CHICAGO, Feb. 10, 2000 - The Ford Ranger has had an edge on the competition for a long time, but today a new edgy evolution of the best-selling compact pickup - the 2001 Ford Ranger - debuts at the Chicago Auto Show.

Styling, powertrain performance enhancements and a new series - the Edge - headline changes to Ford Ranger for the 2001 model year.

Under the hood, a powerful 4.0-liter SOHC V-6 is now available, providing 45 more horsepower and 10 more foot-pounds of torque. The new engine is coupled with a new five-speed, adaptive shift, automatic transmission or a heavy-duty five-speed manual transmission.

The new Edge series is geared to individuals with an active lifestyle who want the capability of the "Built Ford Tough" Ranger pickup along with a sportier, more rugged image.

"The 2001 Ranger is a winner in all aspects of the word - giving customers more of what they want - both in styling and performance," said Jim O'Connor, president of Ford Division. "Customers with active lifestyles seek a vehicle that features driving and performance versatility. We are responding to this demand by offering a Ranger that is tough, athletic and on the edge."

Chassis refinements, including revised front suspension tuning and a sound package, improve ride quality and increase interior quietness while the four wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS) - now standard across the board - adds confidence to driving under all conditions.

The 2001 Ranger features Ford's Belt-Minder™ system, designed to remind occupants to buckle up. Also added are safety belt pretensioners, devices that tighten the front safety belt and help prevent belted occupants from sliding and bouncing around during a crash.

The Edge - Sporty and Youthful

Designed to appeal to buyers seeking a cool-looking truck with features to support their active work and leisure needs, Ranger's new Edge series features bold new styling. Key features include:

- Power dome hood
- Monochromatic exterior color treatment
- 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain - 4x2 drivetrain features same ride height as 4x4
- Standard 3.0-liter V-6 engine with manual transmission
- 4.0-liter SOHC V-6 with automatic transmission available
- Standard painted silver styled wheels; available 16-inch five spoke aluminum wheels and 245 OWL A/T tires
- Front tow hooks
- Optional bed extender
- Pickup box rail protectors
- Washable flooring
- CD radio standard and optional in-dash six disc CD changer available

XLT - Personality and Comfort

The Ranger XLT attracts the highest number of customers in the Ranger lineup. Ranger XLT continues to provide customers with interior and exterior features they want in a fun-to-drive vehicle. The XLT comes standard with a 60/40 cloth split bench seat, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, power mirrors and AM/FM stereo with single-CD player.

XL - Value Oriented

The Ranger XL appeals to younger and economically minded customers such as small businesses and fleets.

Powertrain

Ranger is offered as a Regular Cab, two-door SuperCab or four-door SuperCab, with a 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain. The truck features three engines - a standard 2.5-liter I-4, an optional 3.0-liter V-6, or an optional 4.0-liter SOHC V-6.

New for the 2001 Ranger is the optional 4.0-liter SOHC V-6 which boasts 205 horsepower at 5,250 rpm and 235 foot-pounds of torque at 3,000 rpm.

The 3.0-liter Vulcan V-6 engine will continue to be offered on Ranger and is standard on all Edge series models, delivering 150 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 185 foot-pounds of torque at 3,750 rpm.

The 2.5-liter SEFI I-4, standard on XL and XLT series, achieves 119 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 146 foot-pounds of torque at 3,000 rpm.

In November, a new I-4 engine featuring improved power, performance, fuel economy and emission levels will replace the current 2.5-liter I-4. Further details regarding the new I-4 engine will be provided at a later date.

Innovative Equipment

The 2001 Ranger offers innovative features, allowing Ranger to fit customers' demanding lifestyles.

For the customer who needs to carry large, longer loads, an optional bed extender is offered. The tubular steel bed extender is a curved cage unit that attaches to the rear of pickup bed. With the tailgate lowered, the unit pivots from its stowed position within the box and locks into place extending the load-floor by 23 inches to securely carry cargo. With the tailgate closed, the stowed bed extender provides a convenient storage area, keeping smaller items from sliding around the bed while the truck is in motion.

A two-piece hard tonneau cover also is available with a lockable front compartment. The cover opens from the front or rear, allowing customers easy access to their cargo. In order to improve ease of use, both sides of the cover are spring loaded. In addition, the front and rear of the bed can be treated as two separate compartments or as one space, thanks to a cargo divider that is mounted to the tonneau cover hinge.

For customers who demand a more powerful sound system, an optional 80-watt AM/FM stereo with a six-disc, in-dash CD player is available.

Truck Market

With 13 years of sales leadership in the compact pickup segment under its belt, Ford has proven it knows who its Ranger customers are and what they want in a truck. In calendar year 1999, approximately 350,000 Ranger trucks were sold in the United States.

Ranger also has a history of off road racing dominance in Championship Off Road Racing (C.O.R.R.) and Best in the Desert competitions.

Ranger is manufactured at: Twin Cities Assembly Plant, St. Paul, Minn.; Edison Assembly Plant, Edison, N.J.