The Ford Ranger is a range of
pickup trucks manufactured and marketed by
Ford
Ford commonly refers to:
* Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford
* Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river
Ford may also refer to:
Ford Motor Company
* Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company
* Ford F ...
in North and South America under the
Ranger
A Ranger is typically someone in a military/paramilitary or law enforcement role specializing in patrolling a given territory, called “ranging”. The term most often refers to:
* Park ranger or forest ranger, a person charged with protecting and ...
nameplate. Introduced in early 1982 for the 1983 model year, the Ranger is currently in its fourth generation. Developed as a replacement for the Mazda-sourced
Ford Courier
Ford Courier is a model nameplate used by Ford since the early 1950s. First used in North America for a sedan delivery, the Courier nameplate has seen use worldwide for multiple types of vehicles. The Courier nameplate was also used by Ford for ...
, the model line has been sold across the Americas;
Ford of Argentina began production of the Ranger for South America in 1998.
Through its production, the model line has served as a close rival to the
Chevrolet S-10
The Chevrolet S-10 is a compact pickup truck that was produced by Chevrolet. It was the first domestically built compact pickup of the big three American automakers. When it was first introduced as a "quarter-ton pickup" in 1981 for the 1982 m ...
and its
Chevrolet Colorado
The Chevrolet Colorado, and its counterpart, the GMC Canyon, are series of compact and later mid-sized pickup trucks marketed by American automaker General Motors. They were introduced in 2004 to replace the Chevrolet S-10 and GMC S-15/Sonoma co ...
successor (and their GMC counterparts), with the Ranger as the best-selling compact truck in the United States from 1987 to 2004. From 2012 to 2018, the Ranger model line was retired in North America as Ford concentrated on its full-size
F-Series pickup trucks. For the 2019 model year, Ford introduced a fourth generation of the Ranger (after a seven-year hiatus). The first mid-size Ranger in North America, the model line is derived from the globally-marketed
Ford Ranger
Ford Ranger is a nameplate that has been used on multiple model lines of pickup trucks sold by Ford worldwide. The nameplate has been used for distinct model lines of vehicles worldwide since 1982 from the compact and mid-size pickup category. ...
(revised to fulfill North American design requirements).
The first three generations of the Ranger were produced by Ford at its
Louisville Assembly (
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...
),
Edison Assembly
Edison Assembly, also known as Metuchen Assembly, was a Ford Motor Company manufacturing plant in Edison, New Jersey. It was located at 939 U.S. Route 1 and occupied over 100 acres when it was open. The factory began operations in 1948 and closed ...
(
Edison, New Jersey
Edison is a township located in Middlesex County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated in Central New Jersey within the core of the state's Raritan Valley region, Edison is a commercial hub, home to Menlo Park Mall and Little India. It ...
), and
Twin Cities Assembly Plant
The Twin Cities Assembly Plant is a former Ford Motor Company manufacturing facility in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, that operated from 1925 to 2011. In 1912, Ford's first assembly and sales activities in Minnesota began in a former wareh ...
(
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul (abbreviated St. Paul) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota, Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississip ...
) facilities; the final 2012 Ranger was the final vehicle produced at the St. Paul facility. The current fourth-generation Ranger is manufactured by Ford at
Wayne Stamping & Assembly (
Wayne, Michigan
Wayne is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 17,593 at the 2010 census. Wayne has a long history of automotive and transportation related manufacturing. Ford Motor Company currently has two plants in Wayn ...
). Ford of Argentina produced the Ranger in its
General Pacheco plant from 1998 to 2011; it replaced the North-American designed version of the Ranger with the current Ranger T6 for 2012 production.
__TOC__
Development
Ford Courier (1972–1982)
![1975 Ford Courier, right side view](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/1975_Ford_Courier%2C_right_side_view.jpg)
For the 1972 model year, the Ford Courier was introduced as the first compact pickup truck sold by Ford. Following the rise of the compact truck segment during the 1960s, Ford entered into a partnership with Mazda to market the
Mazda B1800 in North America; the Courier would become the first of several jointly manufactured vehicles between the two companies from the 1970s into the 2000s. Along with minimizing the risk for Ford of developing a vehicle in an unfamiliar market segment, the partnership provided Mazda with critically needed funds.
While sharing the cab and chassis with its Mazda counterpart, to increase its sales potential in North America, the Courier adapted design elements of the
Ford F-Series
The Ford F-Series is a series of light-duty trucks marketed and manufactured by Ford Motor Company, Ford since the 1948 model year. Slotted above the Ford Ranger (Americas), Ford Ranger in the Ford truck model range, the F-Series is market ...
, with twin round headlamps, silver grille, and "FORD" lettering on the hood above the grille. In 1977, the Courier and B1800 (later B2000) were redesigned with a larger cab, redesigned pickup bed, and tailgate. While closer in appearance to its Mazda counterpart, the Courier was given signal/parking lamps inset in the grille (rather than the bumper); an optional 2.3L Ford engine was not available the Mazda pickups.
From 1972 to 1982, the Ford Courier was manufactured alongside the Mazda B-Series in
Hiroshima, Japan
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Hiroshima Prefecture has a population of 2,811,410 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 8,479 km² (3,274 sq mi). Hiroshima Prefecture borders Okayama Prefecture to the ...
. To avoid the 25%
Chicken tax on imported trucks, both vehicles were imported as
cab-chassis trucks (taxed at 4% tariff). Following their importation to United States, pickup-truck beds shipped separately from Japan were installed before shipment to dealers.
Project Yuma (1976–1982)
In 1976, Ford commenced development on "Project Yuma" as a replacement for the Courier.
In addition to designing the first domestically-produced compact truck, another key factor driving the $700 million project was compliance with the fuel economy standards of the mid-1980s.
At the launch of the project in 1976, Ford predicted that for the company to properly comply with 1985
CAFE
A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-caf ...
standards, nearly 50% of pickup trucks sold in the United States would require a 4-cylinder engine.
In 1976, compact trucks held a 5% share of pickup truck sales, with Ford predicting an expansion to 50% by 1985, equaling nearly a million sales per year.
Project Yuma was centered around quality and fuel efficiency.
At the beginning of the project, Ford researched additional elements that were valued by potential compact truck buyers.
Along with flexibility for both work and personal use, Ford found that buyers desired additional interior room, including three-across seating, comfortable seats, and headroom and legroom for a six-foot tall driver; other minor details were discovered such as five-bolt wheels and a larger ashtray.
During design, the body underwent extensive
wind tunnel
Wind tunnels are large tubes with air blowing through them which are used to replicate the interaction between air and an object flying through the air or moving along the ground. Researchers use wind tunnels to learn more about how an aircraft ...
testing, to meet a planned 20 MPG fuel efficiency target (on its own, the standard front bumper spoiler added 1 MPG);
its 0.45 drag coefficient
bested that of the two-door Ford Mustang. To further improve fuel economy, the Ranger increased the use of high-strength steel and other lightweight materials, including a magnesium clutch housing, aluminum
transfer case
A transfer case is a part of the drivetrain of four-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive, and other multiple powered axle vehicles. The transfer case transfers power from the transmission to the front and rear axles by means of drive shafts. It also syn ...
(for four-wheel drive), and a magnesium clutch/brake pedal bracket.
To further save weight, the design of the front suspension was computer-optimized, rendering the front stabilizer bar optional.
Though narrower than the F-Series and other full-size competitors, the cargo bed of the Ranger was given the capability to transport a four-foot wide sheet of material (considered an industry measure of space in pickup truck bed design) through the use of recesses to insert supports across the bed, allowing such material to be placed above the wheel wells.
The
1979 fuel crisis nearly doomed the Yuma/Ranger project, as it occurred between launch of the 1979
Ford LTD and 1980
Ford F-Series
The Ford F-Series is a series of light-duty trucks marketed and manufactured by Ford Motor Company, Ford since the 1948 model year. Slotted above the Ford Ranger (Americas), Ford Ranger in the Ford truck model range, the F-Series is market ...
. After selling nearly one million F-Series trucks in 1978, in 1980, Ford had yet to gain a profit from its
redesign of the F-Series.
Ford President
Don Petersen kept the compact truck project alive for several reasons. By 1980,
General Motors
The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
was developing its own domestically-produced compact truck, with the
Chevrolet S-10/GMC S-15 providing a potential competitor.
Peterson also felt, if equipped correctly, buyers would pay nearly the same for a compact truck as a full-size truck (such as the F-100).
Around 1980, the Project Yuma truck took on the Ford Ranger name, adopting the name of the mid to upper-level trim used by the Ford F-Series and Bronco since 1965. In anticipation of the compact truck line, 1981 marked the final use of the Ranger trim for the F-Series and Bronco (replaced by XLS for 1982).
Production
The Ranger was produced at the
Louisville Assembly Plant
The Louisville Assembly Plant is an automobile manufacturing plant owned by Ford Motor Company in Louisville, Kentucky. The plant on 180 acres opened in 1955 and currently employs a total of 4,554 people. It is located adjacent to the Louisville ...
in
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...
from 1982 to 1999. From 1993 to 2004, production also was sourced from
Edison Assembly
Edison Assembly, also known as Metuchen Assembly, was a Ford Motor Company manufacturing plant in Edison, New Jersey. It was located at 939 U.S. Route 1 and occupied over 100 acres when it was open. The factory began operations in 1948 and closed ...
in
Edison, New Jersey
Edison is a township located in Middlesex County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated in Central New Jersey within the core of the state's Raritan Valley region, Edison is a commercial hub, home to Menlo Park Mall and Little India. It ...
. For its entire production run until 2011, the Ranger was produced at
Twin Cities Assembly Plant
The Twin Cities Assembly Plant is a former Ford Motor Company manufacturing facility in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, that operated from 1925 to 2011. In 1912, Ford's first assembly and sales activities in Minnesota began in a former wareh ...
in
St Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul (abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is a regional business hub and the center ...
. The final 2012 Ranger produced on December 16, 2011, ended 86 years of production at Twin Cities Assembly as well as the production of all compact pickups in the United States.
In 2008, Ford made its first plans to end production of the Ranger in North America; although its high productivity spared it from
The Way Forward
Ford Motor Company's restructuring plan, made public in 2006, was known as The Way Forward. Ford was attempting to reduce fixed capital costs while maintaining a special focus on cars and car-based crossover vehicles. Over time, it hoped to make ...
, Twin Cities Assembly (built in 1925) was the oldest Ford factory worldwide. Ford later extended the closure date of the factory to 2011, but in June 2011, a final closure date was announced.
As Twin Cities was the sole production location of the Ranger in North America (from 1982), its closure brought the production of the Ranger to an end after 29 model years. The 2011 model year was the final model year for retail sales, with a shortened 2012 model year for fleet sales; the final North American-market Ranger (a white SuperCab Sport produced for pest-control company
Orkin
Orkin is an American company that provides residential and commercial pest control services. The company was founded in 1901 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Rollins Inc. in 1964. Orkin has held research collaborations with universities ...
) was produced on December 16, 2011.
Over its production life, the chassis and suspension of the Ranger would be used for several compact Ford trucks and
sport-utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.
There is no commonly agreed-upon definiti ...
s. During the 1990s and 2000s, Mazda adopted a badge-engineered version of the Ranger, for their B-Series nameplate (the reverse of the Ford Courier produced by Mazda).
In 2015, as part of contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers, leaked reports over the future of the
Michigan Assembly Plant Michigan Assembly Plant, formerly known as ''Michigan Truck Plant'', is a Ford Motor Company assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan. The plant employs approximately 2800 hourly employees and 200 salary employees (May 2020), comprises three main buildin ...
included the potential decision of replacing
Ford Focus
The Ford Focus is a compact car (C-segment in Europe) manufactured by Ford Motor Company since 1998. It was created under Alexander Trotman's Ford 2000 plan, which aimed to globalize model development and sell one compact vehicle worldwide. The ...
and
Ford C-Max
The Ford C-Max (stylized as Ford C-MAX and previously called the Ford Focus C-Max) is a car produced by the Ford Motor Company from 2003 to 2019. It has a five-door compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) design. The Ford Grand C-Max has a longer wh ...
production with an American-market version of the global Ranger. Along with the revival of the Ranger nameplate, the UAW negotiations also included a potential revival of the Ford Bronco SUV. At the
2017 North American International Auto Show, Ford confirmed the return of the Ranger and Ford Bronco, with the Ford Ranger as a 2019 model-year vehicle.
First generation (1983)
The first Ranger rolled off the
Louisville
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border.
...
assembly line on January 18, 1982.
While initially slated for a traditional autumn release, to more closely compete with the introduction of the
Chevrolet S-10
The Chevrolet S-10 is a compact pickup truck that was produced by Chevrolet. It was the first domestically built compact pickup of the big three American automakers. When it was first introduced as a "quarter-ton pickup" in 1981 for the 1982 m ...
, Ford advanced the launch of the 1983 Ranger several months, with the first vehicles reaching showrooms in March 1982.
Initially sold alongside its Courier predecessor, the first 1983 Ranger was priced at $6,203 ($16,570 in 2018).
While far smaller in exterior size than the F-Series, 4x4 Rangers offered a payload of 1,600 pounds,
matching or exceeding the F-100 in payload capacity. For 1984, the
Ford Bronco II
The Ford Bronco II is a compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) that was manufactured by the American manufacturer Ford. Closely matching the first-generation Ford Bronco in size, the Bronco II was sold for the 1984 to 1990 model years, alon ...
two-door SUV was introduced. Similar in size to the 1966–1977 Bronco, the Bronco II used a shortened version of the Ranger chassis, along with much of its interior components.
For the 1989 model year, the Ranger underwent a major mid-cycle revision to improve its exterior aerodynamics and interior ergonomics. For 1991, the
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a range of SUVs manufactured by Ford Motor Company since the 1991 model year. The first four-door SUV produced by Ford, the Explorer was introduced as a replacement for the two-door Bronco II. Within the current Ford light ...
SUV was derived from the facelifted Ranger, sharing its front fascia, chassis, and interior components.
Chassis specification
The first-generation Ranger uses a body-on-frame chassis design; while using a chassis developed specifically for the model line, the Ranger adopts many chassis design elements from the F-Series.
Along with traditional leaf-spring rear suspension, the Ranger is fitted with
Twin I-Beam independent front suspension. To minimize
unsprung weight
The unsprung mass (colloquially unsprung weight) of a vehicle is the mass of the suspension, wheels or tracks (as applicable), and other components directly connected to them. This contrasts with the sprung mass (or weight) supported by th ...
, the Twin I-Beams were constructed of stamped high-strength steel (rather than forged steel).
Rear-wheel drive was standard, with part-time four-wheel drive as an option (never offered in the Courier).
Dependent on configuration, the Ranger was produced in three wheelbases: 107.9 inches (6-foot bed), 113.9 inches (7-foot bed), and 125 inches (SuperCab, introduced in 1986).
For 1989, rear-wheel anti-lock brakes became standard.
Powertrain
From 1983 to 1992, the first-generation Ranger was powered by 2.0L and 2.3L versions of the Ford
''"Lima"'' inline-4, the 2.8L, 2.9L, and 4.0L Ford
''Cologne V6'', the 3.0L Ford
''Vulcan V6'', and four-cylinder diesel engines sourced from Mazda (Perkins) and Mitsubishi.
Two long-running engines associated with the Ford light trucks made their debut in the first-generation Ranger; the twin spark-plug version (with distributorless ignition) of the Pinto engine was introduced in 1989, remaining in use through 2001.
In 1990, the 4.0L Cologne V6 was introduced; in modified form, the engine was used through the 2012 model-year discontinuation of the Ranger in North America.
A four-speed manual transmission was standard on all engines for 1983 and 1984, with a five-speed manual as an option; a three-speed automatic was offered on 2.3L and 2.8L engines. For 1985, the five-speed manual became the standard transmission, with a four-speed automatic offered on non-diesel Rangers.
For 1989, the Mazda
M5OD-R1 transmission became the standard transmission.
Body design
Slightly larger than the Courier, the first-generation Ranger was approximately 18 inches shorter and 11 inches narrower than an equivalently configured F-100/F-150.
While proportioned similar to the Chevrolet S-10 and Japanese-sourced compact trucks, adopted exterior design elements from the F-Series, including its twin headlamps, chrome grille, tailgate lettering, taillamps, and cab proportions.
In line with the Courier, the Ranger was offered with two pickup bed sizes; a standard 6-foot length and an extended 7-foot length. In 1986, a third configuration was introduced, as the Ranger SuperCab extended cab was introduced. Stretched 17 inches behind the front doors for additional cab space, the SuperCab was offered with the 6-foot bed length; four-wheel drive SuperCabs were sold only with V6 engines.
During its production, the first-generation Ranger was offered with several seating configurations. A three-passenger bench seat was standard, with various types of bucket seats offered (dependent on trim level). As part of the 1989 mid-cycle update, a 40/60 split-bench seat was introduced.
The SuperCab was offered with a pair of center-facing jump seats, expanding capacity to five.
From 1983 to 1988, the interior saw few major revisions. In 1986, the instrument cluster was revised, allowing the fitment of a tachometer. To streamline production, the Ranger shared interior components with other Ford vehicles, sharing the steering column, door handles, and window controls from the Ford Escort, Ford F-Series, and Ford Bronco; nearly the entire driver's compartment of the Ford Bronco II was directly sourced from the Ranger.
For 1989, the Ranger underwent a mid-cycle redesign with new front fenders, a restyled hood and grille, and flush-mounted composite headlamps (with larger marker lamps). To further improve aerodynamics, the front bumper was redesigned and enlarged to fit more closely with the front fenders.
The interior was given a redesign, including new door panels, new seats, and an all-new dashboard (introducing a glovebox).
To improve ergonomics, the instrument panel was redesigned for improved legibility, with automatic transmission Rangers receiving a column-mounted gearshift; manual-transmission versions saw the removal of the key-release button from the steering column.
File:1988 Ford Ranger.jpg, 1988 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCab 4x4
File:1988 Ford Ranger 2.jpg, 1988 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCab 4x4, rear
File:1989-92 Ford Ranger XLT, front side left.jpg, Facelift Ford Ranger XLT, regular cab
File:FordRanger.jpg, Facelift Ford Ranger XLT SuperCab
Trim
The first-generation Ranger was marketed in five trim levels: S, Ranger, XL, XLS, and XLT. Intended largely for fleet sales, the Ranger S (introduced in 1984
) was offered with virtually no available options. While still largely a work truck, the Ranger XL offered color-keyed trim, floor mats, and chrome bumpers. The XLS was marketed as the sportiest version of the Ranger, offering bucket seats, blackout trim, and tape stripe packages (essentially the successor to the 1970s "''Free Wheeling''" trims) while the XLT was offered with two-tone exteriors, chrome exterior trim, and upgraded interior trim.
The Ranger STX was introduced in 1985 for Ranger 4x4s on the West Coast of the United States, becoming fully available for 1986. Offering a "sport" suspension and larger tires, the STX was denoted by the offering of a bucket-seat interior and model-specific two-tone paint scheme.
*''S'' - Included: Vinyl upholstery, tachometer (only on 4x4 models), halogen headlamps, black foldaway mirrors, and manual transmission.
*''Sport'' - Added: power steering, tachometer on 4x2 and 4x4 models, rear step bumper, an AM stereo with digital clock or an AM/FM stereo with cassette player and clock, and aluminum rims.
*''Custom'' - same as S.
*''XLT'' - Added: cloth upholstery, sliding rear window, chrome rear step bumper, and deluxe wheel trim.
*''STX'' - Added: tachometer on 4x2, floor console, fog lamps, an AM/FM stereo with clock, and sport cast aluminum rims.
Ranger GT
Following an initial late 1986 introduction in California, Ford marketed the Ranger GT option package from 1987 to 1989.
Marketed as a "sport pickup", the Ranger GT was offered only for regular-cab two-wheel drive Rangers. Powered by a 140 hp 2.9L V6 (paired with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission),
the Ranger GT was equipped with front and rear
anti-roll bars
An anti-roll bar (roll bar, anti-sway bar, sway bar, stabilizer bar) is a part of many automobile suspensions that helps reduce the body roll of a vehicle during fast cornering or over road irregularities. It connects opposite (left/right) whee ...
, a limited-slip differential, and performance tires.
Initially offered for short-bed Rangers, the Ranger GT package became available for long-bed two-wheel drive Rangers.
The Ranger GT was available in either red, white, or blue paint colors; chrome trim was painted body color. In 1988, the exterior was modified, with a ground effects package, including a redesigned body-color front bumper, allowing for integrated fog lamps.
For 1990, the Ranger GT was discontinued; a one-off prototype was constructed in 1989 by the Ford Truck Public Affairs office, using a V6 from a
Ford Taurus SHO
The Ford Taurus SHO (Super High Output) is the high-performance variant of the Ford Taurus. Originally intended as a limited-production model, the SHO would be produced for the first three generations of the model line, from the 1989 to the 1999 ...
and a 5-speed transmission from a Mustang GT.
Second generation (1993)
After a ten-year production run, Ford introduced the second generation of the Ranger for the 1993 model year with much of its chassis carried over from previous generation. Sharing no body panels with its predecessor, the redesigned Ranger shifted from a smaller-proportioned F-Series to a more aerodynamic design, no longer sharing its front fascia with the Ford Explorer. For the first time in the compact segment, the Ranger offered a stepside-style bed with the Ranger Splash.
For the 1994 model year, Ford commenced production of the Ranger for Mazda, who began to sell the model line as the B-Series pickup truck (effectively in reverse of the 1972-1982 agreement that produced the Ford Courier).
For 1995, the second-generation Ranger underwent a mid-cycle revision; in 1996, the model line became the first compact pickup to offer dual airbags.
Chassis specification
The second-generation Ranger carried much of its chassis design from its predecessor, with a leaf-sprung rear suspension and a
Twin I-Beam independent front suspension. Two wheelbases were carried over from the previous generation: 107.9 inches (short bed), 113.9 inches (long bed), with the SuperCab lengthened to 125.2 inches (0.2 inches longer).
Rear-wheel drive remained standard, with four-wheel drive as an option; a
Dana 35 TTB front axle was used.
With four-wheel drive Rangers, a manually-shifted transfer case was standard; a "Touch Drive" electronically-shifted transfer case was an option, using automatic-locking front-wheel hubs.
For 1995, the front brakes were revised, adopting two-piston brake calipers from the Ford Explorer; four-wheel anti-lock brakes were standardized on Rangers with 4-wheel drive and/or the 4.0L V6.
Powertrain
The standard engine on the second-generation Ranger was again the 2.3L inline-4 (retuned to 98 hp).
The 2.9L V6 was retired, with the Ranger sharing two optional V6 engines with the Aerostar. The 140hp 3.0L V6 became standard on STX trim and SuperCab 4x4s (retuned to 145 hp in 1995).
The 160 hp 4.0L V6 (also shared with the Explorer) remained an option.
The Mazda
M5OD 5-speed manual remained the standard transmission for all three engines. In 1995, the
A4LD 4-speed automatic was replaced by two electronically-controlled transmissions: the lighter-duty 4R44E (for the inline-4 and 3.0L V6) and the heavier-duty 4R55E (for the 4.0L V6).
In 1997, the latter was replaced by the 5-speed 5R55E automatic, marking the first 5-speed automatic of an American manufacturer.
Body design
The second-generation Ranger saw major changes centered around the exterior, sharing no body panels with its predecessor. In line with the Aerostar and Explorer, the Ranger adopted more aerodynamic body contours, with flush-mounted door glass, a lower hoodline, taller and wider doors (exterior rain gutters were eliminated, in line with the
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile that was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States from the 1986 to 2019 model years. Introduced in late 1985 for the 1986 model year, six generations were produced over 34 years; a brief hiat ...
); sideview mirror brackets were eliminated. In a major departure from other compact pickup trucks, the cab was widened nearly three inches, matching the mid-size
Dodge Dakota
The Dodge Dakota, known as the Ram Dakota for the final two years of production, is a mid-size pickup truck from Chrysler's Ram (formerly Dodge Truck) division. The first Dakota was introduced in late 1986 as a 1987 model. From its introduction th ...
in width.
The interior of the second-generation underwent a smaller degree of change (compared to the exterior). While the seats and door panels were new, the dashboard was nearly carryover from 1989-1992.
For 1994, the instrument panel saw the introduction of a six-digit odometer; the doors saw the addition of side impact guard beams.
In a functional change, the 1994 Ranger adopted
R134a Freon (CFC-free) air conditioning.
For 1995, the Ranger underwent a mid-cycle revision for the exterior and interior. Distinguished by a revised grille (common for both rear-wheel drive and 4x4 Rangers), the 1995 Ranger shared its dashboard with the second-generation Explorer, with more ergonomic controls and a
double DIN radio head unit. Alongside the introduction of a standard driver-side airbag, a power-operated driver seat became an option (for SuperCab Rangers).
For 1996, a passenger side airbag was introduced as an option; to allow the use of a child safety seat, a key-operated lockout was supplied with the airbag option.
As with the first generation, the second-generation Ranger was offered in three basic body styles: a standard cab with 6 or 7-foot bed lengths, or a SuperCab extended cab (with short bed). In 1992, Ford introduced the first FlareSide bed for the Ranger with the Splash trim (see below); in 1996, the FlareSide bed became an option for all short-bed Rangers.
In a break from its predecessor, rear-wheel drive and 4x4 Rangers were fitted with different grille designs, with a 6-hole design for 2WD models; 4x4 models were given a single-slot design. For 1995, all Rangers adopted a four-hole grille.
File:FordRangerDash.jpg, 1993-1994 Ranger dashboard (1989-1992 are similar)
File:FordRangerJumpSeat.jpg, Ford Ranger SuperCab (jump seat stowed)
File:FordRangerJumpSeat(2).jpg, Ford Ranger SuperCab (jump seat in position)
File:Pre-97 Ranger.JPG, 1993-1994 Ranger XL SuperCab
File:Ford-Ranger.jpg, 1993-1994 Ranger XL Sport 4x4
File:FordRanger3G.jpg, 1994 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4
File:Ford Ranger -- 04-24-2010.jpg, 1995-1997 Ranger XLT
File:Ford Ranger XLT stepside.jpg, 1996-1997 Ranger XLT Flareside
File:93-97 Ford Ranger.jpg, 1995-1997 Ranger STX (XLT) 4x4
Trim
The second-generation Ranger largely carried over the trim lines from its predecessor. The base Ranger S (meant largely for fleets) was discontinued, with the XL becoming the standard Ranger trim. Alongside the standard XL was the XL Sport, Splash, XLT, and STX. For 1995, the STX trim became exclusive to 4x4 Rangers.
![97fordrangerxlt](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/97fordrangerxlt.jpg)
*''XL'' - Included: Vinyl upholstery, bench seat, tinted glass, tachometer on 4x4, and steel rims.
*''XL Sport'' - Added: sport tape stripe.
*''XLT'' - Added: Floor consolette, cloth upholstery, an AM/FM stereo with clock, and full-faced steel wheels.
*''STX'' - Added: cloth upholstery, captains chairs with floor console, power steering, an AM/FM stereo with cassette player and clock, and tachometer.
Ranger Splash
![Ford Ranger Splash 3](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Ford_Ranger_Splash_3.0L_1995_%2837099340112%29.jpg)
Introduced for the 1993 model year, the Ranger Splash was a sub-model of the second-generation Ranger. Alongside the FlareSide pickup bed, the Splash was fitted with a lowered suspension (1 inch in rear, 2 inches in front for 2WD versions); all versions were fitted with 4x4 Ranger grilles. The monochromatic exterior was fitted with special vinyl "Splash" decals on the sides and the tailgate. The Splash models also featured bucket seats for the interior as well as electronic side mirrors.
Rear-wheel drive Splashes were fitted with chrome steel wheels while 4x4 versions were fitted with aluminum wheels.
Third generation (1998)
For the 1998 model year, a third generation of the Ranger made its debut. While visually similar to the previous generation, extensive upgrades were made to the chassis, suspension, and drivetrain. In line with the larger F-150 and Super Duty trucks, SuperCab Rangers gained two rear-hinged doors for 1999, becoming the first model line in the compact truck segment to do so.
Several variants of the Ranger are derived from this generation. Ford of Argentina introduced a crew-cab variant of the Ranger for South America in 1998; the
Ford Ranger EV
The Ford Ranger EV (Electric Vehicle) is a battery powered compact pickup truck that was produced by the Ford motor company and was Ford's first all-electric production vehicle. It was produced starting in the 1998 model year through 2002 and is ...
was the first electric vehicle produced by Ford in the United States. The
Ford Explorer Sport Trac
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac (also shortened to Ford Sport Trac) is a pickup truck that was manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company for the North American market. The first mid-sized pickup truck produced by Ford, the Sport Trac was marke ...
mid-size pickup truck shared its wheelbase (and some components) with the Ranger.
The 2011 model year was the final model year for sales of the Ranger in North America; following a short run of 2012 production exclusively for fleet sales, the final vehicle was produced by Twin Cities Assembly on December 15, 2011; the 2012 Ranger Sport SuperCab 4x4 was the final vehicle produced by the facility.
Chassis specification
The third-generation Ranger received a redesigned frame; replacing full-length C-channel construction, the frame rails forward of the firewall became fully boxed.
Coinciding with the larger two-door cab, wheelbases were lengthened, with the model line offered in 111.6 inches (two-door, 6-foot bed), 117.6 inches (two-door, 7-foot bed), and 125.9 inches (2+2 door SuperCab, 6-foot bed).
As with the two previous generations, a rear-wheel drive configuration was standard; on four-wheel drive, front-wheel hubs were vacuum-locked from the dashboard.
From 2001 onward, the vacuum-locked front hubs were replaced by front hubs that were permanently engaged to the front axle.
Following the 1995 Ford Explorer and 1997 Ford F-150, the third-generation Ranger abandoned the long-running Twin I-Beam front suspension, introducing a
short/long-arm (SLA) configuration.
To further improve handling, recirculating-ball steering was replaced by a rack-and-pinion steering configuration.
Powertrain
From 1998 to 2001, the standard engine for the Ranger was a new 2.5 L version of the Lima four-cylinder, with the stroke increased by over the previous 2.3 L unit. Additionally, a higher-flow cylinder head using narrower valve stems was fitted and eight crank counterbalance weights were now used instead of four. With the larger displacement and other changes it now produced . The optional 3.0 L Vulcan V6 and 4.0 L Cologne V6 carried over. During the 2001 model year, the 2.5 L engine was replaced by a 2.3 L DOHC engine (later used by the
Ford Focus
The Ford Focus is a compact car (C-segment in Europe) manufactured by Ford Motor Company since 1998. It was created under Alexander Trotman's Ford 2000 plan, which aimed to globalize model development and sell one compact vehicle worldwide. The ...
). The same year, the Ranger adopted the overhead-cam version of the 4.0 L V6 (originally introduced in the Explorer). Following the 2008 model year, the 3.0 L V6 ended production, the Ranger having been the sole vehicle offered with the engine by that time.
For all five engines, the third-generation Ranger was offered with a Mazda-produced 5-speed manual transmission as standard equipment; in 2001, the 4.0 L V6 was paired with the heavier-duty ''
M5OD-R1HD'' version. The 2.5 L I4 was offered with an optional 4-speed automatic along with the 3.0 L V6; in 2001, a 5-speed automatic became an option for those engines.
Body design
In contrast to its 1993 redesign, the third-generation Ranger saw relatively conservative changes to its appearance. To increase interior space on standard-cab Rangers, the cab was expanded over 3 inches rearward (through a longer wheelbase).
Through the deletion of Twin I-Beam suspension, designers were able to lower the hoodline,
which was introduced with new fenders and a grille (sharing design influences from the
1997 F-150). With the exception of a passenger-airbag lockout switch, the interior saw little change since its 1995 redesign.
The third-generation Ranger saw several updates through its production. For 2001, the front fascia was redesigned with a new grille and headlamps; the amber turn signals were deleted from the taillamps. For 2004, the grille was enlarged (in the style of the
F-150
The Ford F-Series is a series of light-duty trucks marketed and manufactured by Ford since the 1948 model year. Slotted above the Ford Ranger in the Ford truck model range, the F-Series is marketed as a range of full-sized pickup trucks. ...
); for the first time since 1995, the interior saw several revisions, with new front seats (to meet updated federal safety requirements) and a new instrument panel and steering wheel.
2005 marked the final year for the FlareSide bed option.
For 2006, the Ranger received its final update (as the model line was planned for a 2008 discontinuation
). The grille was restyled into a "3-slot" configuration (in line with the F-Series), adding clear-lens headlamps and parking lamps; the sideview mirrors were replaced with a rectangular design. The rear of the Ranger underwent several changes, with larger taillamps and a Ford Blue Oval centered in the tailgate. For the first time since 1989, the Ranger fender badging was redesigned (with a larger design).
For the 2010 model year, Ford introduced optional graphics packages for the Ranger, installed by dealers. The extended-length bed was removed from retail sale, becoming exclusive to the XL Fleet model.
[
]
File:Ford Ranger Extended Cab.JPG, 1998-2000 Ford Ranger XL SuperCab
File:4th-Ford-Ranger.jpg, 1998-2000 Ford Ranger XLT
File:2000 Ford Ranger.JPG, 2000 Ford Ranger XLT FlareSide
File:3rd Generation Ford Ranger 1999.jpg, 1998-2000 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCab 6 ft StyleSide Bed
File:Ford-Ranger-1.jpg, 2001-2003 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCab
File:Ford Ranger .jpg, 2001-2003 Ford Ranger Edge SuperCab
File:2003 Ford Ranger & 1997 Mazda B2300 Pick-Up (26494425712).jpg, 2003 Ford Ranger XL
File:2001-05 Ford Ranger.jpg, 2004-2005 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCab 4x4
File:01-05 Ranger.jpg, 2004-2005 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCab
File:2006-07 Ford Ranger.jpg, 2006-2007 Ford Ranger XL
File:Ford Ranger Ext Cab.JPG, 2006-2008 Ford Ranger STX SuperCab
File:06-07 Ford Ranger.jpg, 2006-2007 Ford Ranger XL SuperCab
File:2006-2007 Ford Ranger.jpg, 2006-2007 Ford Ranger Sport SuperCab
File:Ford Ranger FX4 Extended Cab.JPG, 2008 Ford Ranger FX4 SuperCab
Trim
At its launch, the third-generation Ranger was marketed with the XL and XLT trims; the long-running STX trim level was discontinued and the Splash trim was discontinued after 1998. For further differentiation between the XL and XLT, for 1999, Ford introduced Sport and Off-Road variants of each trim
(effectively replacing the Splash and STX, respectively); a low-content XL Fleet model was also offered.
For 2001, the Ranger Edge was introduced, with the FX4 and Tremor following in 2002. For 2005, the Ranger Tremor was deleted and the STX returning; the Ranger Edge effectively became the Ranger Sport for 2006.
Several adjustments were made to the Ranger trims during the late 2000s. After 2007, the STX was discontinued, with 2009 serving as the final year for the FX4 (produced in 2010 for Canada). From 2010 onward, the XL, XLT, and Sport were offered; the latter two included
Sirius
Sirius is the list of brightest stars, brightest star in the night sky. Its name is derived from the Ancient Greek language, Greek word , or , meaning 'glowing' or 'scorching'. The star is designated α Canis Majoris, Latinisation ...
radio as an optional feature.
Ranger Edge (2001–2005)
![Ford Ranger Edge](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Ford_Ranger_Edge.jpg)
For 2000, Ford introduced the ''XL Trailhead'' option, offering the suspension and higher ride height of a 4x4 Ranger on a rear-wheel drive vehicle.
For 2001, the option became the Edge trim level for the Ranger; slotted between the XL and XLT.
Distinguished by a monochromatic exterior,
Edge also served as a successor to the 1990s Splash trim. To expand the trim offering, Ford introduced the Edge Plus (combining several XLT features with the Edge), along with a 4x4 variant with the 4.0L V6
(as the Edge already was produced with the front suspension and tires of the 4x4).
Following the 2005 model year, the Ranger Edge was repackaged as the Ranger Sport (as Ford shifted the Edge nameplate to a mid-size CUV); the Sport would be produced through the 2012 model year.
Ranger FX4 (2002–2009)
From 2002 to 2009. the Ranger FX4 was offered as the flagship of the Ranger model line, produced with heavy-duty off-road components.
Introduced as the Ranger FX4 for 2002, the off-road option package came standard with the 4.0L V6, including a manual transfer case, 31-inch all-terrain tires on 15-inch Alcoa wheels, a
Ford 8.8 rear axle with a
limited-slip differential
A limited-slip differential (LSD) is a type of differential that allows its two output shafts to rotate at different speeds but limits the maximum difference between the two shafts. Limited-slip differentials are often known by the generic t ...
and three
skid plates.
The interior was given two-tone bucket seats (leather seats becoming optional in 2006) with heavy-duty rubber floor mats.
For 2003, the FX4 model line was expanded, as Ford introduced the Ranger FX4 Off-Road; the previous FX4 became the FX4 Level II.
Intended as a lower-cost version, the FX4 Off Road does not have the Torsen limited-slip rear axle, Bilstein shocks, or Alcoa wheels on 31-inch tires; instead, the FX4 Off-Road uses off-the-shelf Ford components.
To distinguish the two model lines, the FX4 Off-Road was given a chrome grille and front bumper (for 2006, the Off-Road received a body-color grille).
While the Level II was never sold with a FlareSide bed option, the configuration was offered on the Off-Road for 2003 and 2004.
For 2008, Ford consolidated the two FX4 model lines, withdrawing the Level II. While retaining the FX4 Off-Road name, the new model line adopted a number of features from the Level II, including three skid plates, a Torsen differential (as an option), heavy-duty shocks (Rancho units replacing Bilsteins), and two-tone bucket seats with heavy-duty rubber flooring.
After the 2009 model year, the FX4 was discontinued in the United States (2010 for Canada).
According to Ford, 17,971 Level IIs were built from 2002 through 2007 (including the 2002 FX4); 45,172 FX4 Off Roads were built from 2003 to 2009.
Ranger Tremor (2002–2004)
For the 2002 model year, the Ranger Tremor was introduced as an option package.
In line with the 1990s Ranger Splash, the Tremor was largely an appearance option package, with its content centered around a high-end audio system.
Including a 485-watt 4-speaker stereo system, the Tremor included a cassette/CD player, white-gauge instruments, monochromatic exterior, badging, and 16-inch wheels.
For 2003, the Tremor became a stand-alone trim level, lasting through 2004.
Safety
The Ranger was the first small pickup to introduce dual airbags as safety features. It received an "acceptable" frontal crash test rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety when they were first tested in 1998, while many of its competitors received "marginal" or "poor" ratings at that time. The exception was the
Toyota Tacoma, which also got an "acceptable" rating.
The 2010 model year brought the addition of front seat combination head and torso airbags to improve passenger safety in a side-impact collision
and earned "good" rating through the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a U.S. nonprofit organization funded by auto insurance companies, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle traffic collisio ...
's side impact test. Also,
electronic stability control was added for the 2010 models as standard equipment.
In the Roof Strength Test conducted by
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a U.S. nonprofit organization funded by auto insurance companies, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle traffic collisio ...
, the 2010 Ranger earned an ''Acceptable'' rating.
Fourth generation (2019)
![2019 Ford Ranger XLT Super Cab FX4 front 6](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/2019_Ford_Ranger_XLT_Super_Cab_FX4_front_6.1.19.jpg)
Ford had intended to release a new North American Ranger for 2004, codenamed P273, but the project was cancelled.
For the 2019 model year, the
fourth-generation Ranger was introduced, going on sale in January 2019.
Returning after an eight-year hiatus (2012 production was not marketed for retail sale), the fourth-generation Ranger became the first of the model line produced as a mid-size pickup.
Developed from the
Ranger T6 designed by Ford Australia, the Ranger underwent several design changes to its frame and bumpers.
Along with its shift in size segments, the fourth generation marks several firsts for the Ranger in North America. The two-door standard-cab configuration is no longer produced; all examples are SuperCabs or SuperCrews. While Ford Argentina produced crew-cab Rangers during the 1990s and 2000s, this is the first Ranger offered with four full doors in the United States and Canada. For the first time, no V6 engine nor any manual transmission is offered; a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-4 and a 10-speed automatic is the sole powertrain offering (as of 2020 production).
The fourth-generation Ranger is produced by Ford at its
Michigan Assembly Plant Michigan Assembly Plant, formerly known as ''Michigan Truck Plant'', is a Ford Motor Company assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan. The plant employs approximately 2800 hourly employees and 200 salary employees (May 2020), comprises three main buildin ...
in
Wayne, Michigan
Wayne is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 17,593 at the 2010 census. Wayne has a long history of automotive and transportation related manufacturing. Ford Motor Company currently has two plants in Wayn ...
.
Fifth generation (2023)
The fifth generation in the Americas of the Ranger debuted in November of 2021 and will go on sale in 2023. It will feature the Ranger Raptor for the first time.
Variants
Ford Ranger EV (1998–2002)
![GSFRChargeDoorQuarter](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/GSFRChargeDoorQuarter.jpg)
The first
battery electric vehicle
A battery electric vehicle (BEV), pure electric vehicle, only-electric vehicle, fully electric vehicle or all-electric vehicle is a type of electric vehicle (EV) that exclusively uses chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs, ...
produced by Ford in North America, the
Ford Ranger EV
The Ford Ranger EV (Electric Vehicle) is a battery powered compact pickup truck that was produced by the Ford motor company and was Ford's first all-electric production vehicle. It was produced starting in the 1998 model year through 2002 and is ...
was produced from 1998 to 2002. Originally fitted with
lead-acid batteries,
Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries were introduced for 1999. While using the frame of a 4x4 Ranger, the Ranger EV was rear-wheel drive with a rear-mounted driveline. It is also the only rear-wheel drive American-produced Ford fitted with a
de Dion rear suspension. Externally, the Ranger EV is primarily distinguished from a standard Ranger by its grille; the Ranger EV has a grille-mounted charging port on the right third of its grille.
During its production, 1,500 Ranger EVs were produced; as with most electric vehicles of the 1990s, it was offered exclusively through lease. While most fleet-leased Ranger EVs were returned to Ford after the end of the lease and dismantled, some Ranger EVs leased by individuals were purchased and remain in use.
Mazda B-Series/Mazda Truck (1994–2010)
For 1994,
Mazda North America ended imports of the B-series from Japan, entering into an agreement with Ford to market a rebadged version of the Ranger as the B-series in the United States and Canada. For Mazda, whose 1986-1993 B-series had struggled in North America, the new B-series was a variant of one of the highest-selling compact trucks. In addition, selling a truck produced in the United States allowed Mazda to entirely circumvent the 25% "chicken tax".
The Mazda B-Series adopted both cab configurations of the Rangers; all units were produced with Styleside beds (revised in design for the Mazda line). Mechanically identical to the Ranger, the B-Series was offered with the same engines and transmissions; both two-wheel drive and 4x4 versions were offered.
In line with previous Mazda pickup trucks, badging was related to engine displacement, with the B2300 sold with the 2.3L I4, and the B3000 and B4000 receiving the 3.0L and 4.0L V6s, respectively.
To distinguish the Mazda from the Ranger, stylists gave the B-Series its own front fascia, pickup truck bed, and wheel designs; the extended cab (Cab Plus) received chrome window trim and blacked-out B-pillars. At its launch, the B-Series was offered in SE and LE trim lines (equivalent to Ranger XL and XLT).
For 1997, the trim levels were revised, becoming SE-5 and SE-5+; for 1998, the SX and SE were offered, remaining through the rest of the production run.
As the two model lines were nearly identical, the Ford-produced B-Series closely followed the development of the Ranger in its body and chassis. For 1997, Mazda dropped the B3000 (separately from Ford), returning it for 1998.
For 1998, the B-series underwent the same body and chassis upgrades as the Ranger. Along with a redesign of the front fascia, Mazda received an all-new pickup truck bed (with vestigial fenders/steps); in a mechanical change, an enlarged standard engine created the B2500. As a running change during the model year, Cab Plus (SuperCab) models received two rear-hinged doors, a first in the pickup truck segment.
For 2001, an all-new standard engine replaced the B2500 with the return of the B2300; the B4000 received an overhead-cam engine.
For 2002, Mazda remarketed the model line, relaunching the B-Series in North America as the renamed Mazda Truck.
While the Truck name was all-new, all B-Series fender badging denoting engine size remained. Separate from the Ranger, the Mazda Truck received what would be its final exterior update; on a redesigned front fascia, the Mazda badge was centered into the grille. After 2007, the B3000 was discontinued (Ford ended production of the 3.0L Vulcan V6 within a year). As Mazda North America began to shift away from pickup truck sales, the Mazda Truck was withdrawn from the United States after the 2009 model year; leftover production was sold in Canada for 2010.
The final Mazda Truck was produced by Twin Cities Assembly on December 11, 2009, ending 37 years of pickup truck sales by Mazda North America.
File:Mazda B2300 extended cab.jpg, 1994-1997 Mazda B2300 SE Cab Plus
File:Mazda B3000.jpg, 1994-1997 Mazda B3000 SE
File:2000 Mazda B4000 Extended Cab in gray, front right.jpg, 1998-2001 Mazda B4000 Cab Plus (2000)
File:Mazda-B2300.jpg, 2002-2006 Mazda Truck B2300 SX
File:Mazda B3000 regular cab.jpg, 2002-2007 Mazda Truck B3000 4x4 Dual Sport
File:Mazda B-Series -- 07-29-2011.jpg, 2002-2009 Mazda Truck B4000 4x4 Cab Plus Dual Sport
South American production (1996–2011)
![Ford Ranger 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Ford_Ranger_2.3_XL_2012_%2837099348822%29.jpg)
In 1995, Ford began exports of the Ranger from the United States to
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
; initial exports started with two-door SuperCab equipped with the 4.0-liter gasoline ''
Cologne
Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...
'' V6. As demand increased, Ford made the decision to produce it locally in
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
, Argentina at the
Ford General Pacheco Assembly Plant for the local market and subsequently for the rest of Latin America.
The first Rangers produced at General Pacheco were built in 1996, with Ford offering single cab versions with gasoline engines. By November 1997, supply was increased with both diesel and gasoline engines,
two-wheel and
four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case ...
, and different levels of equipment. After two years of local production, Ford of Argentina introduced a redesigned version of the Ranger for 1998. Featuring the same updates as its counterpart in the United States, a new four-door
double cab body variant exclusive to South America made its debut. As Ford was developing the functionally similar Ford Explorer Sport Trac at the time, the double-cab Ford Ranger was not produced or marketed in the United States or Canada.
Starting in 1998, Ford began to phase out the Ford Courier name on its Mazda-produced compact pickups sold globally in favor of the Ranger nameplate (though the Courier remained in use in Australia). Consequently, exports of the North American-produced Ranger were primarily limited to South America, including Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.
[Ford Ranger](_blank)
– Accessed March 8, 2011 To better match the needs of local buyers, Ford of Argentina offered three different turbodiesel powertrain options, including a 2.5-liter
turbocharged four-cylinder diesel
Diesel may refer to:
* Diesel engine, an internal combustion engine where ignition is caused by compression
* Diesel fuel, a liquid fuel used in diesel engines
* Diesel locomotive, a railway locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engin ...
with 115 hp (85 kW) starting in 1998, a 2.8-liter with 135 hp (99 kW) starting in 2002 and a 3.0-liter with and of torque mated to an
Eaton ''FSO-2405-A'' five-speed manual transmission starting in 2004.
The 2001 exterior facelift given to North American Rangers was not carried over to South American versions, with the 1998 front bodywork remaining until the 2003 model year. For 2004, both versions were given the same grille (though Argentine-produced versions were designed with projector-style headlamps). Following a US$156.5 million upgrade to the
General Pacheco factory in 2007, several upgrades were made to the South American Ranger; a number of them would diverge the model from its US counterpart. For 2008, the Ranger received a makeover with a grill and headlights similar to the 2006 North American version; bed extenders became available for all boxes.
For 2010, Ford of Argentina gave the Ranger its largest facelift since 1992. Exclusive to South America, the update replaced the hood, front fenders and bumper with a more aggressive design; to allow for a more aggressive stance, large wheel arches were included. For the first time, the Ranger adopted the Ford three-bar corporate grille; the door handles were redesigned, shifting to a loop-style design. The interior was largely unchanged, as were the powertrain offerings. A new option (for Argentina and Brazil) included an engine powered by
compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a fuel gas mainly composed of methane (CH4), compressed to less than 1% of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure. It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure of , usually in cy ...
, making it the first pickup truck to offer a factory-built
natural gas vehicle
A natural gas vehicle (NGV) is an alternative fuel vehicle that uses compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG). Natural gas vehicles should not be confused with autogas vehicles powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ma ...
(NGV) commercially available in those countries.
[presentó la nueva Ford Ranger 2010](_blank)
(in Spanish) – Accessed March 8, 2011
(in Spanish) – Accessed March 10, 2011
In 2012, Ford of Argentina replaced the US-derived Ranger with the larger Ranger T6. Designed by Ford of Australia, the Ranger T6 consolidated the Ford- and Mazda-based versions of the Ranger onto a single platform sold globally, introduced to North America for 2019.
Ford Ranger (Argentina) wheelbases and bed lengths:[Owner's manual](_blank)
(in Spanish) – Accessed March 8, 2011
* 1998–2012 – – 6 ft. bed (1,732mm) Single Cab
* 1998–2012 – – 7 ft. bed (2,129mm) Single Cab
* 1998–2012 – – 5 ft. bed (1,467mm) Double Cab
Engines:
Sales
References
External links
*
Specifications and technical data
{{Modern North American Ford trucks
Ranger
A Ranger is typically someone in a military/paramilitary or law enforcement role specializing in patrolling a given territory, called “ranging”. The term most often refers to:
* Park ranger or forest ranger, a person charged with protecting and ...
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Cars introduced in 1983
1990s cars
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Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States
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