THE Ford Ranger PX that went on sale in Australia in late 2011 and has just been superseded, is a pivotal product in Ford's history. Despite carrying over the Ranger name from its predecessor, it was a genuine top-to-bottom Ford product and not just a rebadged Mazda as was the earlier Ranger and all the Ford Courier utes before that. This was Ford responding to the growing global demand for utes by making the new Ranger an in-house engineering priority rather than just relying on someone else's design.
In what was a big-budget effort, Ford marshalled its considerable resources from all around the world to contribute to the design and then headquartered the development right here in Australia, which has subsequently proved to serve the Ranger well. This new Ranger was to be built on three continents and sold in no fewer than 180 countries, so it had to be 'right'.
Thankfully all the effort was worthwhile as the PX proved to be a standout design, not only on debut in late 2011 but also against the flood of newer rivals that have subsequently arrived, namely new-generation Holden Colorado, Isuzu D-MAX, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux models.
Against its contemporaries the PX Ranger is notable for many things but none more important than its long-travel suspension and long wheelbase chassis.
The long-travel suspension is just the ticket for bumpy back-roads touring in this country and it also underpins the Ranger's off-road excellence. For its part, the notably long wheelbase means class-leading combined front and rear legroom in what is a very spacious cabin without compromise to the length of the rear tub, always the crucial point with a dual-cab.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2022-Ausgabe von 4x4 Magazine Australia.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2022-Ausgabe von 4x4 Magazine Australia.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
OUTBACK WATERING HOLES
SINCE OFF TRACK WINES WAS LAUNCHED, OWNERS ANNA AND BRETT FISHER HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN 20,000KM UP, DOWN AND ACROSS AUSTRALIA SPRUIKING THEIR WINES-IN-A-CAN MADE FOR CAMPING. THEY DROPPED INTO PLENTY OF OUTBACK PUBS ALONG THE WAY AND THESE ARE THEIR SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FAVOURITES
BIG COUNTRY
THE PILBARA IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF BIG COUNTRY, AND THERE IS PLENTY TO SEE, DO AND ENJOY IN THIS ANCIENT LANDSCAPE IN WA'S RUGGED NORTHWEST
ISLAND PARADISE
NEAR THE TOP OF THE BUCKET LIST FOR EVERY AUSSIE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVER, K'GARI IS PACKED WITH STUNNING HIGHLIGHTS AND BOASTS SOME OF THE BEST BEACH DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY
WEIGHTLIFTING
INCREASING THE GVM OF YOUR 4X4 SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN SHOULD NOT BE AVOIDED IF YOU NEED IT. WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS ON OUR FORD RANGER TO EXPLAIN HOW TO GET IT RIGHT
NOW HEAR THIS
THE CEL-FI GO MOBILE BOOSTER WILL KEEP EMAILS, MESSAGES AND CALLS COMING THROUGH TO YOUR DEVICES WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS HEARING CRICKETS
LOOKING BACK
A PAIR OF MSA 4X4 TOWING MIRRORS ENSURE WE ALWAYS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND US WHEN WE HAVE A TRAILER HITCHED TO OUR MITSUBISHI TRITON
TRUCKIN' LIFE
CAN FORD AUSTRALIA'S NEW F-150 BE AN ACCOMPLISHED OFF-ROAD TOURING 4X4?
WHAT LURKS BENEATH
IT MAY LOOK LIKE A FAIRLY STANDARD (IF CLEAN) 80 SERIES, BUT DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER AND YOU'LL FIND A MONSTER BELOW THE SURFACE
EYE OF THE HURRICANE
RAM HAS DUMPED ITS HEMI V8FOR A SIX-CYLINDER, AND IT'S COMING TO AUSTRALIA
GETTING TANKED
GWM EXPANDS IT TANK 4X4 RANGE WITH THE LUXURIOUS TANK 500 WAGON