CRA Motoring News

On Wednesday 24 November Ford revealed new, and very different looking Ranger that is their smartest, most versatile and capable Ranger pickup to date.

 

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Ford has on Wednesday (24 November) revealed its smartest, most versatile and capable Ranger pickup to date.

The next-generation Ranger will be built at Ford’s plants in Thailand and South Africa beginning in 2022, with other markets to be announced at a later date. Specific market launch details will be announced in due course.

In addition to revealing the next-generation Ranger, Ford also outlined its ‘always-on’ commitment to customers, with a host of services centred around convenience on their terms.

Depending on the market, these include service pickup and delivery, a Ranger Concierge programme, and streamlined online service booking options.

“We’ve really packed a lot into the next-generation Ranger to inspire owners to do more of what they love to do, with features that encourage them to explore new horizons,” said Gary Boes, enterprise product line management director, Global Trucks.

 

New Look

Visually, the next-generation Ranger features a defined new grille, and signature C-clamp headlight treatment at the front, while a subtle shoulder line down the sides incorporates bolder wheel-arches.

For the first time, the Ford Ranger also offers matrix LED headlights. At the back, the taillights are designed in harmony with the signature graphics on the front. Inside, the car-like cabin steps up, using premium soft-touch materials, and a prominent portrait-style centre touchscreen with Ford’s signature SYNC®i 4 connectivity and entertainment system.

Beneath the new bodywork is an upgraded chassis riding on a wheelbase 50mm longer and a track 50mm wider than the prior Ranger. A hydro-formed front-end structure creates more space in the engine bay for the new V6 engine and helps future-proof the Ranger for other propulsion technologies.

It also opens up the front of the pickup to allow more airflow to the radiator, which helps keep running temperatures low when towing or carrying heavy loads.

 

New powertrain choices

Ford said that customers wanted a choice of more power and torque for towing heavy loads and extreme off-roading, so the team added the group’s 3.0-L V6 turbodiesel and developed it for the Ranger. It is one of three turbodiesel engine options available at launch, depending on the market.

“The 3.0-L turbodiesel V6 delivers,” said Pritika Maharaj, Ranger program manager. “When you drive a Ranger with the V6 turbodiesel, it feels like a much bigger truck. And it feels really tough in the sense that it’s got endless power and torque, which is exactly what our customers wanted.”

The next-gen Ranger will also come with a choice of Single-Turbo and the Bi-Turbo 2.0 inline four-cylinder diesel engines. The Single Turbo comes in two different performance levels and delivers power, torque and fuel economy, which is important to small business owners or commercial vehicle fleets.

The Bi-Turbo engine is a more sophisticated, performance variant for customers who want more power but need to maintain fuel economy.

In addition, the next-gen Ranger will be available with a 2.3-L EcoBoost four-cylinder. New transmission choices include an updated 10-speed auto or six-speed manual, complementing the current six-speed automatic.

 

Improved ride and handling

Engineers moved the front wheels forward by 50mm for a better approach angle and outboard for better off-road articulation, both of which improve the off-roading experience. They also shifted the rear suspension dampers outboard of the frame rails to give drivers and passengers a better ride both on- and off-road.

Customers will have a choice of two four-wheel-drive systems, an electronic shift-on-the-fly system, or an advanced full-time 4×4 system with a reassuring set-and-forget mode, designed for capability when and where customers need it.

 

Off-road recovery is made easier with prominent dual recovery hooks in the front bumper.

 

The left back side view of the new Ford Ranger

 

The new Ford Ranger right side view.

 

Customer-focused interior features

The heart of the Ranger’s connective experience is the large 10.1-inch or 12-inch touchscreen in the centre stack. It complements the fully digital instrument panel and is loaded with Ford’s latest SYNC4 system, which comes customer-ready with its voice-activated communications, entertainment and information systems.

Additionally, there’s an embedded factory-fitted modem, allowing connectivity on the go when linked with the FordPass App, so customers can stay connected to their world. FordPass enhances the ownership experience with features like remote start, vehicle status check and remote lock and unlocks functions via your mobile device.

 

Many of the traditional driving mode controls have been moved from the dash and centre console to their own dedicated display on the SYNC screen.

 

Additional customer-focused touches include a new, tough plastic-moulded bedliner that helps protect both the truck bed from scratches and owner’s knees from kneeling on a steel truck bed.

Extra cargo tie-down points – on strong steel tube rails – provide convenient points to secure loads.

 

Improving the customer experience

Ford said it is designing a more personalized customer experience. Depending on the market, Ford will offer customers a suite of services, including:

  • Being “always-on” – whether you have questions about the vehicle or need assistance. Ford has Ranger Concierges in key markets that will walk customers through whatever they need to know.
  • FordPass – customers will be connected to their Ranger 24/7 via their smartphone. They’ll be able to remote start their vehicle – on hot or cold days, to ensure the temp inside is comfortable when they get in or be able to receive notifications that their vehicle is due for service.

Coming soon, Ford said it also plans to offer over-the-air updates, so customers won’t even need to schedule a service for some things.

Customers will be able to personalize their next-gen Ranger with a range of almost 600 fully factory-backed work, urban and adventure accessories, depending on the market. These accessories include those developed in collaboration with global off-road icon, ARB 4×4 Accessories.

The ARB 4×4 Accessories and Ford collaboration will initially be rolling out in select markets.

 

Ford’s new Ranger from the front, driving on the highway.

 

 

Read Also: The Fines And Demerit Points Under SA’s New Driving Laws

 

 

Article Credit to BusinessTech Motoring.

 

What is your view of the new look Ford Ranger? If you were in the market, would you be interested to buy one? Let us know in the comments below. Also, if you found our content informative, do like it and share it with your friends.

 

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