Designed and styled with the “21st Century Tough” motif, the 2012 Ranger is now as fit and muscular as a triathlete with its sleek lines, bold wheel arches, and the signature three-bar chrome grill. Three cab styles will be available - Regular, Double, and the savvy new design called “Super,” which has two forward-hinged doors and two rear-hinged access panels that provide an unobstructed access to the cabin. But despite its ladder-frame chassis, Ford claims that the new Ranger will drive and perform and well as a car, combining comfort and on-road stability.
When it comes to space, the new Ranger is in a league of its own. According to Ford, it will have the largest rear-passenger leg room in its class and could now fit three full-sized adults at the back seats - good news for those who travel with a party of five. And for long out-of-town trips, the center console can keep six soda cans cold through a duct from the air-conditioner; no alcoholic beverages, please. They've even made the glove box large enough to fit a 16-inch laptop and door pockets to fit 1.5-liter water bottles. Sounds like a bit of an over-kill considering that it already has a full sized pick-up bed at the back.
In its heart beats a powerful yet economic Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel engine. Choose between a 2.2 liter four cylinder with 148 hp and 375 Nm of torque or a larger 3.2 liter five cylinder that pumps out 197 hp and 470Nm and achieve a fuel economy of 13.1 or 11.9 km/L, respectively. But if you still insist on running unleaded, a 2.5 liter Ford Duratec four cylinder with 164 hp and 226 Nm could just fit the bill. Ford has also joined the six-speed bandwagon by offering either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic for the diesel variants, but the petrol model has to put up with a standard five-speed manual.
The all-new 2012 Ford Ranger will be manufactured in Thailand and will land on Philippine soil by early next year. Unfortunately, Ford Group Philippines (FGP) still has no details on the local specs and prices, so there's still roughly nine to ten months to build up the excitement.
