Aussie-developed Ford Ranger launched in US

The new-generation Ford Ranger has been officially confirmed for the US market, albeit with an all-petrol engine line-up – including the Ranger Raptor for the first time.

Instead of the predominantly diesel-powered Ranger line-up produced in Thailand for markets including Australia, the new Australian-developed T6.2 Ford Ranger will, like its predecessor, be built and sold in the US with a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine – as seen in the new South African-made Volkswagen Amarok – this time good for 201kW/420Nm.

But for the first time, the US Ranger will also be offered with a gutsier 235kW/542Nm 2.7-litre turbo-petrol V6 pinched from the F-150 and Bronco, and a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 for the Raptor, developing 302kW/583Nm (10kW more than our Raptor).

Under its skin is the same desert-crushing hardware as seen in Australia, headlined by the flagship Ranger’s signature Fox 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass shocks, coil-sprung rear-end and disc brakes at all four corners.

Ford Performance chief engineer Carl Widmann said US customers had been “begging” for the Raptor to be made available to them and described it as “the baddest Ranger” ever made.

“It’s right-sized for tight trails and daily life, can carry lots of gear and is a blast to drive,” he said.

“Ranger Raptor is fast, comfortable and packed with top-shelf, purposeful technology that’s designed to perform. This is the baddest Ranger we’ve ever made.”

Elsewhere in the range, at this stage only three core trim levels have been confirmed for the US Ranger – XL, XLT and Lariat – but, as in Australia, more variants are expected to materialise over time and in future model years.

The previous Ranger was available in the US in SuperCab and SuperCrew body styles with either five-foot or extended six-foot trays and bothe 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains.

All versions of North American’s MY24 Ranger, including the about-to-launch Raptor, come with the familiar 10-speed automatic transmission as standard, with 4x4 versions scoring a locking rear differential and low-range gearing.

The North American Ranger is rated to tow up to 3402kg (7500lb, braked) and lug up to 819kg in the tub, compared to figures of up to 3500kg and 1063kg respectively for Australia’s dual-cab variants.

“Ford is the number one selling pickup manufacturer globally and Ranger is the winning choice for midsize truck customers around the world who need a capable, smart and versatile truck that’s ready to keep up with their adventures,” said Ford president Kumar Galhotra.

“The all-new Ranger has already proven itself on almost every continent in 2022 with segment sales leadership in 18 countries, and all of Europe. Now it’s ready for North America.”

The all-new Ranger will go on sale in the US next month, with the force-fed 2.7-litre engine joining the ranks in the third or fourth quarter of this year.

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