The next-generation Ford Ranger, due to appear in showrooms in early 2022, has been spotted testing in the UK.
Development mules are known to be roaming around the north of England, from the Peak District up into the Lake District, and Professional Pickup & 4×4 reader and motoring writer Steve Berry managed to get a couple of snaps.
Not Quite an All-New Ranger
While the new Ranger will be visually very different to the current model, the platform remains much the same, with the model retaining the T6 codename. The so-called T6.2 platform is expected to see service for eight years or so.
Despite the use of the existing platform, changes to the model are significant, with a new exterior design and a completely revised interior.
Hidden behind the camouflage at the front, we can see hints of the C-shaped headlights that will frame a wide horizontal grille. The effect will be much the same as we can see on the US-market F-150 pickup, and has been caught undisguised in some shots published by Wheels in Australia.
The cabin will see some significant changes, with the plethora of buttons and switches on the dashboard mostly replaced by a digital interface accessed through a screen believed to be 12.8-inches – up significantly from the 7.0 or 8.0-inch units in the current model. The instrument panel will be replaced by a 10.25-ich digital panel, allowing for more detailed information to be presented to the driver, including navigation instructions.
Diesel and Hybrid Engines
The current engine range will carry over to the new model, which means there will be several different 2.0-litre diesel units to choose from. The EcoBlue engines with 130hp and 170hp will continue, as will the bi-turbo model with 213hp.
Time will finally be called on the 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine, but we understand that a new 3.0-litre unit will be fitted to the Ranger to replace it in some territories; sadly, it’s unlikely to make it to the UK.
A plug-in hybrid option will be launched early in the new model’s lifespan, which will marry a four-cylinder petrol engine with a pair of electric motors and an underfloor battery pack.
Next-Gen Ford Ranger Launch Date
The next-generation Ford Ranger will be revealed before the end of the year, with models reaching the showrooms in early 2022. Pricing has not been announced, but expect a noticeable but not momentous rise from the current generation.
Its non-identical twin, the Volkswagen Amarok, is being developed at the same time by Ford, with Volkswagen input. Both models will be built at Ford’s factory in Silverton, South Africa.
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