It’s official; the much anticipated all-new Ford Ranger will be revealed later this month on November 24, with the blue oval confirming overnight that it will show off its new pick-up via an online live stream.
“As designers, we engaged with customers much earlier in the process, spent more time with them and got more insights than ever before,” says Ford Ranger chief designer Max Tran.
“Interestingly, we found that no matter what market, our customers are doers. They like solving their own problems, and they like to feel confident in their truck … not just the way the vehicle functions but the way they feel when they’re driving it.”
Ford has repeatedly stressed that this new Ranger is the product of extensive research and development. Its latest release revealed that it has conducted more than 5000 interviews with pick-up owners in workshops all over the world about their likes and dislikes.
Ford also released yet another new teaser image of the new Ranger; the first featuring no camouflage. The backlit image doesn’t tell us much, admittedly, showing the contours of the bonnet, the F-150-esque light signatures, and some of the grille’s detailing.
What do we know about the forthcoming Ranger?
Well apart from the styling, engines are likely to be the biggest story. It’s tipped that the current bi-turbo 157kW/500Nm 2.0-litre will carry over. Ford’s also been spotted testing the model with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, although this might not necessarily be revealed at launch.
Similarly, the Ranger Raptor is tipped to come with some form of twin-turbo V6. But again, the Raptor won’t necessarily make an appearance at the model’s grand unveiling.
“Embracing superior off-road credentials and Ford’s dynamic driving DNA, customers will be driving the toughest, most capable and connected Ranger pickup yet developed by Ford,” says Ford New Zealand said in a recent statement.
“This is not just a Built Ford Tough truck, but the smartest, most capable and most versatile Ranger yet. We are pleased to present the highly capable next-gen Ranger in its natural habitat.”
