The 2015 Ford Ranger has been revealed in full at the Bangkok Motor Show today and will go on-sale here later this year.
GOING ON-SALE in 180 markets around the world, the new Ranger, like its predecessor, is truly a global vehicle. And with this new one, according to Ford, the aim was to improve comfort levels without compromising on its ability off-road.
“The new Ford Ranger brings a new level of comfort and refinement to its segment without compromising on the rugged capability that our customers demand,” said Brett Wheatley, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford Asia Pacific. “It represents a smarter kind of tough, and will help our customers to achieve more, whether at work or with their families.”
Featuring a new snout that’s borrowed heavily from its virtual twin under the skin, the Ford Everest, the 2015 Ranger has copped the most amount of its cosmetic tweaks at the front end, where there’s a new bonnet, new-look head-lights and Ford family trapezoidal grille. The interior has come in for some work, too, with strong horizontal lines running across the cabin designed to create a technical look, er, okay…
In the centre is an eight-inch touchscreen while behind the steering wheel is a new dual-TFT instrument cluster providing the driver with information about the vehicle, as well as entertainment, navigation and climate control details at a glance.
Retaining its 230mm of ground clearance and 800mm wading depth, the Ranger has a 28-degree approach angle and 25-degree departure angle. An electronically controlled transfer case allows drivers in 4×4 models to shift on the fly from 4×2 to 4×4 high via a knob on the center console. For low-speed torque or additional downhill braking, drivers can also engage low-range 4×4 gearing, while an electronic locking rear differential can be engaged to improve traction in difficult conditions. Ranger has a 3500kg braked towing capacity.
Like most other Fords, the new Ranger features SYNC 2, Ford’s in-car connectivity system, which allows the driver to control feature’s like the car’s climate controls, entertainment system and navigation system more easily than ever before. An eight-inch touchscreen places more controls at the driver’s fingertips, with color-coded corners for easy menu navigation. For extra convenience, the new Ranger features a 240-volt power socket that can be used to power a laptop computer.
Safety features include:
•Lane Keeping Alert and Lane Keeping Aid. These work together to help to prevent the driver from unintentionally drifting out of a lane when driving at high speeds. If the forward- facing camera detects the vehicle is straying from its lane, Lane Keeping Alert warns the driver with a vibration in the steering wheel. If no action is taken to correct the drift, Lane Keeping Aid applies steering torque to guide the vehicle back into its lane;
•Adaptive Cruise Control makes use of radar sensors to maintain both a preset speed as well as a preset distance from the vehicle ahead;
•Forward Alert works with Adaptive Cruise Control to give drivers a visual and audible warning when the gap to a vehicle ahead drops below a safe distance. The system also charges the brakes to ensure optimum braking performance;
•Front and Rear Park Assist uses sensors to detect obstacles and provide audible warnings when the vehicle approaches obstructions at low speeds, such as when parking. A rear-view camera gives a clear view behind the vehicle;
•Tyre Pressure Monitoring System helps drivers to stay safe and save fuel by alerting them when tire pressure is too low;
•Electronic Stability Program with rollover mitigation and trailer sway control helps to keep the vehicle under control;
•Driver Impairment Monitor uses the forward-facing camera and on-board sensors to detect if the driver is drowsy. If it notices signs such as drifting off course and sudden corrective steering inputs, the system warns the driver with gradually louder signals
• Emergency Assistance uses a Bluetooth-paired and connected phone to call local emergency services in the event of a serious collision. The system communicates details of the accident and your vehicle’s location, and then opens the line to let you speak directly with responders;
•Other smart technologies on the new Ranger include Hill Launch Assist, to help you confidently start off from a slope, whether in forward or reverse; Hill Descent Control, which uses the traction control system to help you descend steep slopes at a constant speed; Adaptive Load Control, which adjusts the Electronic Stability Control system based on vehicle load; and Emergency Brake Assistance, which provides additional pressure to the brake system to increase braking force when you apply the brakes quickly in an emergency situation.
There are four engines available for the new Ranger. The Ranger’s current 3.2-litre Duratorq five-cylinder TDCi diesel engine gets an updated exhaust gas recirculation system which helps to improve fuel efficiency by up to 18%. It produces 147kW of power and 470Nm of torque. The 2.2-liter Duratorq four-cylinder TDCi diesel engine, the Ranger delivers significantly improved fuel efficiency and refinement and, depending on the market, output will either be 118kW and 385 Nm of torque, or a high- efficiency (96kW). The new Ranger is also available with a 2.5-liter Duratec petrol engine, providing 122kW and 225Nm. The new Ford Ranger is available with stop/start.
Ford is remaining tight-lipped on pricing for the new Ranger, but we’ve asked Ford Australia and will update this article when we hear back.
