SPY PICS: 2018 Ford Ranger

Riding high on record sales in 2017, the Ford Ranger ute will mark the new year with a complete overhaul, as evidenced by these first images of high-spec XLT and FX4 variants undergoing testing in the snow near Michigan, USA.

Due on sale in Australia by mid-year, the redesigned 2018 Ford Ranger is tipped to be revealed at the Bangkok motor show in late March, following its debut in piping-hot Ranger Raptor form on February 7.

Although Ford is expected to describe it as "all-new", it's unclear whether the next Ranger will ride on the same T6 ladder platform designed and developed in Australia for the current PX model that first appeared in 2010.

Either way, despite being relatively young for a one-tonne ute design – having been released just over seven years ago in September 2011 and then facelifted for the PXII Ranger of August 2015 – Ford’s top-selling model will bring an all-new body, interior and several new features.

Both the XLT and FX4 you see here are wearing their final production front-ends, although it's tricky to see exactly how Ford's designers have massaged the new look due to the heavy camouflage.

That said, the grilles now appear larger, mimicking the accessory grilles that have been so popular in Australia while taking a little inspiration from Ford's top-selling large pick-ip, the iconic F-150.

The new Ford Ranger's profile appears somewhat more integrated and resolved, which could give the vehicle an upmarket look and help pique the interest of Volkswagen Amarok and Mercedes-Benz X-Class buyers.

All Ranger models will score new bonnets, front quarter panels, doors and tubs (the latter will be unique for the Raptor, to accommodate its coil-sprung rear-end), while headlight and tail-light treatments will be specific for upstream models.

These include the popular XLT, FX4 and Wildtrak, which command up to two-thirds of all Ranger sales locally. At least the XLT will be part of the Ranger line-up that will be built and sold in the US from 2019, following the Thai-made Asia-Pacific model's launch next year.

Speaking of the FX4, apart from various styling upgrades our spy photographers claim it will also offer greater ground clearance than regular models. Expect different interior highlights too.

Ford is keeping mum on the engineering changes but the Ranger’s class-leading safety suite could be expanded to make it the first ute with autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

At the very least, the current model's radar-cruise control and semi-automated steering systems should come with a software upgrade to improve their effectiveness, in the face of Mercedes' "world's safest ute" claim for the X-Class that arrives here in April 2018.

Suspension upgrades are on the cards too, as are new engines and the deployment of a 10-speed automatic transmission to improve performance and efficiency.

Both these American models can be seen with side-exit exhaust outlets and both are likely to get a number of turbo-petrol EcoBoost engines, including 2.0-litre four-pot and possibly even 3.5-litre V6 petrol powerplants, giving the US-models plenty of kick.

There's also been talk of a new high-output 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine to debut in the Ranger Raptor, and a version of the downsized diesel could also be offered in other variants including the XLT and FX4.

While the existing Ranger’s lusty 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel should continue, it’s not clear whether the new 2.0-litre oiler will replace the current 2.2-litre diesel four-cylinder.

There may also be changes to the Ranger's bed size but towing capacity is expected to remain at 3.5 tonnes.

Stay tuned for more details on the 2018 Ford Ranger.