Ford Ranger team wins ‘hard fight’ for electric gear selector

The gear lever of the new Aussie-developed 2022 Ford Ranger was only introduced after a “hard fight” to avoid the global Blue Oval preference for a rotary dial selector.

Upper-spec automatic versions of the Aussie-developed Ranger could have featured the gear selecting dial as per other Ford models globally, but instead they get what’s dubbed an e-shifter.

Think of it as a halfway house between the orthodox gear lever that lower-spec Ranger models still get and a rotary dial.

The advantages of the locally-developed e-shifter over the conventional gear lever include its compatibility with driver assist systems such as the updated park assist.

Its short throw and compact size also allows more space for other content in the centre console such as USB connectors.

That space advantage is further exploited by the use of an electric park brake. Lower-spec Rangers still use an orthodox park brake lever.

“There was a lot of tension around this. Do we go with dial, do we go with shifter?” confirmed Ford Australia and New Zealand chief Andrew Birkic.

“We researched it and people had their opinions. And you know, it’s a truck, and in the end we went for what we thought was the right solution – what our customers gave us feedback on.

“We think we designed a really super-looking functional piece of kit that enhances the vehicle.”

The Ranger program’s vehicle engineering manager, Anthony Hall, added: “Ford corporate direction would have told us to put a rotary dial in because that’s what we have got globally.

“But customers said they didn’t want it: ‘I’ve got gloves, I need a lever to manoeuvre’.

“It was a hard fight but we won, the customer won.”

First interior design prototypes of the new Ranger did include the rotary dial common among Ford passenger vehicles.

But Ford designer Leigh Cosentino said the feedback from customer clinics was unanimously in favour of a lever over a dial.

“They told us they wanted it to feel chunky and strong, almost like a tool,” he said.

“The height of it was really important for us as well. Resting your arm on the centre console arm rest and putting their hand on the shifter; a lot of people like to do that as well. It feels comfortable for them while they are driving.

“It does move as well … and that’s another important factor. It feels like it’s clunking into a gear or chunking into a spot. It’s not fully electric, it feels like it has that mechanical nature as well.”

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