Ford Ranger 2022
Fresh from down under
Ford Ranger 2022
© press-inform – the press office
The best-selling pick-up in Europe is getting a new edition. The Ford Ranger is not quite as big a number as its big model F-150 in the USA, but it is a real success model worldwide.
In Asia, South America or Australia, pick ups are real mass models; In Europe, on the other hand, they have been leading a shadowy existence for years and are primarily driven by off-road fans and tradespeople. So it is not surprising that the new Ford Ranger was developed in Australia for its customer service. The crowd of prototypes also covered the first test kilometers Down Under. 10,000 hard desert kilometers correspond in a development life to approximately one million driving kilometers on paved roads and more than 600,000 kilometers on unpaved off-road slopes. So the new Ford Ranger should be prepared for anything. The design is not unusual for such a pick-up, powerful, muscular and, especially from the front, quite imposing. “Our customers have a clear idea of what the new Ranger should look like – from the design to the way it looks,” reveals Max Tran, head designer of the new Ranger. that exudes self-confidence and assertiveness “. Nothing is reminiscent of the previous generation. Despite its advanced age as the market leader in Europe, it has only just achieved a sales record – with more than 45,000 vehicles sold, which corresponds to a spectacular market share of 39.9 percent.
The new Ranger will roll off the assembly line at the Ford plant in Thailand from spring 2022 and – for the versions that are sold in Europe, among others – in South Africa. “We drive Ranger ourselves and have incorporated our enthusiasm for the Ranger experience into the new model,” says Gary Boes, Management Director for Company Vehicles at Ford Global Trucks. “We wanted our customers to have their own personal lifestyle with the new Ranger realize it and enjoy it intensely. ” Compared to the previous model, the new chassis has a 50 millimeter longer wheelbase and a 50 millimeter wider track. The new vehicle structure in the front section creates more installation space under the bonnet for the use of a six-cylinder diesel engine in V-shape and subsequent electrification.
But according to customer requirements, it is initially only about diesel engines. In addition to the two-liter basic diesel with four cylinders, which is optionally available as a manual or automatic version with six stages each, there is a more powerful four-cylinder twin turbo and the top model, the V6 diesel with three-liter displacement, which has long been requested by customers and which is mandatory the well-known ten-speed automatic is coupled. It can be assumed that the more powerful Ranger variant will be offered with the same three-liter diesel that is also offered on request in the Ford F-150, its big brother, and has an output of 250 hp / 597 Nm. Depending on the engine variant, the new Ford Ranger is available either with a selectable all-wheel drive or, for the more powerful versions, a permanent all-wheel mode.
Compared to its successful predecessor, the front wheels moved forward by five centimeters. The extended wheelbase improves the approach angle and directional stability in off-road operation. The shock absorber articulation points of the rear wheel suspensions moved to the outer side of the body frame, which is supposed to improve suspension comfort on and off paved roads. Inside, the new Ford Ranger is a bit more modern than its predecessor and thus follows the example of current SUV models from the Dearborn car maker. A striking feature is a new, upright multi-function screen in the middle of the dashboard, which has a diagonal of ten or twelve inches and complements the diagonal instruments behind the wheel. Ford has just introduced the current Sync 4 control system with the electric Ford Mustang Mach-E.
However, everyday utility should be at least as important to many customers. There is an integrated step on the rear wheel arch. Anthony Hall, Head of Ranger Vehicle Construction: “Some used the tire as a step and then climbed over the side railing, while others heaved themselves laboriously through the open tailgate onto the bed.” The loading area itself gained five centimeters in width and was given a plastic coating that should be insensitive to scratches and scrapes. “50 millimeters more loading width for the Ranger platform: That doesn’t sound like a lot at first – but it can actually make a big difference when, for example, plywood panels or pallets have to be transported,” emphasizes Anthony Hall. Tubular steel rails serve as anchors for additional attachment points that make it easier to secure the load, and caps along the side planks and tailgate cover the attachment points for tarpaulins and other accessories. The market launch for the new Ford Ranger should not be before mid-2022. The prices are likely to be on par with the predecessor, which currently starts at around 35,000 euros.