2012 Ford Ranger Overview
The 2012 Ford Ranger is slightly larger than the Ranger currently being sold in the United States. However, according to a recent Ford press release, the 2012 Ranger is not slated for sale in the United States. The new Ranger is considered a "global" vehicle, in that it is being produced without country-specific variants. Even though the press release made no mention of sales within the United States, it only seems logical that Ford will eventually sell them stateside, especially considering that the Ranger currently selling in the US is scheduled for termination by next year.
The 2012 Ranger, officially known as the T6 test truck, was claimed to have greater power and enhanced fuel economy due to a new family of Ford engines. Ford also stated that the vehicle has been tested in places like Australia, Middle Eastern deserts and European Alps, logging over one million kilometers of test driving.
Known Features ““ Test trucks were spotted configured in both right-hand and left-hand steering models. The vehicles appeared both longer and wider than the Ranger currently being sold overseas. According to the design and appearance of the vehicle, it would fit just below the Ford F-150 in the Ford family of trucks. Some of the test vehicles that were photographed contained various types of engines, including gasoline burning and diesel. There is speculation that the new Ranger will be sporting a newly designed Ford engine. The engine specified was a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that was direct injected and turbocharged. The EcoBoost engine is stated as delivering 175 HP and providing 180 ft-lbs. of torque.
Markets ““ The 2012 Ranger is going to be sold in South America, the Asian-Pacific territories and South Africa. The vehicle is scheduled to incorporate a 2.2-liter diesel engine with four cylinders and turbocharger, or a 3.2-liter In-Line five cylinder turbo-diesel that can produce 200 HP and 347 ft-lbs. of torque. The impressive specs of the 3.2-liter engine place it in class with some existing V8 engines when comparing horsepower and torque.
Trim and Styling ““ The Ranger utilizing the 3.2-liter engine will come with a six-speed transmission that is available in either manual or automatic configurations. The smaller 2.2-liter engine comes paired with a manual five-speed transmission. The interior design is keeping with Ford’s global styling, and features centrally integrated controls and an information screen that is mounted up high. Additional design cues were said to have been taken from Ford’s F-150, Bosch and DeWalt power tools, and G-Shock Watches. The 2012 Ranger also includes updated connectivity features such as iPod connector, Bluetooth technology and steering wheel controls. The vehicle will be sporting a new style front facia/grill/headlight design/rear lamp cluster/hood.
Final Word ““ Apparently Ford is hoping that truck buyers in the United States will shift from the Ranger to the F-150 class of vehicles. The desire is to make the Ranger a heavily purchased and desired global truck, while Ford modifies the F-150 lineup to keep up with buyer needs, tastes and a growing need for fuel-efficient vehicles.
