New Clothes For The Ford Ranger
The New Ford Ranger, launched just a couple of weeks ago by Auto Connexion combines the tough characteristics of the outgoing Ford Ranger with a new and more stylish outer body. Since taking over the Ford franchise some months ago, Auto Connexion has been very active on the re-branding of the Ford line-up in the country. The 2009 Ford Ranger launch follows very closely behind the launch of the 2009 Focus, and the new management are taking a very serious view of the market potential, evidenced by the very competitive pricing for both the Focus and the Ford Ranger series. Soon to come will be the new Ford Escape, which is also a little ‘softer in looks.
In conjunction with the launch, the media were given the rare opportunity to take the new Ford Ranger out into the hills to the east of the capital city for a vigorous drive, followed by a spot of almost hard-core off-road tracking at Ulu Yam. All for the purpose of lending credence to the phrase, ‘Tough Gets Stylish”
The new Ranger comes imported as a CBU from Thailand, Rayong in particular, but because of the unique classification of pick-up trucks by the Malaysian government, there is no import duty imposed. Bearing in mind that a Ford Ranger in Europe would cost as much as a BMW 3 Series car, the Ford Ranger, or any pick-up truck for that matter, presents a great bang-per-buck value proposition that should not be ignored, besides allowing one an additional dimension in personal freedom to go where others dare not tread.
As tough as ever, the new Ranger retains the proven ladder frame of its predecessor, together with the running gear made up of Ford’s very own 2.5 litre common rail diesel that delivers 143 PS and 330 Nm of torque, with power delivered to the rear wheels either through a 5-speed auto or a manual gearbox. When the going gets tough, a transfer box allows the front wheels to be driven, actuated electronically by means of a simple switch that allows for shift-on-the-fly up to 100 km/h for normal 4H mode. To go to 4L or 4WD Low mode, it would be necessary to stop and place the transmission in Neutral mode momentarily, purely a safety measure as there is an additional 2.7 times further gear reduction to allow for more torque to go to the wheels.
The suspension configuration remains the same, with double wishbones and a torsion bar in the front, while leaf springs hold up the rear. What has changed is perhaps some spring and absorber rates, as the new Ranger appears to ride better than its predecessor. Massive ventilated discs with ABS provide front stopping power, and equally large drums are found at the rear. Our run to Bukit Tinggi involved some very steep inclines, and the exuberance of some of our media colleagues really put these brakes to the test, but not once did they falter.
The stylish part of the new Ranger is all found in the exterior, namely the upper body. A new front end with a more refined grille and re-modelled headlamp cluster give the Ford Ranger a ‘softer’ demeanour, to make it appealing to more than just the ‘toughies’ who want to be seen in a truck. The design strategy seems to be one of making the Ranger look more attractive, yet retaining the base essentials that are important for off-roading.
To reinforce the off-road capabilities of the new model, we were taken through a short but relatively tough trail on the return journey, an abandoned timber trail through which we had to climb very steep slopes and go down equally steep inclines, go through deep mud holes and pick our way over monsoon-washed ruts and rocky stream crossings. It was a tough job, but the Ranger could do it all with ease.
As a utility truck for the man-on-the-job, there is no question about the choice of vehicle; for the man-in-the-office types, the Ford Ranger presents a whole new dimension as a daily driver. With its ‘softer’ touch, it is now even more appealing as a mainstream vehicle.
Prices start at RM82,888 for a 5-speed manual, or RM88,888 for a 5-speed automatic.
