New-look 2015 Ford Ranger revealed

Ford has exposed its new-look facelifted Ranger ute via a 19-second teaser video, announcing the ute will be "smarter, safer, smoother, stronger".

As a single image reveals, the new-look Ranger ute that is scheduled to arrive in Australia mid-2015 will adopt some of the design cues premiered on its next-generation Prado rival, the Everest SUV, which will arrive in Oz after the Ranger in the third quarter of 2015.

Both vehicles are sold globally and have been/are being developed by Ford Australia.

No specifications or details of the new 2015 Ford Ranger ute have been announced, but the teaser video does verify that the Everest and Ranger will share the same slimline headlights and bolder bonnet, both of which contribute to a more modern appearance. The grille shape is also the same as the Everest's, although the Ranger gets a less technical motif, opting for a more rugged grille design.

The Ranger's flanks appear to be unchanged, with the doors and bed design appearing the same as the original 2011 design.

Although Ford will keep details of the car's technological upgrades a secret for some time to come, the fact that it says the new ute will be "smarter, safer, smoother, stronger" confirms the ute will benefit from a range of upgrades, many of which will be borrowed from the Everest's high-tech armoury.

The Everest boasts autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a lane departure warning system that can steer the vehicle back into its lane when necessary, blind spot monitoring, automatically dipping high-beam headlights, and even radar-based cruise control that can accelerate and brake the car by itself.

As previously reported some of the Everest's high-tech features will work their way into the Ranger, potentially making it the most advanced ute in the world when it launches mid-2015.

Other upgrades expected to make the Ranger grade include the Ford's SYNC 2 infotainment system and the Curve Control driving aid. The latter can automatically and safely slow the vehicle by if it detects the Ranger is cornering too quickly.

Tweaks to the Ranger's two turbo-diesel engines, displacing 2.2- and 3.2-litres, are also expected to mirror the Everest's, with more power, less fuel usage and tweaks to the six-speed automatic transmission.

When the new-look and advanced features propagate the Ranger line-up next year the ute will be in a very strong position, sales wise. Already the second most popular ute in Australia, and steadily closing the gap to the Toyota HiLux.

The Ranger has consecutively set new sales records in every month of 2014 up to October, with a total of 22,539 vehicles finding homes. This tally accounts for roughly one-third of Ford Australia's national vehicle sales.

Overall Ranger sales have increased 25 per cent year on year in Australia, and in New Zealand it's setting a cracking pace too, looking likely to break the Toyota HiLux's 32-year rule as the top-selling ute.