Tough, clean, modern lines typify the new Ford Ranger, inside and out. A rugged, aggressive exterior extends the ‘Built Ford Tough’ theme while a modern interior offers the perfect balance of style and comfort.
KEY FEATURES
- Rugged ‘Tough Truck’ exterior design
- Practical loading solutions
- Increased load box area
- Modern interior design
- Sound system featuring MP3 capabilities
- Clever storage solutions including pull-out tray table
- Improved ergonomics
- Supportive seats
EXTERIOR
The Ford Ranger’s distinctively rugged new exterior immediately announces its ‘Tough Truck’ pedigree. The New Ranger boasts a more muscular appearance that exudes a tough bold spirit. To create this confident presence, Ford designers drew on the company’s 89 years of truck experience to ensure the new look meets customer expectations.
The new Ranger has a more commanding on-road presence: it looks bigger and stronger with a bold and muscular design that is in keeping with modern design tastes. The Ford ‘Tough Truck’ DNA is evident from every angle – from the prominent grille and power dome on the hood, through to the solid wedge-shaped profile, to the deeper pickup box at the rear.
A powerful front view
With an aggressive new grille, new headlamps and fog lamps, two-piece bumper and an imposing power dome on the hood, the new Ranger commands a bold stance. It is further accentuated by its wide track and new wheels shod with all-terrain tyres.
The styling is distinctly Ford with a larger, truck-sized Ford emblem proudly mounted as a badge of distinction on two horizontal chrome bars that comprise the front grille.
Designers have opened up the front end to direct more air into the engine bay through a wider grille as well as from under the bumpers. This redesign generates even better cooling for heavy-duty hauling and towing, particularly in the warmer climates of South Africa.
Flowing upwards from the grille and over the hood is a muscular V-shaped power dome that progressively widens towards the base of the windshield.
The grille is aggressively set forward of the split front fascia that houses new rectangular headlamps that highlight the Ranger’s bold face. The redesigned headlamps are contoured for a modern look while clear-lens reflectors feature jewel-like details that provide superior light distribution.
Housing stylish new fog lamps, a new two-piece front bumper features a lower selection designed to reduce repair costs in case of accidental damage.
Muscular side profile
The new Ranger’s side view has also been beefed up with a higher beltline giving it more substance. As well as adding to Ranger’s rugged appeal, the redesigned body side is sleeker and duly offers greater aerodynamic benefits.
The revised beltline has been raised and angled so that the side creates a modern, wedge-shaped profile. It is 17mm higher at the front, 25mm higher in the B-pillar area and 35mm higher at the rear of the cabin than its predecessor. The sheet metal flows seamlessly into the side walls of the pickup box, which has been raised 60mm for greater storage volume and a more solid look.
Further adding to the Ranger’s ‘Tough Truck’ presence are dominant fenders – a highly visible design cue that emphasizes off-road ability, enhances muscular presence and most importantly protects the body of the vehicle.
New open-grip door handles add to the solid appearance and are easy to use even when wearing work gloves. The solid-looking door handles are complimented by larger chrome-over-black outside mirrors on XLE models.
The new Ranger’s sleek, modern appearance is aided by concealed B-pillars and the added flair of rounded rear edges for the side windows. The doors have been pulled forward at the base of the A-pillar to give a sleeker, more aerodynamic look. Other modern touches include a fuel-lid door that is integrated into the fender and bold new badges.
The rear – designed for tough, industrial use
The rear of the new Ranger is stable and strong, dominated by the new pick-up box with taller sidewalls and tailgate. Capacity of the box on Single Cab models have been increased by 166 litres to 1 266 litres, providing ample space for larger items and a genuine one-tonne payload.
Designers have made innovative use of the taller side walls by installing interior ledges that can accommodate custom-made shelves for flexible cargo storage. The system makes loading easier and enables greater utilization of the available volume, meaning owners can carry more cargo on each trip. For example, heavier items can be stowed on the box floor while lighter items such as construction materials can be placed on the shelves above.
The tailgate itself is easy to open and features a centre mounted handle specifically designed for workers wearing thick gloves. Flanking the tailgate are larger tail-lamps, which are more stylish and offer greater visibility at night and when customers are braking.
Flexible body designs
The new Ford Ranger is available with a range of body styles designed to suit the requirements of a wide variety of customers. Buyers can choose between Single Cab, Super Cab and Double Cab body styles.
Ford’s unique Super Cab is another innovation underlying the company’s extensive truck heritage. Ford was the first to introduce this flexibility and added convenience for customers. The Super Cab features two forward-opening front doors and two access panels that open towards the rear, creating the largest possible opening to the cabin.
This system provides excellent access to occupants for stowing large, awkward cargo.
Ford designed the revolutionary opening because research among customers and other truck owners identified a need to carry large objects that are too delicate or valuable to be exposed to the weather.
INTERIOR
The interior of the new Ranger has been completely re-designed to cater for the demanding lifestyles of modern families. For this reason Ford engineers focused strongly on ergonomics and comfort. With Truck owners spending more and more time in their vehicles, both at work and at play, these creature comforts have become increasingly imperative.
Interior layout, fittings and materials feature high levels of quality and craftsmanship, clever attention to detail, intuitive design, modern style and relaxing comfort – without compromising the day-to-day use of the Ranger as a trusted sturdy workhorse.
Step Inside
The interior of the new Ranger is reached through wide door openings that reveal a spacious and thoroughly modern interior crafted for people who typically spend long periods in their vehicle.
Ford drew on its vast global manufacturing experience to incorporate car-like features including MP3/CD/Radio sound system. Adding to the overall practicality of the vehicle are features such as a lockable glove box, a passenger-side vanity mirror and an array of handy storage areas.
The spacious cabin provides generous head, leg and shoulder room, while the expansive feeling is accentuated with large windows. Owners have a great view of the road through a commanding driving position that offers excellent all-round visibility.
Stylish new seats offer a more comfortable and supportive shape, ensuring drivers are in the ideal position, especially for long-distance travel.
Ford designers responded to demands for improved convenience, comfort and safety by addressing ergonomic issues throughout the cabin of the new Ranger. Functional and stylish dials and other controls are placed thoughtfully so customers intuitively know their location.
The instrument cluster features three intersecting pods. The speedometer is placed centrally, the tachometer to the left and the fuel and temperature gauges grouped to the right.
These improvements to ergonomics also make driving safer by ensuring controls can be operated easily without taking your eyes off the road for extended periods. The manual transmission lever is now more car-like and easier to operate, thanks to shorter and more precise throws that make changing gears more effortless.
Ford designers analysed customer requirements to improve the quality and texture of materials, particularly in the seat fabric, door trim and centre console. In response to customer demands, the Ranger now offers two-tone interior – a primary charcoal finish mated with grey. The grain used in the materials has been changed to give a more contemporary and welcoming feel for drivers and passengers.
Tall vertical vents are placed either side of the centre stack. Vents on the instrument panel are round; enabling them to be rotated 360 degrees to ensure air is directed where it is needed most.
New front-seat cushions and bolsters are designed to hold and support occupants during dynamic driving as well as those faced with long-distance travel. The newly developed seats feature a high density urethane material along with better seat shape, revised spring construction and thicker bolster, all of which help provide more comfort and support to the occupants.
The seat backs are taller for better body fit and help improve the distribution of body pressure points. The result is more accurate support for the hips and back while allowing the driver and passenger to slide easily in and out of the vehicle.
A comfortable driver’s seat with firm lateral support is essential for safety as it ensures the driver remains in an optimum position at all times. Head restraints have been designed larger for greater protection and added comfort.
The seats use three different styles of material for a quality, up-market appearance – one for the headrest and upper part of the seat back, a second for the lower part of the back and cushion, and a third for the bolsters.
Passenger comfort across the range is improved due to the Ranger’s improved ride and seat isolation from road harshness.
In the Double Cab models, the angle of the rear-seat back has been improved. It is now fixed at 23 degrees (previously 20 degrees) to make it more relaxing for passengers. A centre-rear armrest in the Crew Cab also provides occupants with greater comfort, balance and control, especially when the vehicle is being driven in a spirited manner. Integrated rear headrests for outboard passengers are also included.
Flexible storage
The new Ranger provides customers with a vast number of storage areas for the convenience of drivers and passengers. In an industry first, a tray table (380 x 130 x 15mm) pulls out from the instrument panel above the spacious 8-litre glove box. The tray slides away neatly out of sight after use.
Designers have also responded to customer demands by providing a sculpted storage area on top of the instrument panel, suitable for pens and small personal items.
The centre-console armrest now provides more flexible storage by opening in two stages to reveal a shallow storage area at the top and a much deeper storage bin underneath. The two bins can store up to 10 CDs plus a pair of sunglasses and two cell phones. In addition, a storage area below the ventilation controls takes up to nine CDs in their cases, and has a night-time lighting feature.
The vehicle offers five cup holders between the driver and front passenger. Both front door trim panels contain 500ml bottle holder, while the door bins can accommodate large notebooks.
