Ford recently put the global pickup world on notice by revealing the smartest, most versatile, and capable Ranger yet – delivering an even more desirable pickup partner for customers.

Using years of Ford truck knowledge and a deep understanding of truck customers, Ford collaborated with its customers around the globe to create a vehicle and ownership experience. The next-gen Ranger owners can rely on the truck for their businesses, family lives and adventures.

New look, new capabilities

Visually, the next-generation Ranger is bold and confident, with a purposeful exterior that shares Ford’s global truck design DNA. The design features a defined new grille, and signature C-clamp headlight treatment at the front, while a subtle shoulder line down the sides incorporates bolder wheel-arches that gives the new Ranger a sure-footed stance.

At the back, the taillights are designed in harmony with the signature graphics on the front. Inside, the car-like cabin steps up, using premium soft-touch materials, and prominent portrait-style centre touchscreen with Ford’s signature SYNC 4 communications and entertainment system.

Beneath the new bodywork is an upgraded chassis riding on a wheelbase 50mm longer and a track 50mm wider than the previous Ranger. A hydro-formed front-end structure creates more space in the engine bay for the new V6 engine and helps future-proof the Ranger for other propulsion technologies. The Ranger also opens the front of the pickup to allow more airflow to the radiator, which helps keep running temperatures low. For example, when towing or carrying heavy loads.

New powertrain choices

Customers wanted a pickup truck with more power and torque for towing heavy loads and extreme off-roading, so the team added Ford’s proven 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel and developed it for the Ranger.

“The 3.0L turbodiesel V6 delivers,” says Pritika Maharaj, Ranger program manager. “When you drive a Ranger with the V6 turbodiesel, it feels like a much bigger truck. And it feels really tough in the sense that it's got endless power and torque, which is exactly what our customers wanted.”

The next-gen Ranger will also come with a choice of proven Single-Turbo and the Bi-Turbo 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder diesels. The Single Turbo comes in two different performance levels and delivers power, torque and fuel economy. This is important to small business owners or commercial vehicle fleets.

The Bi-Turbo engine is a more sophisticated, performance variant for customers who want more power but need to maintain fuel economy.

“We know our customers push their Rangers to the extreme, so that’s how we test them. We go the extra mile to make sure Ranger will do everything our customers want, over and over again,” Maharaj said.

Improved ride and handling

Engineers moved the front wheels forward (by 50mm for a better approach angle) and the outboard for better off-road articulation, resulting in improvement to the off-roading experience. They also shifted the rear suspension dampers outboard of the frame rails to give drivers and passengers a better ride both on- and off-road, no matter if they’re carrying heavy cargo for work, or just taking the family out for dinner.

Customers will have a choice of two four-wheel drive systems, an electronic shift-on-the-fly system, or advanced full-time 4x4 system with a reassuring set-and-forget mode, designed for capability when and where customers need it. Off-road recovery is made easier with prominent dual recovery hooks in the front bumper.

Customer-focused interior features

The heart of the Ranger’s connective experience is the large 10.1-inch or 12-inch touchscreen in the centre stack. It complements the fully digital instrument panel and is loaded with Ford’s latest SYNC4® infotainment system, which comes customer-ready with its voice-activated communications, entertainment and information systems.

Additionally, there’s an embedded factory-fitted modem, allowing connectivity on the go when linked with the FordPass™ App, so customers can stay connected to their world. FordPass™ enhances the ownership experience with features like remote start, vehicle status check and remote lock and unlock functions via your mobile device.

Many of the traditional driving mode controls have been moved from the dash and centre console to their own dedicated display on the SYNC screen. With one button press, drivers can go to Ranger’s dedicated screen for all off-road and drive modes where they can monitor the driveline, steering angle, vehicle pitch and roll angles and other controls.

The screen is also linked to a 360-degree camera, to make parking a breeze in tight urban spaces or to assist when negotiating particularly tricky terrain while out exploring.

In addition, customers can control Ranger’s new exterior zone lighting system via the touchscreen or FordPass™. Ranger technology will also be future proofed to accept software updates thanks to an embedded modem.

“You’ll find the interior plush but with the dual purpose of work and play in mind. The new short-throw e-shifter is central to the layout and is another example of where customers really guided our decision making,” Said Max Tran, chief designer for Ranger.

“Customers overwhelmingly liked the e-shifter – they liked the fact that it looked higher-tech and that it was intuitive to use.”

The design team also created clever storage and useful features for owners. There are not only places to store your phone or charge it wirelessly (where compatible), but there’s a large centre console bin to stash things. In addition, the door pockets are designed to carry more, the wide dash conceals, an upper glovebox and there are storage bins located under and behind the rear seats.

Built to do more with better access, more functional space

Additional thoughtful, customer-focused touches include a new, tough plastic-moulded bedliner that helps protect both the truck bed from scratches and owner’s knees from kneeling on a steel truck bed.

In addition, Ranger offers a new cargo management system designed with dividers to hold various sized items – like timber or toolboxes. Owners also can create smaller compartments to store objects, which would otherwise have to go in the cab, using a system of ultra-strong spring-loaded cleats that clip into rails bolted to each side of the cargo box. The tailgate can also double as a mobile work bench with an integrated ruler and clamp pockets to measure, grip and cut building materials.

Extra cargo tie down points – on strong steel tube rails – provide convenient points to secure loads. Durable, flexible load box caps around the sides of the box and across the tailgate conceal structural attachment points for canopies and other aftermarket accessories.

Not all vehicle features will be available in all markets. Precise specifications for each market will be confirmed prior to launch.