SPY PICS: New Ford Ranger XLT, FX4 and Wildtrak emerge

The hotly-anticipated new Ford Ranger has broken cover once again, this time in mid-range and premium-spec XLT, FX4 and Wildtrak guises.

These fresh images from Thailand, captured by a member of the Facebook group Ford Ranger Club Thailand, reveal more of the tough new front-end design of the new-generation dual-cab 4x4 ute.

The same group published images of other Ranger prototypes just last week and Ford has already offered several official teaser images of the replacement for its best-seller.

Due to make its global debut later this year before reaching Aussie showrooms in the first half of 2022, the all-new Ford Ranger was once again designed, engineered and developed in Australia, and will form the basis of a new Everest off-road SUV and the second-generation Volkswagen Amarok.

Each of the dual-cabs snapped in Thailand, where the Ranger is manufactured, shares obvious styling cues with the larger Ford F-150 pick-up and the smaller Ford Maverick – neither of which will be sold here – including prominent C-shaped LED headlight signatures and a bolder grille than the award-winning T6 Ranger, which has remained fundamentally unchanged since 2011. 

Although clad in camouflage, other new components such as wheels, side steps and rear sports bars can clearly be seen, further differentiating them from their outgoing PXII Ranger predecessors.

The new Ford Ranger’s physical styling cues aren’t the only things set to emulate the iconic F-150: Ford could also borrow clever segment-first features from the larger pick-up, including a Smart Hitch to reduce trailer sway and a set of onboard scales that will let you know if you’ve exceeded the ute’s.

Inside the cabin, Ford’s latest SYNC4 infotainment system will be accompanied by a larger central touch-screen and, at least on premium grades like those you see here, a fully digital instrument cluster.

The 2022 Ford Ranger will also be much more powerful, boasting upgraded Panther 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines as standard, as well as a 200kW-plus development of the Blue Oval brand’s 3.0-litre Power Stroke twin-turbo diesel V6 – also borrowed from the F-150.

The Ranger’s long-running Puma 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel and six-speed auto will be axed, and Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission will be available across the range.

Ford is expected to reveal more details on its next-generation Ranger between now and late 2021, when it officially pulls the curtain on the all-new model.