Press Release
Sun.Star Motoring
June 05, 2009

Ford elevates Ranger to new heights in style and design defined by its distinctive, muscular Tough Style exterior. With genuine class-leading TDCi power and performance, the new Ford Ranger for 2009 arrives loaded with real visual excitement.

"Since 2006, the Ford Ranger has set the benchmark for torque, payload and towing capacity for the pickup segment. We are truly proud of how the Ford Ranger has given our customers further proof points on what we often refer to as our vehicles' Built Ford Tough DNA," said Ford Group Philippines president Rick Baker. "We are confident the new Ranger will continue to appeal to customers who buy Ranger for its genuine working toughness. We also know the new Ranger with its modern design and features will also appeal to the truck buyer living in the city."

Ford's global leadership and expertise in pickup truck design and development has led to considerable improvements to its compact Ranger pickup. Respected throughout more than 130 markets around the world, the new Ford Ranger effectively combines genuine durability and toughness with a new distinct and muscular exterior design.

"Through the years Ranger has earned the respect from those who depend on their truck every day," says Ian Constance, Product Development Director, Ford Motor Company, Asia Pacific and Africa. "The new Ranger leverages its toughness with Ford's engineering expertise to create a compact truck that is unequalled for its all-around ability and style."

This blend of strength and style - Ford describes it as Tough Style - defines the new Ranger and brings to the compact truck segment a very high degree of attention to design and detail beyond the competition's offerings.

"Its modern design gives the new Ranger instant credibility as an urban vehicle and its versatility makes Ranger a logical lifestyle choice," Scott Strong, Design Director, Ford Motor Company, Asia Pacific and Africa. "You'd be proud to be seen driving the new Ranger anywhere, and its strong on-road presence is built upon expert craftsmanship and detailed design."

Bold New Ranger Face

According to Paul Gibson, Chief Designer, Ford Motor Company, Asia Pacific and Africa, the new front styling takes Ranger from the shadows and puts it under the spot light. Tough Style moves Ranger design forward to a muscular and distinctive look. "Its design as well as its all-around abilities set the Ranger apart from its competitors," said Gibson.

The horizontal three-bar grille embossed with RANGER lettering, the functional twin black vertical nostrils, the extended opening below the bumper line, and large headlamps that wraparound each front corner effectively establish a new design benchmark for the compact truck segment. It is a remarkable transformation that highlights perfectly the strong character of Ranger.

The three-bar grille is one of Ford's global design traits and is a prominent feature on the flagship F-150 full-size pickup in the United States. Its boldness is contrasted by clever details, including recessed grille meshwork and two elongated 'nostril' duct shapes.

"The new Ranger exudes Tough Style," said Gibson. "We recognize Ranger's reputation for toughness and durability, and we built on those qualities with modern design features to accentuate its sportiness and confidence."

Ford Ranger's new front design is executed with clever, sculpted surfaces and appealing shapes united with precise execution. These details are critical to achieving the modern, muscular look that today's truck owner wants.

"The headlamps are the eyes of new Ranger, and the distinct new wraparound headlamp design is a signature feature," Gibson said. "We approached the Ranger design with the same high standards as we do with our passenger cars, and the headlamps are the soul of new Ranger. They give new Ranger a serious, determined look."

Power is a Ranger strength. With the choice of two state-of-the-art Duratorq TDCi engines - producing 330Nm and 380Nm - Ranger has the power to get the job done. A third diesel engine is also available, the proven 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel with mechanical fuel injection delivering 280Nm at 2000rpm.

Visually, the new front design reflects the robust character of Ranger. Functionally, the new front design directs air where it is needed to aid in efficient air-conditioning performance and engine cooling in hot weather.

The large opening in the lower fascia provides a fresh supply of cool air to the TDCi turbocharged engine's intercooler. By mounting the intercooler forward of the radiator and directly in the flow of cool air, the boosted intake charge from the variable-geometry turbocharger remains consistent and allows the engine to perform more efficiently.

New Ranger's lower fascia includes integrated eyebrow shapes for foglamps and subtle features influenced by aerodynamic testing. The design of the side mirrors is where aero testing paid gains. Despite the fact that the mirrors are very large to improve visibility, the side mirrors' shape is sleek and allows the wind to flow past without creating turbulence and wind noise.

New Ranger's sleek Tough Style is supported by solid engineering. The tapered front is more aerodynamic and sweeps rearward at its edges to incorporate Ranger's bold front wheel arches. This key design detail communicates Ranger's solid, confident stance and composed handling character, whether in 4x2 or 4x4 configuration.

Wheel Appeal

A freshly designed alloy wheel complements Ford Ranger's new exterior design.

Ranger 4x4 models and Trekker arrive with a new six-spoke 16x7-inch wheel that is evolutionary in design with improvements making it stronger and lighter and more resistant to trapping dirt and mud.

A steel 15x6.5-inch wheel is available on the Ranger 4x2 with a 215/70 tire.

Details by Design

Drawing attention to the trailing edge of each front fender is a black vent plate. This new element exemplifies contemporary design that distinguishes new Ranger from its competition.

Directly above these unique vents and equally detailed in their design are new enlarged side mirrors offering excellent visibility. The new Ranger locates the turn indicator on each front fender - centrally located within the black vent plate.

Following a consistent design direction, Ranger's door handles and tailgate handle are also finished in black or body colour or chrome (depending on model and specification).

Overfender arches in body colour for higher series, and all models feature a rear bumper in body colour with black step-plate.

New Ford Ranger is offered with six exterior paint choices: Highlight Silver, Black Mica, Cool White, Nifty Red, Winning Blue and Desert Bronze.

Clear tail lamps - another contemporary design cue - visually unite the smooth tailgate with the sculpted box side with appealing coherence. The clear tail lamps provide an interesting visual contrast to Ranger's exterior colour range.

The Ford Ranger is available in 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains. The popular Ranger 4x2 Trekker offers a unique combination, being 2wd and using the robust components and the higher ground clearance of a 4x4. On 16-inch wheels and 245/70 tires, Trekker's ground clearance lifts to 207mm (equal with Ranger 4x4)

The Trekker was an innovative first for Ford when developed and launched several years ago. It continues to gain in popularity as customers appreciate the taller ride height combined with the Trekker's ability to traverse poorly maintained roads.

Style, Space, Craftsmanship and Comfort

Even with its proven truck toughness and capability, new Ranger's interior offers carlike comfort and low Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH), thanks to ergonomically crafted seats, climate control and MP3-compatible audio and a body shell engineered to isolate the cabin from road noise.

All Ranger models offer AM/FM radio and an MP3-compatible CD player as standard. The audio unit features a digital display that incorporates a clock function.

The lower centre console features an integral 12-volt power outlet and AUX input connection for popular MP3 players, such as the Apple iPod.

Ranger offers a high-performance climate control system featuring intuitively designed backlit rotary control switches in the instrument panel centre stack and large, strategically positioned louvered air vents. Two additional air outlets near each front door rotate 360 degrees to allow occupants to direct cabin airflow where most comfortable.

Ranger also offers an array of clever stowage solutions, including a centre stack sunglass storage binnacle, a front-door stowage bin that holds a half-litre water bottle and a handy pull-out sliding tray above the glove compartment.

The pull-out tray, extending the width of the passenger side of the dashboard, supports a weight of 10 kilograms and can be used as a work surface.

Ranger's large centre console is divided into two levels. The top bin can accommodate a mobile phone or sunglasses, while the lower bin accommodates larger objects, including up to 10 CD cases.

Ranger's instrument panel features the contemporary and relaxing appeal of red illumination of its three large, individual gauges - each set within its own binnacle - ensuring excellent visibility day and night and also giving Ranger's interior a dynamic feel.

Ranger features power window and mirror controls within easy reach of the driver on the door panel. The driver's window has a one-touch down feature and the switch is backlit for visibility at night.

Ranger Power and Capability

The new Ford Ranger offers a choice of engines, transmissions and drivetrain configurations, reflecting its reputation for capability and truck toughness.

Two versions of Ford's acclaimed Duratorq TDCi diesel engine lead the powertrain lineup. Both TDCi engines deliver quick response, produce strong torque at low revs, offer highly refined characteristics and are fuel efficient with low running costs.

The common-rail diesel engines are available in 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre displacement versions, both engines employ advanced turbo technology - intercooler and variable-geometry turbocharging - to reduce turbo lag and improve overall performance. Both TDCi engines develop class-leading torque outputs.

The common-rail fuel system combines high fuel pressure of up to 1600 bar and multiple phase injection timing to deliver efficient power and refined operating characteristics.

Class-leading Torque

Ford powertrain engineers have developed the advanced TDCi engine to deliver exceptional overall qualities to give Ranger a driving advantage against its competitors.

Plenty of available torque from Ford's TDCi Duratorq diesels makes them highly responsive to the driver's needs and gives Ranger plenty of Ford truck grunt. The 143ps (105kW) 2.5-litre engine is rated at 330Nm, while the 156ps (115kW) 3.0-litre version delivers 380Nm peak torque at 1800rpm. This engine is producing more than 350Nm from as low as 1500rpm!

At 3000rpm, the Ranger's 3.0-litre TDCi diesel proves its flexibility in delivering more than 350Nm. Ranger delivers torque when and where it's needed.

In fact, that's more torque than most of its competitors' diesel engines produce at peak.

The TDCi diesels are powerful, refined and available in 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrain configurations with a choice of Ford's five-speed automatic transmission or five-speed manual.

Ranger 4x4 Goes To Extremes

With the advantage of 34 degrees and 33 degrees approach and departure angles, respectively, the Ford Ranger 4x4 provides superior ground clearance and river fording capability.

The Ranger 4x4 utilizes a proven Borg Warner transfer case and the ease of electronic shift-on-the-fly when accompanying the five-speed automatic transmission.

Those who are serious about off-road driving for either work or recreation will recognise the advantages of Ranger's low-range 4x4 gearing reduction of 2.48:1 (automatic transmission) and 2.02:1 (manual transmission) with TDCi engines.

This exceptionally low gearing combines with Ranger's high-torque engines to make it the most capable 4x4 compact pickup to travel beyond where the pavement ends.

The underside of Ranger 4x4 is well armoured. Fuel tank, transfer case, engine and transmission are protected by strong steel plating.

Ranger Tough

Ranger isn't just about Tough Style. It's about proven truck toughness.

Ranger's toughness starts with a purpose-built truck backbone. Its unique overlapped, cross-braced ladder frame delivers clear strength superiority. The frame is engineered for greater rigidity than H-beam or open-beam configurations.

The frame structure is the foundation of Ranger's load-carrying capacity, towing capability, durability, handling performance and ride quality.

Ranger features a truck-tough, long-leaf rear suspension with oversized 32mm gas shock absorbers for consistent ride stability and load capacity. This gives Ranger its renowned big-load capability and smooth ride. The front suspension, optimized for laden and unladen roadholding and handling, is a truck-engineered double-wishbone design with torsion bar springs.

Ranger is the only compact truck in its class to prioritise driving dynamics as a core product quality. Ford's chassis engineers have tuned the suspension's elements to reduce body roll and to give Ranger a poised, confident handling character reinforced by precise accurate steering.

Engineers have matched perfectly the clutch pedal effort and action to coordinate with the manual transmission's gear selector throw and shift efforts. These detail touches are commonly experienced in sports cars ... and Ranger pickup.

Excellent pedal layout that allows for heel-toe shifting benefits the urban driver with an enthusiastic, precise shift quality. The 4x4 driver realise the value of Ranger's perfect heel-toe pedal layout in extreme conditions.

Ranger also employs a two-way mechanical, multiplate, torque-sensing limited slip differential in the rear axle. It helps to optimize torque balance between the left and right rear wheels in low-traction situations and in higher speed cornering, as well.

Stopping power is another Ranger strength. Ranger offers on specific models a four-sensor, three-channel, four-wheel antilock braking system designed to prevent wheel lockup during hard braking.

Ranger also features electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), a system which distributes braking force to the front and rear wheels in accordance with the vehicle's speed and the load applied to the rear wheels. By increasing the rear-wheel braking force when the rear wheels are heavily loaded, this system enables safer, more effective braking with shorter braking and stopping distances. It has been calibrated especially for Ranger's load carrying and towing capabilities, giving the Ranger driver an added feeling of confidence.

Ranger features thick, ventilated front brake disc rotors, with generously sized pads for optimal heat handling capacity and pedal feel. Four-wheel-drive versions have the assurance of dual opposing-piston callipers, another touch of Ranger Tough Style.

ord Pampanga is located along Jose Abad Santos Avenue, City of San Fernando with contact number +63 45 961 2888, +63 918 939 5806 (www.fordlausgroup.com.ph)