hand drive.

Like different so-called full-size utes from different producers, the F-150 shall be imported in premium trim ranges and is tipped to hit showrooms at properly over the $100,000 mark – as is the case with the equal Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 rivals. 

This type of cash is a show-stopper for a lot of Australian ute patrons, irrespective of how excessive the need to personal such a car. And the three.5-litre, 298kW/678Nm twin-turbo petrol V6 pushing 2.5 tonnes plus would probably not be probably the most economical proposition in a time of spiralling gas prices.

By comparability, even the range-topping 292kW/583Nm Ranger Raptor with 3.0-litre V6 turbo-petrol and butch F-150 styling DNA, seems tempting at $85,490 earlier than on-road prices. Even the top-spec Ranger Wildtrak with 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 choice is a relative snip at $70,190 + ORC.

Sweetening the deal additional is the truth that Luxurious Automobile Tax will not be payable on such a car. Business autos designed to hold items somewhat than passengers are exempt from the tax, which may spare some high-end utes.

The exemption relies on the car’s payload over the passenger carrying capability.

In response to Ford, “Subsequent-Gen” Ranger solutions the decision from prospects for extra know-how, extra torque and extra functionality, reflecting the broad use of pick-ups from work, to household and play.”

Ford says that regardless of the brand new Ranger’s V6 diesel being inherited from the F-150 – though dropped from that mannequin final 12 months in favour of hybrid know-how – for this new utility it was “handled like a brand-new engine, present process a variety of sturdiness, calibration and validation work to make sure it was match-fit for Ranger”.

Ford’s Ranger and Everest program supervisor Pritika Maharaj mentioned her staff “did plenty of utility calibration and validation work in each the US and Australia to ensure it could meet the wants of Ranger and Everest prospects”.

Rangers with a V6 even have a multi-mode four-wheel-drive system that may be operated like a everlasting on-demand 4×4 set-up in an analogous strategy to the Tremendous Choose know-how supplied on the Mitsubishi Triton.

No guide gearbox is obtainable, the one cog-swappers being a six- and 10-speed torque converter automatics.

Ford suggests the 10-speed unit can stand up to a good bit of punishment, having undergone “six million kilometres of testing, together with greater than 3900km of sanctioned off-road racing”.

A part of mentioned off-road racing was competing on the gruelling Baja 1000, that means the mid-level 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel ought to pose no stress to the transmission with its 154kW/500Nm outputs.

This engine is obtainable with each dual-cab Ranger variant besides the Raptor, in addition to some Tremendous- and single-cab variants whereas the much less highly effective 125kW/405Nm single-turbo unit with six-speed auto does responsibility primarily on fleet-spec 4×2 XL (costs begin at $35,930 + ORC for the one cab chassis) and low-end 4×4 variants.

Solely dual-cab 4×4 XLT, Sport and Wildtrak Ranger variants could be optioned with the V6 diesel that additionally makes use of the 10-speed auto.

Within the run as much as this week’s Ranger launch, Ford Australia added sources to its web site to “knowledge mine” and likewise present prospects and potential patrons with up-to-date car availability info.

The initiative was prompted by robust curiosity within the Ranger, Ranger Raptor and Everest, in addition to international semiconductor and pandemic-related provide chain challenges, which imply some prospects will face prolonged waits. 

The online web page is up to date frequently to offer prospects with up-to-date info on car provide and solutions frequent questions.

“We all know potential patrons and intending prospects need correct info and transparency about wait occasions and when their car will arrive,” mentioned Andrew Birkic, President and CEO, Ford Australia and New Zealand.

“This devoted webpage will maintain them knowledgeable however we’d additionally encourage prospects to remain in touch with their sellers concerning the standing of their car.”

In an effort to fulfill demand, Ford Australia has air-freighted components the place wanted. 

2022 Ford Ranger 4×2 pricing*:

2022 Ford Ranger 4×4 pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road prices.