New Ford Ranger from under $20,000

FORD has underlined just how serious it is with its all-new Australian-developed Ranger by setting a starting price of just $19,740 plus on-road costs – some $4750 less than before and just $750 more than its fiercest rival, Toyota’s facelifted HiLux.

While the outgoing all-diesel PK Ranger line-up started at $24,490 plus ORCs, the locally redesigned PX Ranger opens with a new 122kW 2.5-litre petrol engine, lowering the new model’s list price to less than $20,000 in base XL 4x2 single-cab guise with a five-speed manual.

Meanwhile, Toyota will today launch the facelifted version of its top-selling HiLux one-tonner range with an entry-level price of $18,990 plus ORCs – $500 more than before – for the WorkMate single-cab/chassis with 118kW 2.7-litre petrol engine and five-speed manual.

Due to be officially launched on September 26, Ford’s new Ranger will be followed in October by the release of Mazda’s mechanically identical new BT-50 and another pair of one-tonne ute siblings early next year – Holden’s new Colorado and Isuzu’s new D-Max.

As GoAuto has reported previously, the 2012 Ranger is based on an all-new T6 ladder chassis designed and engineered by Ford Australia and will be available in three body styles powered by three engine/transmission combinations – a 122kW/226Nm 2.5-litre Duratec petrol four with five-speed manual and two turbo-diesel fours matched with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, the 110kW/375Nm 2.2-litre TDCi four-cylinder and 147kW/470Nm 3.2-litre Duratorq TDCi inline five.

Ranger diesel pricing starts $4000 higher at $23,740 for the base XL 4x2 single-cab/chassis 2.2 diesel with six-speed manual – $750 less than Toyota’s new HiLux 4x2 WorkMate single-cab/chassis with 126kW 3.0-litre diesel and five-speed manual ($24,490).

The cheapest Ranger dual-cab will cost $30,240 for the 4x2 XL Crew Cab Pick-Up 2.5 petrol with five-speed manual – $3250 more than the new HiLux 4x2 WorkMate DoubleCab Pick-Up variant with a 118kW 2.7 petrol four and a five-speed manual ($26,990).

Ranger extended-cab pricing starts $3000 higher at $33,240 for the XL Super Cab Hi-Rider 4x2 cab-chassis with 2.2 diesel and six-speed auto, while the most affordable Super Cab diesel costs $33,240 for the XL Hi-Rider 4x2 cab-chassis 2.2 auto.

That is slightly more than the equivalent Amarok dual-cab/chassis, two 4x2 six-speed manual versions of which became available this month – the 90kW 2.0 TDI340 ($29,990 plus ORCs) and the 120kW 2.0 TDI400 ($31,990).

Ranger 4x4 pricing starts at $38,390 for the XL Single Cab 2.2 cab-chassis manual, increasing to $40,890 for the 3.2-litre version, $43,390 for the XL Super Cab cab-chassis 3.2 manual and $43,890 for the XL Crew Cab 2.2 manual, with a six-speed auto adding $2000 across the range.

New Ranger pricing tops out $8000 higher than before at $57,390 for the flagship Wildtrak 4x4 with 3.2 diesel ($59,390 for the six-speed auto), making it $1100 cheaper than VW’s top-shelf Amarok Ultimate TDI400 4x4 manual ($58,490).

The most expensive Ranger is also some $6400 pricier than Toyota’s facelifted HiLux 4x4 SR5 diesel dual-cab, which costs $2700 less than before at $50,990 as a (five-speed) manual and $2200 less than before at $53,490 as a (four-speed) auto.

Australia will be the first of 180 international markets to receive the new Ranger, but only premium 3.2-litre diesel-powered dual-cab models will be available in showrooms from October, followed by the full line-up of Ranger models by the first quarter of 2012.

Apart from pricing, Ford has also released full specifications for the new Ranger, most of which we’ve already reported, but the extensive equipment list appears to set a benchmark unmatched even by Volkswagen’s classy new Amarok.

While the new Hi-Rider 4x2 variant comes with the same ride height and ground clearance as 4x4 models, all 4x4 models come fitted with electronic ‘shift-on-the-fly’ (ESOF), which allows drivers to move between high-range 2WD, high-range 4WD and low-range 4WD using only a centre console-mounted switch.

An electronic locking rear differential is fitted to all Wildtrak and XLT 4x4 models as standard, and will be a factory-fitted $500 option for XL 4x4 manual models.

All new Rangers will come standard with electronic stability control with Roll-over Mitigation (ROM), hill-start assist, traction control, load adaptive control and trailer sway control, plus anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, emergency brake assist and emergency brake lights that flash during hard braking.

Twin front airbags will be standard on all models and front seat side airbags and curtain airbags will be standard on all models except the XL single-cab/chassis, in which they will be an option in vehicles with bucket seats.

Likewise, twin front seatbelt reminders will be standard on all models except XL single-cab/chassis, in which a passenger Beltminder will be an option.

Entry-level XL models will come standard with 16-inch steel wheels, Bluetooth with voice control, MP3 and iPod connectivity, a 4.2-inch multi-function dashboard-mounted colour screen, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted buttons, power front windows and exterior mirrors, and remote keyless entry.

In addition, XLT models will feature 17-inch alloy wheels, a locking rear differential (4x4 only), rain-sensing windscreen wipers, dual-zone climate-control, an electrochromatic mirror, rear parking sensors, a tray bedliner with integrated 12-volt socket (double-cab only), polished rear rollbar, towbar, privacy glass and cooled centre console.

On top of all this, flagship Wildtrak models will gain 18-inch alloy wheels, satellite-navigation with five-inch multi-function dashboard-mounted colour display, a rear-view camera with display in the interior mirror, combined leather and fabric upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable heated front seats, a sports bar and roof rails.

“Designed from the ground up, this highly anticipated all-new model range, available in both 4x2 and 4x4, has been comprehensively developed to meet the specific needs of Australian ute and light truck customers,” said Ford Australia president and CEO Bob Graziano.

“Achieving this meant an Australian-based four-year development program involving almost 500 engineers from around the Ford world. It also involved exhaustive testing in some of the world’s harshest operating environments.

“The result: the all-new Ford Ranger is capable, comfortable, powerful, fuel-efficient and includes outstanding safety features.

“It has been designed, engineered and produced to be a leader in its segment and I am certain our customers will agree the moment they get behind the wheel.”

Ford Ranger pricing:
CabChassis 4x2
XL Single Cab 2.5 petrol	$19,740
XL Single Cab 2.2 diesel	$23,740
XL Single Cab Hi-Rider2.2 diesel	$28,740
XL Single Cab Hi-Rider2.2 diesel (a)	$30,740
XL Super Cab Hi-Rider2.2 diesel (a)	$33,240
XL Crew Cab Hi-Rider 2.2diesel (a)	$35,990
Pick-Up 4x2
XL Crew Cab 2.5 petrol	$30,240
XL Single Cab 2.2 diesel	$24,740
XLT Super Cab Hi-Rider3.2 diesel (a)	$43,240
XL Crew Cab Hi-Rider 2.2diesel	$34,990
XL Crew Cab Hi-Rider 2.2diesel (a)	$36,990
XLT Crew Cab Hi-Rider3.2 diesel	$44,490
XLT Crew Cab Hi-Rider3.2 diesel (a)	$46,490
Cab Chassis 4x4&nbsp
XL Single Cab 2.2 diesel	$38,390
XL Single Cab 3.2 diesel	$40,890
XL Single Cab 3.2 diesel(a)	$42,890
XL Super Cab 3.2diesel&nbsp	$43,390
XL Crew Cab 2.2 diesel	$42,890
XL Crew Cab 2.2 diesel(a)	$44,890
Pick-Up 4x4
XL Super Cab 3.2 diesel	$44,390
XLT Super Cab 3.2 diesel	$50,890
XLT Super Cab 3.2 diesel(a)	$52,890
XL Crew Cab 2.2 diesel	$43,890
XL Crew Cab 2.2 diesel(a)	$45,890
XL Crew Cab 3.2 diesel	$46,390
XL Crew Cab 3.2 diesel(a)	$48,390
XLT Crew Cab 3.2 diesel	$53,390
XLT Crew Cab 3.2 diesel(a)	$55,390
Wildtrak Crew Cab 3.2diesel	$57,390
Wildtrak Crew Cab 3.2diesel (a)	$59,390