Next-gen Ranger spotted out and about in Thailand

Wednesday, 20 October 2021

From left to right, according to the RangerG6 forum: XLT, FX4, Wildtrak versions of the Ranger.

The next generation of Ford Ranger has been teased by Ford already, ahead of a launch later this year. The official imagery didn’t reveal much, being mainly focused on the rear of the ute, but some folks over on the RangerG6.com forum have spotted the new ute driving around some roads in Thailand.

It’s still clad in camo, but we can see the new front end, which is clearly inspired by the Maverick small ute and the large F-150. Interestingly, it’s quite similar to a leak of the clay model from a few years ago, which also had the rounded C-shaped DRLs with a horizontal strip through the centre.

A user on the Ranger6G forum spotted the new Ranger driving in Thailand.

The clay model featured chrome prominently in the grille strip and surrounds, but the prototypes pictured have camo instead, which indicates Ford is playing with different materials there. Some models might have body colour parts, while others could get black panels and others still could take the chrome.

There also appears to be different grille patterns for different models. We can also see that the headlight LEDs are stacked vertically rather than horizontally.

Ford has released a surprise look at the next-generation Ford Ranger in action.

* Ford hypes next-generation Ranger, confirms launch date

* The Ford Maverick is actually a lot smaller than the Ranger

* American trucks are nearly the same size as WWII tanks

As for other details of the new Ranger, we already know it will have a shark-fin aerial on the roof, new taillights with F-150-inspired looks, chunky running boards and what could be a new side step in the rear bumper.

Overall, the next Ranger is clearly designed to fit in with the slab-like American truck design shown in the Maverick and F-150.

As for power, expect a range of options. We’ll almost certainly see the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine carried over from the current model, along with a rumoured 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 in high-end models. Some reports have linked the Ranger Raptor with a version of the 2.7-litre EcoBoost petrol V6, which produces 231kW/540Nm in the Ranger-based Bronco.

It will also get an electrified powertrain at some stage, currently pegged to be a plug-in hybrid using a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor to generate 270kW of power and 680Nm of torque.

Ford New Zealand also said the new Ranger will be the “smartest, most capable and most versatile Ranger yet.”

That falls in with previous rumours, which linked the Ranger with the Sync4 infotainment system, which uses a new, vertical 12.8-inch screen and a smaller 10.25-inch driver's display behind the wheel. Similar to the Ford Mach-E electric SUV, the Ranger (and related Everest) are also expected to get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Whatever the new Ranger brings, we’ll know soon enough. Ford NZ confirmed the full reveal will happen “later this year,” ahead of a launch in 2022.