Ford’s next Ranger laid bare

Ford’s 2018 Ranger has been exposed in full, courtesy of these spy shots snapped in Thailand and published this week by car enthusiast forum headlightmag.com.

The big news is that, contrary to expectations, the upgraded Ranger will not bring any sheetmetal changes when it arrives in local showrooms around May.

In what could be good news for the 42,000-plus Aussies that made it the nation’s top-selling 4x4 ute last year, the only exterior changes are new Everest-style headlights incorporating LED daytime running lights.

Likely to be fitted across the range, bringing a dramatic improvement to the halogen headlight performance of entry-level Ranger models, the RANGER-badged headlights will include the LED projector beams that are currently only standard from XLT level upwards.

Ford Australia’s line-up will continue to include XL, XL Plus, XLS, XLT, FX-4 and Wildtrak variants (not the Thai-spec Limited version pictured here) across single-cab, space-cab and double-cab body styles.

As in the US, where the Ranger will be produced and released as a 2019 model later this year, External cosmetic changes will extend only to mildly revised front bumpers and grilles with silver, chrome or metallic grey inserts differentiating variants.

There will be bigger changes beneath the 2018 Ranger’s skin, however.

Chief among them will be refinement and suspension upgrades to make the Ranger even more car-like in terms of ride and handling, and more technology including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) – a first for the ute segment.

Ford Australia’s top-selling model is already the most advanced one-tonner available – at least until the Mercedes-Benz X-Class arrives in April – with forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping aid, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam, driver impairment monitor, 8.0-inch colour touch-screen and SYNC3 infotainment all standard on Wildtrak and optional on XLT.

It’s about to get more high-tech in the engine department too, with a new twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder ‘EcoBlue’ diesel engine set to debut in the Ranger Raptor.

Ford’s new downsized diesel will reportedly be produced in two states of tune, but both will displace 1996cc via a long-stroke 84x90mm cylinder design with 16.5:1 compression.

The Ranger Raptor is almost certain to be powered by the high-output version offering about 215hp (160kW), but it’s unclear if Ford will offer the lower-output (circa 190hp or 142kW) in other Ranger models Down Under.

No torque outputs for the new EcoBlue engines are yet known.

However, we expect the mainstream engine line-up of the existing PX Ranger -- first launched in 2011 and then facelifted in 2015 with the PXII – to remain unchanged.

That means 118kW/385Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder and 147kW/470Nm 3.2-litre five-cylinder TDCi engines, both matched with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

While some Ford fans might be disappointed the first Ranger Raptor will only displace 2.0 litres here (the US version is expected to get a turbo-petrol V6), we expect it will be matched as standard with a new 10-speed automatic transmission.

More importantly for many, we can confirm the Ranger’s lusty 3.2-litre inline five will continue to be available.

As we’ve reported, Ford's first Ranger Raptor will bring a new level of off-road capability to the ute’s Australian-developed T6 ladder chassis, which will also underpin Ford’s born-again 2020 Bronco SUV.

That’s apart from tough new F-150 Raptor-inspired front-end styling (including a new bonnet, bumper and wings) and a completely new rear tub with massive haunches wrapped around a version of the Everest SUV’s multi-link rear suspension with coil springs and significantly wider wheel tracks.

Described it as “a purpose-built, desert-racing inspired pick-up truck” that will deliver “a level of capability and off-road performance never before seen in the mid-size pick-up truck segment”, the Raptor will bring ground clearance of up to 250mm, four-wheel disc brakes and huge 285/70 R17 BF Goodrich All-Terrain tyres on blacked-out alloys.

As revealed in a Facebook teaser video, which also shows a 4500rpm tacho redline, the Raptor will also feature six driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Weather (all 2WD), plus Mud/Sand and Baja (both 4WD) and Rock/Gravel (4WD Low only).

Ford began the official countdown to the Ranger Raptor’s reveal in September, when it released three teaser images and a video of it being thrashed in the Aussie Outback.

Since then it has confirmed the Ranger Raptor’s world premiere in Thailand on February 7, with the upgraded 2018 Ranger on which it’s based set to debut at the Bangkok motor show in late March -- not, as has been reported, this month’s Detroit show, where Ford will reserve its limelight for the facelifted Edge SUV (which arrives here as the Endura late this year).

Expect the fresh 2018 Ranger line-up to be on sale here by mid-year, with the Raptor topping the range at around $80,000.