Extreme Version of the Ranger
At long last, the Ford Extreme has arrived. After a gestation period of over a year – since the presentation of a prototype at the KL International Motorshow in 2000 – Ford Malaysia will be making deliveries of this unique variant of the Malaysian pick-up leader by the end of January.
As our earlier pictures showed, the production Extreme is very close to the concept model shown at the motorshow and according to a Ford Malaysia source, the long period of development has been due to coordination with local suppliers.
With a retail price of RM88,524.57 (including insurance) in Peninsula Malaysia, the Extreme costs RM3,186 more than the flashy Ranger Splash variant. However, unlike the Splash, which is essentially a well-equipped Ranger with a distinctive yellow colour, the Extreme has substantial cosmetic differences that are, well, extreme.
The initiative to develop this variant came from Ford Malaysia following feedback from owners and the public. The features desired were compiled and then Tickford Asia-Pacific, an Australian design consultancy better known for turning standard Fords into tyre-burners, was brought in to work on the looks.
“Ford has always prided itself in giving customers what they want. This means understanding trends and the changing needs of all our customers as this is a dynamic business. We are very proud that the Extreme is a Malaysian creation and its design was driven by customers here,” said Deborah Aronson, Managing Director of Ford Malaysia. She said that at this time, this variant of the Ranger is exclusive to the Malaysian market and not being offered anywhere else at all.
Added T.H. Chong, the company’s Marketing Manager: “The Extreme brings a lifestyle twist to the “Built Ford Tough” badge of the Ranger.
From any angle, the Extreme is clearly going to stand out with its really bold styling. It’s amazing what the stylists can achieve with cosmetic changes. Most prominent is the shiny new grille design which is a variation of the ‘egg-crate’ look in the other Rangers. Then there are the dual round lighting units with black bezels. The main beams are said to be derived from the Mustang sportscar sold in Australia. Further down, the reprofiled bumper has its large airscoop covered by a mesh with circular spotlights on either side. The bash-plate is a metallic colour to emphasise its function. The bonnet scoop also gets a two-tone scheme to highlight its presence.
Along the sides, the main changes are the wheel arches which stick out 75 mm and the retractable chrome door mirrors. The side strips also have some colour coding while the lower sill level is finished in a champagne silver colour. Larger 8×16 alloy wheels are fitted with broader 265/70 tyres.
A roof rack is also fitted, this being adapted from the Explorer Sportrak model sold in the US and as with the other Rangers, there is a roll-over bar (new design) behind the double cab.
Tonneau cover standard
One of the big things about the Extreme is the fibreglass tonneau cover which fits over the entire 0.952 cu. metre cargo deck. Developed locally, this accessory can be locked to secure cargo and it can also be taken off when there is a need to carry something tall. The removal procedure, which is shown on a sticker on the underside of the cover, takes just a few minutes and requires two persons to do it. Though it is quite solid-looking, you can’t lie down on it and can’t put any load (other than wet t-shirts) on the cover.
“This feature was requested by many owners and we decided to make it an integral one in the Extreme,” said Mr Chong. “As with the Splash, there is also a durable bedliner provided.”
Four new body colours are available for the Extreme: Panther Black, Dark Copper, Dark Nautic Blue and a unique green shade called Savanna Green. As the Extreme has a black finish, the black Splash is presently not being offered.
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