Ford Ranger (2012) Revealed

Ford has revealed its new 2012 Ford Ranger pick-up, which launches today in Australia before production begins in 2011. Expected in the UK early 2012.

The Ford Ranger is one of those strange hybrid vehicles. No, not hybrid in the sense of a mixed power sources for the oily bits, but in the sense that it’s really neither fish nor foul; neither a commercial truck nor a private car.

What the Ford Ranger is is a pick-up. And it’s Ford pick-ups that have – until very recently – been the mainstay of Ford’s profits, certainly in North America. And you could easily be forgiven for thinking that’s what this new 2012 Ford Ranger is – an American pick-up.

But strangely – in this new ‘One-Ford World’ – the USA is about the only place you won’t be able to buy the new Ford Ranger when it hits the roads late in 2011. Despite it looking – with its butch stance and typically Yankee Blue Oval three-bar chrome grill – every inch the Yankee pick-up, it’s being launched today in Australia before rolling out to 180 markets by 2012.

So what’s on offer in the new Ranger? There’s a choice of two diesel lumps; a 2.2 litre from Dagenham with 148bhp and a 3.2 litre from somewhere that isn’t Dagenham with 197bhp. This Ranger should be able to cope with proper off-roading too, with 4WD models getting a low-ratio transfer box (you can also have a 2WD version and a choice of ride heights and three different cab styles).

Ford are calling the Ranger’s design “21st Century Tough”, and it’s certainly bigger and bolder than the current model. It also comes with lots of new toys like Trailer Sway Control which is designed to stop a trailer getting out of shape by automatic prodding of brakes; Adaptive Load Control which keeps the Ranger on the level whatever – and however – you load it, and a rearview camera.

Production will kick off mid-2011 in Thailand, with Argentina and South Africa coming on line subsequently.

The new Ford Ranger is expected to hit the UK in 2012.