Ford Ranger Pick-Up gets a tweak and heads BACK to the US

The Ford Ranger Pick-Up has been given a bit of a facelift and debuts at the Detroit Motor Show as it heads back in to the US market for the first time since 2011.

The market for Pick-Ups in the UK is still growing as buyers look for a tax-efficient company vehicle, as well as one which can actually be a workhorse.

That means cars like the Nissan Navara, Volkswagen Amarok and Mitsubishi L200 being joined by the ‘Premium’ Mercedes X-Class to mop up demand.

But in the US, demand for mid-sized pick-Ups is growing hugely (over 80 per cent up in the last three years), so the Ford Ranger is heading back in to the US market, and is debuting at the Detroit Motor Show.

There appear to be just mild titivations to the Ranger we get in the UK, but the big change is the 2.3 litre turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine under the bonnet, instead of the UK’s diesel option, complete with 10-speed auto.

Three trim levels of the Ranger will be offered in the US – XL, XLT and Lariat – with a Sport Pack option and a choice of SuperCab and SuperCrew configurations.

But to cater for work on the rough stuff, Ford will also offer the Ranger with an FX4 Off-Road Package which adds new dampers, all terrain tyres and heavy duty skid plates as well as a four-mode Terrain Management System.

Inside there’s Ford’s SYNC 3 Infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as the option of 4G WiFi and B&O Sound.