AIMS: Ranger "hugely important" to Ford Australia

Australians are strong supporters of full-chassis, one-tonne pick-ups or light trucks. Dual cab models are popular; so too are 4x4s. And 4x4 dual cabs are the most iconic of all. Like Mars Bars, they are equally effective at work, rest or play -- and they're not tainted by the family-car aura of SUVs either.

"Australia is a major customer of vehicles like this," said Ford Australia President Marin Burela at the media preview for the new Aussie-designed Ranger, explaining in effect why the company considers bringing the new pick-up to market is such a significant milestone.

"A truck like this will grow our volumes beyond where we are today," said Burela. "Already today, we're very happy with the progress that we've made with Ranger volumes; particularly 4x4..."

The current model, with 4x2 and 4x4 sales combined, consistently outsells the locally-manufactured Territory SUV and the other imported Fords each month, according to VFACTS. Ford's expectation is that the new model will improve on that record -- and with the claimed upgrade in comfort, refinement, safety and fuel efficiency, it's not an unreasonable expectation.

But the Ranger is also a goal kicked for 'One Ford' and the local and international design team working out of Ford's Broadmeadows and Geelong facilities. Often feared and apparently misunderstood, 'One Ford' is the company's model rationalisation program and the Ranger is a product of that program.

"One of the great things about 'One Ford';" said Burela, "while we've had an engineer sitting in Broadmeadows in our design studio -- or in Geelong -- we've also had an engineer sitting in Dearborn [Ford's head office in Michigan] looking at the same crossmember, finding the best solutions...

"That is the power of 'One Ford'; we've never had the ability to do what we're doing now -- as one team, one plan, one goal."

Based on Burela's remarks, the importance of Ford's design and engineering facilities in Australia actually appears to have been elevated since the implementation of 'One Ford'. Burela's observation was reiterated the next day by Chris Svensson, head of design for Ford Asia/Pacific and Africa.

"That 'One Ford' idea for the design community works really well..." he said.

"One of the things that we do as a company really well, is to reutilise our global community. We have a very strong global design community that we pool and... we can really assist in terms of creative ideas or manpower. Because we've got virtual tools, we can work together.

"The design team here [is] supporting design studios throughout the globe. We have a fantastically talented team here in Australia and the global design team utilise those people for many programs throughout the world."

According to Peter Jones, one of Ford's interior designers, now is a "golden age" for designers and engineers employed by Ford in Australia.

"Just to have the level of involvement with programs across the Ford family is just a brilliant experience for young designers," he said, subsequent to Svensson's remarks.

Burela was steering clear of any talk concerning the next major design project for Broadmeadows, but the designers and engineers the Carsales Network spoke with reckon they have plenty to keep them occupied for years to come.

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