2022 FORD RANGER UNMASKED

A V6 DIESEL ENGINE, FULL-TIME 4X4 SYSTEM, AND A NEW LOOK INSIDE AND OUT HEADLINE THE CHANGES TO THE 2022 FORD RANGER.

- MATT RAUDONIKIS

FORD Australia has pulled the covers off its new Ranger, which will go on sale locally around mid2022. Following countless teasers, leaked images, spy photos and pictures of prototypes snapped on public roads, these are the first official images of the un-camouflaged cars to be released by Ford.

Most obvious is the striking frontend design which incorporates the signature C-shaped headlamp clusters from Ford trucks in the USA. Of course, the USA will also be receiving this new Ranger in 2022, along with around 178 other countries around the globe; but, as with Rangers in the past, most of the design and engineering work was done here in Australia.

It’s no secret that Volkswagen will share the new Ranger for its next generation of Amarok utility – and while all of the design and engineering has been by the Blue Oval Team, it seems the Ford crew learned a few lessons from VW and the ageing Amarok.

Chassis changes, like widening the wheel track by 50mm and moving the rear shock absorbers further outwards to widen the ute’s footprint, thus improving dynamics and increasing wheel articulation, are features that could have been taken from the current generation VW Amarok.

Moving the wheels outwards has also allowed the designers to fit a wider cargo tub that will accommodate a full-size shipping pallet in-between the wheel arches; something that has always been an Amarok bragging point.

Looking at the cargo tub, on the Wildtrak model there are functional tie-down rails on the tub sides that are removable should you want to fit a canopy. You might also notice the foot-steps in the lower part of the rear quarters that make it easier to step up on to the tailgate or just to access the tub.