The all-new Ranger has no relation to the identically badged ‘ute’, sold in the States. In fact, there’s a rumour on the street that Ford have plans to market this ‘Made in Thailand’ unit in America. Detroit, how are the mighty fallen!

Ford said in their press release that the Ranger was not designed to be pretty. The massive three-bar grille, immense air scoop, domed and vented bonnet, LED indicators and huge headlights may not be pretty, but they do make a muscular and aggressive statement which encapsulates modern pick-up design at its best. If this beast suddenly looms in your rear-view mirror, I can assure you that you’ll notice! The bumpers, side mirrors with indicator repeaters, are colour keyed to the body, and the incorporated running-boards mean that the Ranger’s profile is as sleek as the front aspect is aggressive. The unit sits on big Alloy Max 16-inch rims and heavy all-terrain tyres. Ford offer a choice of metallic and pearl paint finishes which are excitingly original.

The wheel arches are defined with overfenders and allow excellent tyre clearance for driving in extreme off-road conditions. The pick-up box is a full two-and-a-half inches higher than the model it replaces and features a shelving system for cargo management.

The Ranger comes with a choice of two engines – a 2.5 litre option which delivers 141 horsepower at 3,500 rpm, and 243 pound-feet of torque at 1,800 rpm. Ford claim that it will give 22 percent better fuel consumption than the old model. The top of the range power unit weighs in (so to speak) at 3 litres, and delivers 154 horsepower at 3,200 rpm, and 280 pound-feet at 1,800 rpm. Ford claim a 15 percent improvement in fuel consumption. This is the most powerful pick-up presently available on the Thai market. It will haul a huge three-ton payload.

Both ‘Duratorq’ engines feature turbos, the latest common-rail direct-injection technology and ‘G-Sensor’ engine management control electronics, which analyses the vehicle’s rate of acceleration, and optimises the torque settings, accordingly. The engines are both matched to a brand new design of manual gearbox – no doubt an automatic ‘box will follow in due course.

With such a classy exterior, you’d expect something special inside the cabin, and the Ranger doesn’t disappoint. The alternatives offered colour-wise are blue-grey and camel. The dashboard detail is picked out with chrome and features stylish, spherical air conditioning vents. The ergonomically designed seats have rally-style side support and head restraints, which really work; so often, these things seem to have been added as an afterthought. Arm rests complete the feeling of luxury, comfort and security while the spacious interior has a more than adequate provision of cup holders. Another neat feature is a fold down table on the passenger side, for eating on the move. It also doubles as a convenient desk surface for working purposes. There’s a half-litre bottle holder, and a full 8-litre capacity of cubby-holes, to accommodate all those essential bits and pieces. The materials used in the cabin are of saloon car quality, and the finish and trim levels are absolutely first class.

The music system is excellent, with a powerful AM-FM radio, and an MP3-enabled player. This has a neat feature in that the LCD display shows the song currently playing and the performer. What will they think of next?

The Ranger’s safety features are top of the class. The sturdy ladderframe chassis is taut, and the suspension is computer-optimised to grip the driving surface in all conditions, and under all load states. Disc brakes on the front, ABS all round, and EBDS (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution System) mean the big Ranger has the efficient retardation performance that such a large vehicle demands. The Ranger is the first pick-up in this market to come with front side airbags as standard. The computer-designed cabin structure is built in such a way that, in the event of an impact, forces are distributed and absorbed to protect the occupants.

Precision steering is delivered through a heavy-duty rack-and-pinion arrangement, and the progressive power-assistance is optimal at all speeds.

Ford’s future depends to a great extent on the success of their new offerings in the pick-up market – a field which they’ve always dominated, both in the United States and worldwide. The new Ranger is styled and marketed as a powerful, unfussy workhorse which will get the job done on- and off-the-road, but will still turn heads when it’s parked outside the mall.

For more information contact:
Anuphas Motor Sales:
90/9 Thepkrasattri Rd., Taladyai, Muang, Phuket
Tel: +66 (0)76 355747-8   Fax: +66 (0)76 354219, +66 (0)76 354222
www.anuphasford.com