Ford Debuts New Ranger Pickup in the UAE

Ford Middle East recently held the UAE debut of the new 2016 Ford Ranger. The model is expected set new benchmarks in the light commercial vehicle category with its combination of technological innovations, its robust build and craftsmanship. The revamped version of the pickup is now available to retail customers through the company’s exclusive dealer in the UAE, Al Tayer Motors.

Commenting on the new Ranger, Thierry Sabbagh, managing director at Ford Middle East 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.”

He added that it represents a smarter kind of tough and would help customers to get more out of the vehicle for all kinds of applications. He said it has been positioned as one of the toughest, most capable pickups in the market and this has already reflected in its popularity so far.

He concluded “Thanks to our proud truck heritage and global expertise in the utility segment, we’ve made what was great even better, with a bold new look, improved efficiency and a new level of refinement.”

The new Ranger is manufactured at the company’s Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, South Africa and it is currently exported to 148 overseas markets including those in the MENA region and Europe. The Duratorq TDCi engines are produced at the Struandale Engine Plant in Port Elizabeth, also in South Africa.

Tough and modern design

The external changes to the Ranger lend it a bolder, more modern look with elements like a more muscular hood, a trapezoidal grille that flows into chiselled projector headlamps, outboard nostrils and a wider stance. The tougher look highlights the ‘Built Ford Tough’ tagline while contributing to the vehicle’s excellent aerodynamic characteristics.

The interiors have been made more stylish to match the external refinements with strong horizontal lines to give the cabin a more spacious feel and clearly demarcating the upper and lower levels. On the high-end models, the central eight-inch touchscreen put all the controls within easy reach of the driver. The new dual-TFT instrument cluster located behind steering wheel gives the driver all the information he needs with a single glance. The materials used in the interiors are stylish and attractive but durable enough to handle the harsh conditions that a pickup normally operates in, giving the cabin a comfortable but practical look.

Capability and refinement

The new Ford Ranger retains its status as one of the most capable pickups in this segment. It is ideal to tackle even the most extreme terrain and weather conditions with a water wading depth of 800mm and a ground clearance of 230mm. Even steep can be easily handled due to the 28-degree approach angle and 25-degree departure angle.

Drivers can easily transition between the 4 x 2 and 4 x 4 using an electronically controlled transfer case that can be operated with a knob on the center console. They can also use low-range 4×4 gearing for better downhill control or low-speed torque and an electronic locking rear differential helps to improve traction in difficult conditions. These off-road strengths are further enhanced by a towing capability of up to 3 500kg and impressive payload capacity.

The suspension of the new Ranger has been finetuned for improved handling and higher comfort levels and this makes a ride in a Ranger more comfortable than in any other vehicle in this class.

The electric power-assisted steering system helps makes steering more precise making the Ranger more maneuverable for parking and driving at higher speeds. The use of EPAS instead of power steering improves fuel efficiency by three per cent and makes the Ranger a quieter vehicle. Noise in the Ranger is minimal due to its advanced sound-deadening materials and improved insulation.

Advanced technology

A wide range of technological innovations have been incorporated in the new Ranger to help customers to stay connected and improve their driving while they are on the road.

The mainstay of the system is Ford’s SYNC®2, Ford’s proprietary in-car connectivity system to enhance the connectivity and safety of drivers. It is a standard feature on the new Raptor Limited and Wildtrak. Drivers can use voice commands to operate the phone functions, climate controls and the entertainment system while the eight-inch touchscreen brings more controls within the driver’s easy reach with color-coded corners for easier operation. A 240-volt power socket can be used to charge laptops or mobile devices.

The driver assist technologies include ABS (which is optional on base models) and an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) consisting of Adaptive Load Control, Trailer Sway Control, Traction Control, Hill Launch Assist, and Hill Descent Control. The ABS includes Emergency Brake Assistance and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.

Other notable first-in-class technological innovations are Front and Rear Park Assist and Tire Pressure Monitoring System.

Efficient power

The more powerful and fuel-efficient Duratec petrol engine and Duratorq TDCi diesel engines have a big role to play when it comes to the most notable features of the new Ranger – its performance, power, towing capacity and payload. These engines not only highlight the fun aspect of driving but also make the vehicle economical with their fuel-efficiency and enhance Ford’s fun-to-drive promise.

The engine variants that are available include the powerful 3.2-liter Duratorq TDCi five-cylinder diesel engine with an new exhaust gas recirculation system to ramp up the fuel efficiency by a margin of 18 percent without any compromise in performance, with an output of 200PS of power and 470Nm of torque. The 2.2-liter four-cylinder Duratorq TDCi produces 150PS power and 375Nm of torque. The petrol engine variant is the dependable 2.5-liter Duratec petrol engine, which has an output of 163PS of power and 225Nm of torque.

The new Ranger is available with a choice of five-speed manual, six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, depending on the model and the engine used.

Wide Range of Variants

The new model is available in a wide range of variants like single cab, double cab and Rap Cab to meet different specifications that customers might have for both business and pleasure.