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Ford to debut new Ranger at Dubai motorshow

DUBAI, November 5, 2015

The new Ford Ranger is set to establish new benchmarks in the light commercial vehicle segment with a blend of robust capability, craftsmanship and advanced technology. 
 
The refreshed version of Ford’s compact pickup will make its regional debut at the upcoming Dubai International Motorshow, which will run from November 10 to 14.
 
Tracey Delate, general marketing manager, Ford Motor Co - Sub-Saharan Africa region, said: “The new Ford Ranger brings a new level of comfort and refinement to its segment without compromising on the rugged capability that our customers demand and have come to appreciate from the current model.
 
“It represents a smarter kind of tough, and will help our customers to achieve more in every type of application.”
 
“The current Ranger is one of the toughest, most capable pickups out there, and this is reflected in the exceptional sales of the Ranger to date,” she said.
 
The new Ranger will continue to be produced at Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria and exported to 148 markets in Africa and Europe. The Duratorq TDCi engines are manufactured at the Struandale Engine Plant in Port Elizabeth.
 
The changes to the new Ranger begin with an updated exterior design. A bold, more modern look lends new Ranger a powerful presence on the road, and immediately conveys a sense of capability.
 
A more muscular hood flows into a strong new trapezoidal grille, which connects seamlessly with the chiselled projector headlamps, accentuating the new Ranger’s width and strong stance.
 
“Ford’s design team saw an opportunity to give the design extra tension, and to emphasize ‘Built Ford Tough’ design elements like the outboard nostrils – all while maintaining the Ranger’s excellent aerodynamic characteristics,” said Delate.
 
The updated exterior has been combined with a stylish new interior that creates an even more comfortable, contemporary and car-like environment for the driver and passengers. Strong horizontal lines run across the width of the cab, giving a sense of spaciousness, creating a clear distinction between the upper and lower levels, and placing the focus on the central eight-inch touchscreen on the high-spec models.
 
Behind the steering wheel, a new dual-TFT instrument cluster will provide drivers with information about the vehicle, as well as entertainment and cellphone features at a glance.
 
“The interior of the new Ranger is sleek and modern, with a strong technical aspect to it. Accentuating the design, materials were chosen that are stylish and attractive while being durable enough to handle the harsh life of a work truck. The interior may look more car-like, but it’s as practical as ever,” said Delate.
 
With an exceptional 800mm water wading depth, and with 230mm of ground clearance, the Ford Ranger has been designed and engineered to handle the most extreme terrains with ease.
 
An electronically controlled transfer case will allow drivers in 4x4 models to shift on the fly from 4x2 to 4x4 high via a knob on the centre console. For low-speed torque or additional downhill control, drivers can also engage low-range 4x4 gearing, while an electronic locking rear differential helps to improve traction in difficult conditions. These off-road strengths are matched to a towing capability of up to 3 500kg and impressive payload capacity.
 
The driving experience has been further enhanced by an electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) system, which will provide precise steering with a natural and confident feel. With EPAS, steering is light and manageable for low-speed manoeuvring, such as parking, and precise at higher speeds.
 
Meanwhile, a host of cutting-edge technologies have been made available on the new Ford Ranger to help drivers stay connected and in control.
 
SYNC2, the latest generation of Ford’s in-car connectivity system, will give drivers smarter and safer ways to stay connected and is standard on the new Ranger Limited and Wildtrak. Using natural voice commands, like “temperature 20 degrees”, “play” or “call Ahmed”, the driver can control the car’s climate controls, entertainment system and phone functions more easily than ever before. An eight-inch touchscreen places more controls at the driver’s fingertips, with colour-coded corners for easy menu navigation.
 
For extra convenience, the new Ranger features a 240-volt power socket that can be used to power a laptop computer or mobile device anywhere, from a work site to a family road trip.
 
There is also an array of driver assist technologies, including Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and ABS on all but some Base models (ABS is an option).
 
The Ranger will also offer a wide range of first-in-class driver aids, including Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, as well as Front and Rear Park Assist.
 
Ford’s 3.2-litre Duratorq TDCi five-cylinder diesel engine will top the range, and has earned an impressive reputation for its segment-defining levels of performance. Upgrades include a new exhaust gas recirculation system that helps improve fuel efficiency by up to 18 percent, while still producing 200PS of power and 470Nm of torque.
 
Similarly, the revised 2.2-litre four-cylinder Duratorq TDCi benefits from a raft of upgrades in the interests of performance, refinement and efficiency, producing a power of 150PS and 375Nm of torque.
 
The new Ranger is also available with Ford’s dependable 2.5-litre Duratec petrol engine, providing 163PS of power and 225Nm of torque.
 
Depending on model derivative, the new Ranger has been equipped with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, or a five-speed manual on the diesel and petrol versions. - TradeArabia News Service



Tags: Dubai | Ford | motor | Show | debut |

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