New Ford Ranger pickup revealed

The new Ford Ranger, which will be shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week, takes the number of new pickup trucks launched this year to three.

The new Ranger follows the launch of the new Mitsubishi L200 and the premiere of the new Nissan Navara – another model that will be shown at the German show.

Ford’s popular pickup gets a new look, new technology and an enhanced range of engines compared to the current version.

New Ford Ranger engines and running costs

The Ford Ranger engine range includes a revised version of Ford’s 2.2-litre TDCi diesel, producing 158bhp, compared to the 123 and 148bhp versions available in the outgoing model. A 197bhp 3.2-litre diesel will also be available. Manual and automatic gearboxes will be offered, as will the choice of two and four-wheel drive.

The new engines bring improved efficiency, with fuel economy boosted to as much as 43.5mpg – compared to 36.2mpg in the current vehicle. CO2 emissions have dropped from 206 grams per kilometre to 171g/km. That's aided by the introduction of automatic stop-start technology and a fuel-saving electric power-steering system.

Ford says the Ranger remains one of the most capable models in its class, with the ability to wade through water up to 800mm deep, plus 299mm of ground clearance. Because the wheels are pushed to near the corners of the car, there’s little bodywork to restrict it from climbing or descending steep slopes.

Four-wheel-drive versions allow you to switch between on-road high gear ratios and off-road low range to aid traction on slippery surfaces. They also feature an electronic rear differential to further aid traction.

The Ford Ranger's towing capacity is rated between 1,800kg and 3,500kg depending on version.

Technology

The new Ranger boasts kit such as Ford’s SYNC 2 voice-activated connectivity system with an eight-inch touchscreen. Driver assistance and safety systems include lane-departure warning that's capable of gently steering the car back into lane on the motorway and adaptive cruise control that warns if a collision is imminent.

Other equipment highlights include front and rear parking assistance, a rear-view camera and an electronic stability control system that can prevent the vehicle rolling over and reduce the risk of a trailer jack-knifing.

New Ford Ranger Wildtrak

The new Ford Ranger Wildtrak will sit at the top of the range, boasting unique styling with orange accents and a new Pride Orange paint scheme. Other highlights include foglamps, a chrome roll bar, 18-inch alloy wheels and Wildtrak graphics.

Inside, there are more orange accents and colour digital displays alongside an eight-inch touchscreen. The top of the dashboard is covered in soft-touch materials and there are chrome rings around the airvents.

The Wildtrak also features seats not available elsewhere in the range, featuring eight-way electric adjustment and orange stitching.

The new 2016 Ford Ranger will go on sale in the UK before the end of the year, with the first vehicles being delivered to customers in early 2016. Prices and final specification will be announced in the coming weeks.