Ranger Rides Again

Close examination will reveal miniscule variances between the ’19 Ranger for the U.S. market and the ones Ford sells globally, and those tiny differences speak volumes about the kind of quality the Dearborn automaker is building into its new midsize truck.

Ford reveals the all-new Ranger today at the North American International Auto Show, a year ahead of putting the pickup on sale in early 2019 alongside America’s best-selling vehicle, the F-Series pickup.

Body panels are tooled for tight fits to meet North American requirements and consumer expectations, says Max Wolff, chief designer.

Ford says tolerances are up to 11% tighter, although the improvements are not apparent to the naked eye. The gap between the fender and front door is reduced 0.008 in. (0.2 mm) while 0.02 in. (0.5 mm) is shaved between the front and rear doors (on the Super Crew), leaving a space of just 0.16 in. (4.0 mm). In addition, the team also slightly tightened some radii to make the gaps appear even tighter.

The Ranger for North America rides on a completely re-engineered, fully boxed, high-strength-steel frame with six crossmembers to meet North American safety and stiffness requirements, says Rick Bolt, chief program engineer.

The retooling is part of the $850 million investment Ford announced last March to revamp the Michigan Assembly Plant to build the Ranger and all-new Ford Bronco. The truck also gets an aluminum hood and tailgate and steel bumpers for this market.

Ford says Ranger interior mimics F-150 NVH.

Interior changes for North America include a revised steering wheel, shifter and controls along with different trim colors and available Sync3 connectivity. The five-seater features waterproof under-seat storage bins.

Powering the Ranger is a twin-scroll turbocharged, 16-valve DOHC direct-injected 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The FX4 package includes Ford’s Terrain Management System introduced on the F-150 Raptor.

Ford isn’t specifying engine output other than promising best-in-class torque. The U.S.-spec 2.3L EcoBoost in the Explorer SUV produces 280 hp and 310 lb.-ft. (420 Nm) of torque.

The Ranger will come in three trims – entry-level XL, mid-level XLT and premium Lariat – with optional Chrome and Sport appearance and FX Off-Road packages, and in SuperCab extended cab or SuperCrew 4-door configurations. Bed lengths of 5 and 6 ft. (1.5 and 1.8 m) are available.

Unlike the more workaday buyer of an F-Series, Ranger owners will use the truck “to enhance their passions – to help get them off the grid,” says Todd Eckert, marketing manager-Ford truck group. “The Ranger will not just carry their adventure gear. It will be a part of their adventure gear.”

The Ranger already is a best-seller in Europe, South America and New Zealand and is the second-best-selling midsize truck globally, Eckert says. Ford pulled the truck from the North American market in 2011, and the automaker has been on the sidelines as the midsize truck segment has grown 83% since 2014 to 452,000 sales last year, he notes.

[email protected] @bobgritzinger