Ford’s all-new Ranger, launched by Auto Connexion last night for the Malaysian market already has 900 plus bookings. It is the first pickup developed under the company’s “One Ford” programme; designed in Australia, it will be built on three continents and sold in 180 countries around the world. This 2012 Ranger introduces 2 new engines – 2 Duratorq TDCi turbodiesel engines, a 2.2L and a 3.2L.
Everything about the new Ranger is new, says Ford, after 30 000 computer models and a million kilometres of extreme-climate testing in 15 countries including Africa and Australia with its unique combination of altitude, heat and dust. At 5274mm long and 2163 mm wide, it’s significantly bigger than the previous-generation model, with what Ford designers call “21st Century Tough” styling, featuring a very short front overhang, and the three-bar grille that identifies Ford trucks the American continent.
The windscreen has been raked back and the front corners sculpted around bigger headlight clusters with bigger mirrors and stamped-in wheel-arches. Most importantly, the waistline has been raised to give the new Ranger a chunkier presence on the road, and a deeper load box of 1.21 on the double cab. The B pillar in the double cab has also been moved forward to improve rear legroom and knee clearance; the maker says the rear bench will comfortably seat three adults.
This new Ranger double cab has 23 storage spaces, including an 8.5-litre centre-console box that’ll keep a six-pack cold, a glove compartment big enough to store a 16″ laptop and door pockets that will hold 1.5-litre cool-drink bottles. There’s easily accessible storage for cellphones and other small items in the centre stack and hidden storage bins for tools and other valuables.
Leading the way is the new, five-cylinder, 3.2-litre TDCi, rated at 147kW and a substantial 470Nm, for which Ford claims a fuel sipping 9.2 litres per 100km on a full-option 4×4 double cab. The economy champion of the Ranger crew is the new 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi four-cylinder diesel engine, with 110kW (150bhp) and 375Nm to work with at a cost of only of 7.6 litres/100km in a rear-wheel drive set-up. The diesel 2.2 and 3.2 New Ranger comes with a new six-speed auto gearbox. The new Ranger can tow 3350kg and wade through 800mm of water. Off-road capability comes from a new, compact front differential, a tougher rear axle and lower overall ratios, with an electronically controlled transfer case (on both manual and automatic transmissions) that lets you shift ‘on the fly’ from rear-wheel to all-wheel drive, via a knob on the centre console.
These Rangers also have a new traction control system that can brake a spinning wheel and then reduce the engine’s torque to the exact amount that the tyres can handle at that moment. Also available is an electronic locking rear differential for extreme conditions. Rear suspension is by traditional leaf springs and live axle (still unsurpassed for serious load-carrying) but the front end runs a new, double-wishbone set-up with coil-over dampers. The suspension architecture is the same across the range, with varying spring and damper rates depending weight, centre of gravity, engine torque and drive distribution.
These Rangers now also have a comprehensive electronic stability programme that uses sensors to monitor where the vehicle is headed compares that to where the front wheels are pointed. ESP functions include hill hold, hill descent control, trailer sway control, adaptive load control, roll-over avoidance and emergency brake lighting, that flashes the hazard lights when the driver hits the brakes hard. The new Ranger needs servicing every 15000km and comes with a three-year or 100000km warranty.
PRICES
2.2 TDCi XLS 4×4 Double cab Manual – RM89,888.00
2.2 TDCi XLS 4×4 Double cab Auto-6 speed– RM95,888.00
3.2 TDCi Wildtrack Double cab Auto 6 speed- RM116,888.00
