New Ford Ranger gets more versatile and powerful than ever

Ford has revealed its smartest, most versatile and most capable Ranger yet.

Visually, this new Ford Ranger is bold and confident, with a purposeful exterior that bowrrows from Ford's global truck design DNA.

Identifiably Ford features here include the C-clamp head lights, which are now available as matrix LED items. A redesigned grille meanwhile leads into subtle shoulder lines that run down the sides to the Ranger, incorporating the bolder wheel arches which give the pickup a sure-footed stance.

The Ford Ranger is available at launch with three diesel-powered drivetrains.

Two 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinders are being offered for the Ford Ranger at launch. The first utilises a single turbocharger and is available in two power outputs, while a bi-turbocharged unit is also being offered for those looking for more power. A third 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel will also be available, for those looking for the power and torque for towing heavy loads and extreme off‑roading

The chassis of the Ford Ranger has also got various improvements. These include a move of the front wheels forward by 50mm for a better approach angle and axle articulation. The rear suspension dampers have also been moved outboard of the frame rails to give drivers and passengers a better ride both on and off‑road.

Customers will have a choice of two four-wheel drive systems: An electronic shift-on-the-fly system, or an advanced new full-time four-wheel drive system with a reassuring set-and-forget mode, designed for capability when and where customers need it.

And for those that will take their Ranger further off road, recovery is now made easier with prominent dual recovery hooks in the pickup's front bumper.

In the cabin, the Ford Ranger gets either a 10.1-inch or 12-inch touchscreen, equipped with Ford's latest Sync 4 system, which comes customer-ready with its voice-activated communications, entertainment and information systems.

The new Ford Ranger will be built at Ford's plants in Thailand and South Africa beginning in 2022, with other markets to be announced at a later date. Order books for the Ford Ranger will open in Europe in late 2022 and customer deliveries are expected to start in early 2023.