Ford Ranger launch report by Steve Rogers
What
did the Romans do for us? Amongst other things they built roads along some
pretty treacherous, freezing, windswept Welsh hillsides so their foot-slogging
centurions could carry on invading our lands.
Nearly
2,000 years later we are still driving those roads, preferably in off roaders,
which I was doing in the Brecon Beacons for the launch of new models of the Ford
Ranger. What those poor soldiers wouldn't have given to be tucked up in a warm
Ranger cab because it is pretty wild along Sarn Helen even on a sunny winter's
day.
So
new Ford Rangers, but I am sensing confusion from those who have seen previews
of next year's all new pick up on social media. Okay this is not THE new model,
merely new names to keep interest alive because the next generation Ranger will
not arrive here until 2023.
That
said Ford has gone to extreme lengths to promote the additional models producing
a film inspired by the classic Clint Eastwood spaghetti western called The
Good, the Bad and the Bad-RSE and starring the top of the range Raptor Special
Edition. It was even shot on the original film set in the mountains of Almeria
Province in Spain.
Raptor
SE joins Wolftrak, MS-RT and Stormtrak targeting life-stylers switching from
SUVs to double cab pick-ups and the special edition is a real bad boy. It has a
beefed up chassis and bespoke multi-link rear suspension, sits 51mm taller than
the standard Ranger, is pimped up with blue and red racing style stripes and
bulging plastic clad wheel arches and will set you back £54k. Ouch!
Power
comes from a 209bhp bi-turbo 2-litre diesel engine mated to a 10-speed
automatic gearbox that is shared with the Mustang sports car. This is not the
best model for trade or a farmer because the payload is halved and towing
capacity down 1000kg.
Even
though Raptor SE will tackle the toughest of off road challenges reality can be
found in the everyday models which have leaf spring suspension upping the
payload to just over 1100kg while towing capacity is 3,500kg, the norm for
pick-ups.
The
bi-turbo engine is a lot more powerful and more refined than the Isuzu D-Max
tested last month with a whopping 500Nm or torque and although the 10-speed
auto sounds over the top it provides smooth changes and is fairly quick off the
mark.
The
cheaper Wolftrak model is offered with a 167bhp power train and a six-speed
manual option. It has a healthy 420Nm of torque which is 60Nm up on the D-Max
and more than adequate for most heavy duty needs. Expect to average around 32mpg
and 29-30mpg for the bi-turbo.
As
readers will know I am not a fan of touchscreen heating controls but I will
make an exception with the Ranger because it is the easiest I have come across.
If you need quick demisting, temperature or fan adjustments there are physical
switches in the centre console.
The
pick-up market has been turned upside down with only Ford, Toyota, Isuzu and
SSangYong left and Ford is hell bent on making sure it stays as the UK's best
seller with special edition models taking the range to nine.
As
we found out on the test drive Ranger has enough all wheel drive technology to
tackle the most demanding of conditions whether it is traversing rocks,
descending steep gullies or ploughing through a mud bath thanks to the low range
setting, diff lock and hill descent control, and is likely to stay at the top
of the pick-up league until more competition arrives.
Fast
facts
Ranger
Limited Double Cab
£41,455
(starts £28,785)
2-litre
Bi-turbo diesel; 209bhp
0-62mph
9secs; 112mph
36mpg
combined
205g/km
Insurance
group 39
Towing: 3500kg
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