Ford upgrades Ranger, Transit

Ford’s Ranger workhorse ute has added extra muscle with a towing capacity upgrade from 3350kg to a super-tough 3500kg – but only on diesel-powered 4x2 Hi-Rider and 4x4 models.

This, according to Ford, gives the five-star safety-rated Ranger (it was the first pick-up to achieve five ANCAP stars) a braked towing capacity equal to Holden’s class-leading Colorado, further increasing the size of trailer/boat/caravan that can be towed. The Ranger’s gross combined mass has also increased by 50kg, although unbraked towing capacity remains at 750kg.

The current Ranger is available in Single Cab, Super Cab and Double Cab form and was launched in Australia in October 2010. It has shown a steady sales increase since that time, although supply was impacted earlier in the year by the floods in Thailand. The Ranger is well behind the segment-leading Toyota HiLux and the consistent second-runner, Nissan’s Navara.

At the same time as toughening up the Ranger, Ford has also gifted its Transit range with voice-controlled Bluetooth connectivity and a trip computer, as well as a freshen-up of the front-end which brings a body-coloured grille and standard foglights. All vans except the Jumbo 350E and 460E variants also get a standard passenger airbag.

An optional $1100 Convenience Pack with reversing camera, daytime running lights and a leather-wrapped steering wheel (single and double-cab, and bus variants don’t include the rear-view camera) is also now available.

Transit 280 short-wheelbase front-drive, 330 medium-wheelbase rear-drive, 350 long-wheelbase rear-drive and 350 EF models offer electronic stability control as a $300 option, but the potentially life-saving safety feature is standard on all other Transit models.

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