The Blue Oval’s venerable Ranger pickup will live well into the next decade, with a brand new model set to grace the company’s stands at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. Back in the U.S. the Ranger was recently updated to help it carry on until a new model can take its place around 2011 but European tradespeople will be able to pick up the latest model from April.
The Ford Ranger nameplate is already established in more than 100 markets around the world and the new model will only improve on this with its sleek styling, new features, and added comfort. This version of the Ranger will be built exclusively in Thailand and there is a high chance that this is the model that will be sold in the U.S. come 2011.
The vehicle is available in three body styles – Single Cab, RAP (Rear Access Panel) Cab and Double Cab. The RAP Cab is a four-door system to provide easier access to the cabin by featuring two forward-hinged doors and two rear-hinged access panels. Potential buyers will also be able to choose from ten different color options, five of which are new: Highland Green, Wining Blue, Lagoon Blue, Copper Red and Desert Bronze.
Inside, the Ranger pickups a number of comfort features not usually found in a commercial vehicle. These include climate control air-conditioning, an MP3-compatible stereo, and a bodyshell engineered to isolate road noise from the cabin. Power window and mirror controls are also standard on all Ranger models.
At launch, the vehicle will be offered with two different versions of Ford’s Duratorq TDCi turbodiesel engine. Coming in 2.5 and 3.0L guises, the engines are available in 4x2 and 4x4 configurations and can be paired with either a five-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. The 2.5L unit is rated at 143hp (105kW) and 330Nm of torque, while the 3.0L unit is rated at 156hp (115kW) and 380Nm of torque. Both engines are able to tow up to 3,000kg.
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