It’s been an open secret for months and has even been photographed being tested in the UK, but Ford has today released the first official pictures of the next-generation Ranger pickup.
Showing the extended cab version, called Super Cab in Ford parlance, the pictures of the new Ford Ranger show the vehicle still covered in camouflage. However, there’s enough revealed to confirm some details about the new model.
The distinctive C-shaped headlights are clearly visible, following the style of its bigger US brother, the F-150. These appear to wrap around a bold horizontal grille, featuring twin chrome strips if the undisguised shots published by Wheels in Australia are anything to go by.
The clamshell bonnet of the existing model has gone, replaced by a more conventional unit, although there are new creases and detailing on there. It sits atop a bolder, more upright front fascia that adds some street presence to the Ranger.
We’ve yet to catch an official glimpse of the interior, but we understand that the new Ranger will have a completely revised cabin. The current plethora of buttons and switches will be almost entirely replaced by a digital interface accessed using a screen expected to be as large as 12.8-inches on higher specification models. The driver’s instrument panel will also be replaced by a digital screen that allows for more customisation and relevant information to be displayed.
Development vehicles are running around the world, including the UK where prototype models have been spotted in the Peak District and Lake District. These have been running with regular diesel, as the 2.0-litre EcoBlue units will continue to be offered for UK buyers. The 3.2-litre five-cylinder engine will finally be retired, but a plug-in hybrid unit is expected in 2023, combining a four-cylinder petrol engine with dual electric motors.
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.
Next-Gen Ford Ranger Launch Date
The production model should be revealed before the end of the year, with a launch in early 2022. Prices have yet to be announced but expect a noticeable uplift in pricing over the current model.
Before the new model arrives, Ford will be making the Ranger Wolftrak and Stormtrak available, as well as a special edition Ranger Raptor.
Next-Gen Ford Ranger Testing Video
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