Ford Officially Unveils the Returning Ranger Midsize Pickup

Another big announcement to come out of the Detroit Show was the official announcement of the return of the Ford Ranger midsize pickup truck. The truck, which has only been available in other markets besides North America since 2011, features a new exterior design, chassis and powertrain that has been specifically developed for North American customers. Boasting a high-strength steel frame, the Ranger will be equipped with the 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder engine which will be paired to a segment-exclusive 10-speed automatic transmission. When it hits dealership showrooms, the Ranger will be available in three different trim levels with available Chrome and Sport appearance and FX off-road packages in SuperCab or SuperCrew cab configurations. The muscular exterior design of the Ranger is meant to convey toughness and features a raked grille and windshield to provide an athletic appearance but also to aid in aerodynamics and reduce wind noise. The back of the truck features a Ranger nameplate stamped in the tailgate, and a rugged steel bumper with available integrated trailer hitch receiver. The twin-power dome hood houses the EcoBoost engine, which has been designed for both efficiency and performance as it provides torque numbers that are on par with competing V6 engines. When fitted with the optional FX4 Off-Road Package, the Ranger receives of-road tuned shocks, all-terrain tires, a frame mounted heavy-gauge steel front bash plate, frame-mounted skid plates and FX4 badging. In addition, the FX4 package features an innovative Terrain Management system which allows you to choose from four distinctive drive modes –normal; grass, gravel and snow; mud and ruts; and sand. On top of the off-road capability, the Ranger will incorporate many driver assist technologies that have become commonplace for most if not all new vehicles these days. Additionally, the Ranger offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility plus available FordPass Connect 4G LTE Wi-Fi.