Revealed: Ford's fresh Ranger flagship

Ford has revealed the 2015 Ranger Wildtrak in Thailand and confirmed it will be available with one of the widest suites of advanced safety technologies ever seen in a ute.

The Wildtrak will top the facelifted Ranger line-up that officially goes on sale Down Under on September 1. This morning's release will be followed by full model-by-model specifications later this week.

Pricing and fuel consumption won't be confirmed until closer to launch, but given the outgoing Wildtrak is priced at $57,390 plus on-road costs, the upgraded Ranger flagship could become Australia's first $70,000 ute.

Apart from a fresh front-end design, electric power steering and, according to Ford, improved ride quality, the Wildtrak will be offered with an array of first-in-class driver aids, as outlined at the 2015 Ranger's world debut in Thailand in March, although it remains to be seen how many will be standard.

They include SYNC 2 connectivity, Lane Keeping Aid, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Alert, Driver Impairment Monitor and Emergency Assistance.

There is no change to the already-competitive 147kW/470Nm outputs of the top-spec Ranger's 3.2-litre Duratorq five-cylinder turbo-diesel, but Ford claims fuel consumption will be 18 per cent lower due to tweaks including a revised exhaust gas recirculation system.

Similarly, features like an electronically-controlled transfer case and a class-leading 800mm water-wading capability, 230mm ground clearance and 3500kg tow capacity continue.

It's not yet clear whether Ford will fit a reversing camera as standard across the 2015 Ranger line-up, as Toyota has said it will do with its new HiLux range from October, although – as with Nissan's new Navara – a rear-view camera is already standard on the top-shelf model.

However, Ford has confirmed the Wildtrak will come standard with front and rear parking sensors, plus tyre pressure monitoring, Electronic Stability Program with rollover mitigation and trailer sway control, Hill Launch Assist, Hill Descent Control, Adaptive Load Control and Emergency Brake Assistance.

Available colour options will include the Pride Orange hero hue, plus Cool White, Black Mica, Aluminium and Metropolitan Grey.

On the standard equipment list will be 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-TFT instrument cluster and an 8.0-inch touch screen, but the big-ticket safety items are detailed below:

>> SYNC 2, the latest generation of Ford's in-car connectivity system, gives drivers smarter and safer ways to stay connected. Using natural voice commands, like "temperature 20 degrees", "play Motorhead" or "I'm hungry", the driver can control the car's climate controls, entertainment system and navigation system more easily than ever before. An 8.0-inch touch screen places more controls at the driver's fingertips, with colour-coded corners for easy menu navigation.

>> Lane Keeping Alert and Lane Keeping Aid work together to help to prevent the driver from unintentionally drifting out of a lane when driving at high speeds. If the forward-facing camera detects the vehicle is straying from its lane, Lane Keeping Alert warns the driver by means of vibration in the steering wheel. If no action is taken to correct the drift, Lane Keeping Aid applies steering torque to guide the vehicle back into its lane.

>> Adaptive Cruise Control makes use of radar sensors to maintain both a preset speed as well as a preset distance from the vehicle ahead. When the system detects a vehicle ahead, it decelerates automatically to maintain a safe distance. It accelerates back to the driver's preset cruising speed when the road ahead clears. An adjustable speed limiter helps drivers avoid unintentionally exceeding their selected speed.

>> Forward Alert works with Adaptive Cruise Control to give drivers a visual and audible warning when the gap to a vehicle ahead drops below a safe distance. The system also charges the brakes to ensure optimum braking performance.

>> Driver Impairment Monitor uses the forward-facing camera and on-board sensors to detect whether the driver is drowsy. If it notices signs such as drifting off course and sudden corrective steering inputs, the system warns the driver with gradually louder signals.

>> Emergency Assistance is designed to deliver critical information directly to 000 operators, indicating that a Ford vehicle has been involved in an accident and advising the vehicle's GPS location before opening the line for hands-free communication with the vehicle occupants. It uses the driver's own paired mobile phone via Bluetooth and runs in the background once the phone is properly paired with SYNC2 and is within mobile phone range.

"The 2015 Wildtrak takes the Ford Ranger to the next level with an aggressive exterior, a premium, sporty, interior, the latest Driver Assist Technologies and capabilities that ensure it's up for any adventure," said Trevor Worthington, vice president, Product Development, Ford Asia Pacific.

"Building on the bolder, smarter and more refined 2015 Ranger, the advanced Wildtrak is a perfect fit for customers who want to combine genuine 4x4 capability with stand-out styling and premium features.

"For customers looking for a truck that shares their appetite for adventure, the Wildtrak is the complete package. It's the toughest, smartest, boldest Wildtrak we've ever made, and it's ready to take on the world."