'Tough Style' makeover for Ranger

Reaction to the Ranger MAX concept vehicle unveiled in Thailand last year has prompted Ford to introduce a rough-and-tumble new look for the production vehicle.

The facelifted pick-up will make its public debut at the Melbourne International Motor Show commencing next week -- ahead of an on-sale date some time in the next quarter.

"The very positive reaction to Ranger MAX validated our Tough Style design direction for the new Ranger," says Paul Gibson, Chief Designer, Ford Motor Company, Asia Pacific and Africa.

"We're convinced that the new Ranger's design will hit home with buyers who appreciate a truck that looks tough and is tough. And they can be sure that the new Ranger is as capable as ever."

Purposeful styling is one thing, but it should also suit a purpose. Ford's design team has tailored the front end to direct more air to the turbodiesel intercooler, which is located forward of the radiator to take advantage of the larger intake below the bumper.

"Ranger MAX is visually distinctive and muscular, and those same design elements such as the wide grille and open mouth air intake [feeding the intercooler and radiator] are used effectively on new Ford Ranger," says Gibson, addressing that point.

Above the bumper, the grille echoes the style of the North American-market F150 and features three bright-finish bars with flanking 'nostrils'.

The Ranger's existing XL and XLT levels of trim are joined by a new Wildtrak flagship, which is a crew cab 4x4 only and can be further identified by the LED indicators in the external mirrors. This grade of vehicle will be available with 18x7.5-inch alloy wheels and 255/60 R18 tyres. The six-spoke wheel design was first previewed on the Ranger MAX design study.

Both the Ranger XL 4x2 and 4x4 models will run 15-inch steel wheels as standard, although XL 4x2 are shod with 215/70 tyres, but Ranger XL 4x2 'Hi-Rider' and XL 4x4 are fitted with 235/75 tyres. The 'Hi-Rider' sits 26mm higher than the standard 4x2 Ranger XL's ride height.

Filling out the range, the XLT variants feature 16-inch alloy wheels in a six-spoke design.

In addition to the crew cab body style already noted in connection with the Wildtrak grade, the Ranger offers Single and Super Cab bodies. The latter allows access to the rear of the cabin via rear suicide doors, as for the Mazda BT-50 on which the Ranger is based.

New 4x2 variants include the XL crew cab pick-up with 2.5-litre and automatic, XL Hi-Rider crew cab chassis with 3.0-litre and automatic, plus the XLT Hi-Rider crew cab pick-up with 3.0-litre and choice of manual or automatic transmissions. Only two variants of the 4x4 Ranger model are introduced: the XL crew cab chassis with 3.0-litre and automatic, plus the Wildtrak crew cab pick-up with 3.0-litre engine and both transmission choices.

With the release of the facelift, Ranger's colour palette gains a new option, Desert Bronze.