Ford Ranger News
11-12-12, 12:04 AM
#1
Ford Ranger News
Ford Ranger unanimous pick for International Pick-Up 2013 award
Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-...photo-3467316/
Believe it or not, the full-size pickup trucks that dominate the North American market don't find much favor in other corners of the globe. Elsewhere, powerful mid-sized trucks rule the work site, and the judges behind the 2013 International Pick-Up Award are cognizant of that. They awarded the 2013 Ford Ranger the honor with a unanimous vote. The truck earned praise for its on-road manners and off-road prowess, as well as its towing and payload capacities.
Judges evaluated entries at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, and the Ranger managed to take home more points than the next two finishers combined. The Isuzu D-Max took the silver, leaving bronze to the Volkswagen Amarok. So far this year, Ford has won three international awards, including Van of the Year for its Transit Custom and Engine of the Year for the 1.0-liter Ecoboost.
NEW FORD RANGER WINS 'INTERNATIONAL PICK-UP AWARD 2013' UNANIMOUSLY
New Ford Ranger wins "International Pick-Up Award 2013." Judges praise on- and off-road prowess, strong engine line-up, payload and towing capability, and safety
All members of the judging panel select the new Ranger as their number one choice
"International Pick-Up Award 2013" follows "International Van of the Year 2013" for the new Transit Custom and 2012 "International Engine of the Year" for the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine
Brentwood, Essex, November 7, 2012 – The new Ford Ranger has won the "International Pick-Up Award 2013" making it the third international award Ford has won this year.
Every member of the judging panel ranked the new Ranger as their number one choice; praising its performance on- and off-road, strong engine line-up, payload and towing capability, and safety.
The new Ford Ranger won the "International Pick-Up Award 2013" award following extensive testing at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, England, after which it was awarded 47 points – more than the combined number of points garnered by the second- and third-placed Isuzu D-Max and Volkswagen Amarok. The award was presented to Ford by jury chairman Pieter Wieman at the Fleet Transport EXPO 12 event, in Dublin.
"The Ford Ranger is a great all-rounder, combining the perfect blend of on-road comfort and stability with off-road capability," said Jarlath Sweeney, the Irish judge on the panel of CV journalists that also serves on the "International Van of the Year" jury.
The new Ford Ranger is offered in three versatile cab bodystyles – Double, Super and Regular – that are among the roomiest in its class; comes with a choice of two powerful and economical Duratorq TDCi engines, and with a choice of 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains.
"The Ranger is great for work and great for leisure, and customers will appreciate the difference as soon as they get behind the wheel," said Paul Randle, vehicle line director, Global Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe. "This prestigious award is testament to the work of our global product teams and there is plenty more to look forward to with the launch of the all-new Transit and all-new Transit Connect in 2013."
Totally new from the ground up; the new Ranger now delivers more payload and class-leading towing capability; along with innovative new comfort and driver assistance features; and is the first such vehicle ever to achieve a Five Star Euro NCAP rating.
This year, Ford has won other international awards including the "International Van of the Year 2013" for the all-new Transit Custom; and the company's 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine was named the 2012 "International Engine of the Year".
New Ford Ranger wins "International Pick-Up Award 2013." Judges praise on- and off-road prowess, strong engine line-up, payload and towing capability, and safety
All members of the judging panel select the new Ranger as their number one choice
"International Pick-Up Award 2013" follows "International Van of the Year 2013" for the new Transit Custom and 2012 "International Engine of the Year" for the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine
Brentwood, Essex, November 7, 2012 – The new Ford Ranger has won the "International Pick-Up Award 2013" making it the third international award Ford has won this year.
Every member of the judging panel ranked the new Ranger as their number one choice; praising its performance on- and off-road, strong engine line-up, payload and towing capability, and safety.
The new Ford Ranger won the "International Pick-Up Award 2013" award following extensive testing at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, England, after which it was awarded 47 points – more than the combined number of points garnered by the second- and third-placed Isuzu D-Max and Volkswagen Amarok. The award was presented to Ford by jury chairman Pieter Wieman at the Fleet Transport EXPO 12 event, in Dublin.
"The Ford Ranger is a great all-rounder, combining the perfect blend of on-road comfort and stability with off-road capability," said Jarlath Sweeney, the Irish judge on the panel of CV journalists that also serves on the "International Van of the Year" jury.
The new Ford Ranger is offered in three versatile cab bodystyles – Double, Super and Regular – that are among the roomiest in its class; comes with a choice of two powerful and economical Duratorq TDCi engines, and with a choice of 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains.
"The Ranger is great for work and great for leisure, and customers will appreciate the difference as soon as they get behind the wheel," said Paul Randle, vehicle line director, Global Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe. "This prestigious award is testament to the work of our global product teams and there is plenty more to look forward to with the launch of the all-new Transit and all-new Transit Connect in 2013."
Totally new from the ground up; the new Ranger now delivers more payload and class-leading towing capability; along with innovative new comfort and driver assistance features; and is the first such vehicle ever to achieve a Five Star Euro NCAP rating.
This year, Ford has won other international awards including the "International Van of the Year 2013" for the all-new Transit Custom; and the company's 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine was named the 2012 "International Engine of the Year".
. kthx
11-12-12, 09:48 AM
#5
Lexus Test Driver
Whatever you guys chose to do on a rainy day... 
He has a point though, Ford would rather try to keep combined sales for the F150, rather than split them up with Ranger. Beside, no need for the sales guy to upsell, if there is no other choice.
He has a point though, Ford would rather try to keep combined sales for the F150, rather than split them up with Ranger. Beside, no need for the sales guy to upsell, if there is no other choice.
11-12-12, 12:41 PM
#6
There are plenty of folks looking for this size pick-up rather than a fullsize 1/2 ton. The 3.7 NA V6 and 3.5L EcoBoost are great offerings, but something smaller is needed in a smaller and lighter truck.
A Ranger with an EcoBoost 2.3 or 2.7L I4 and a Duratec 3.0 or 3.2 diesel option are all that's needed. Doesn't step on the toes (ends where the F-150 power begins) of the F-150 and offers excellent efficiency and power
11-12-12, 01:26 PM
#7
Of course, you could point and say that the market and its lack of updates (i think everyone last updated around 2005) have driven people away from the segment. There's now MPG and price overlap with Full-Size trucks. Maybe once the new Colorado, and then hopefully new Tacoma, Frontier, Ridgeline, potential Dakota successor etc. can spur some excitement and investment into this segment.
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11-12-12, 03:33 PM
#8
The compact (now more of a midsize) pickup truck market barely cracks 300,000 sales/year, down from what used to be over 1 million units a year. So it doesn't seem like that many people are looking for pickups this size anymore. Most people seem happy to go into a small SUV.
Of course, you could point and say that the market and its lack of updates (i think everyone last updated around 2005) have driven people away from the segment. There's now MPG and price overlap with Full-Size trucks. Maybe once the new Colorado, and then hopefully new Tacoma, Frontier, Ridgeline, potential Dakota successor etc. can spur some excitement and investment into this segment.
Of course, you could point and say that the market and its lack of updates (i think everyone last updated around 2005) have driven people away from the segment. There's now MPG and price overlap with Full-Size trucks. Maybe once the new Colorado, and then hopefully new Tacoma, Frontier, Ridgeline, potential Dakota successor etc. can spur some excitement and investment into this segment.
If you applied modern tech and power trains to these again platforms, being able to hit the magical 30mpg HWY is very plausible.
11-12-12, 03:38 PM
#9
Yes, it is plausible, but the increase in price would drive it even closer, or above certain Full Size Pickup trucks in price, since those full size trucks get like $4-6K in incentives.
With price parity, most shoppers are likely to opt for the bigger truck (more truck for the $$ and Americans like to buy by the pound). Unless they absolutely can't fit a full size pickup in the garage.
The Australian Ranger costs up to $62K Australian Dollars... $65K U.S. in straight conversion, but there would likely have to be some sort of different pricing scenario in the U.S.
With price parity, most shoppers are likely to opt for the bigger truck (more truck for the $$ and Americans like to buy by the pound). Unless they absolutely can't fit a full size pickup in the garage.
The Australian Ranger costs up to $62K Australian Dollars... $65K U.S. in straight conversion, but there would likely have to be some sort of different pricing scenario in the U.S.
Last edited by pbm317; 11-12-12 at 03:42 PM.
11-12-12, 03:55 PM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
Conversely , it is not surprising why the F-150 and other full-size trucks don't sell well in many other countries, and why the Ranger does better there. The full-size trucks are just too big and unwieldly for the narrow streets and tight driving/parking conditions. They also use a lot of fuel....which, in those countries, can run as high as $8-10 a gallon.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-12-12 at 04:05 PM.
11-12-12, 05:26 PM
#11
No, probably not. When the Ranger (and its Mazda B-series twin) was avalable here in the U.S., before they were discontinued, their sales dropped substantially each year. Part of that, of course, was that both trucks ended up quite dated in design (though still I thought both were better-done than the awful Chevy/GMC Colorado/Canyon). But a big factor was that American truck-buyers found that only a few dollars more, in many cases, put them in a bigger, more comfortable full-size truck that could also haul a lot more. So Ranger sales languished while the F-150 continued to top the sales-charts each year.
Conversely , it is not surprising why the F-150 and other full-size trucks don't sell well in many other countries, and why the Ranger does better there. The full-size trucks are just too big and unwieldly for the narrow streets and tight driving/parking conditions. They also use a lot of fuel....which, in those countries, can run as high as $8-10 a gallon.
Conversely , it is not surprising why the F-150 and other full-size trucks don't sell well in many other countries, and why the Ranger does better there. The full-size trucks are just too big and unwieldly for the narrow streets and tight driving/parking conditions. They also use a lot of fuel....which, in those countries, can run as high as $8-10 a gallon.
But I do agree with you MMarshall that Americans could still view the small price gap and go for the bigger truck. However this new Ranger is a much closer comparison/competitor than the previous gen was.
11-12-12, 05:36 PM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
I agree with GiantsFan that Ford is trying to protect their cash cow F-150. While yes, the last Ranger didn't impact F-150, this newer Ranger is much bigger in size and could overlap F-150 at certain price points (Double Cab Ranger vs. Extended Cab F-150, etc.) and power and features. Before, there was a very clear difference between Ranger and F-150. This could cannibalize F-150 sales/profitability.
But I do agree with you MMarshall that Americans could still view the small price gap and go for the bigger truck. However this new Ranger is a much closer comparison/competitor than the previous gen was.
But I do agree with you MMarshall that Americans could still view the small price gap and go for the bigger truck. However this new Ranger is a much closer comparison/competitor than the previous gen was.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-12-12 at 05:43 PM.
11-12-12, 05:41 PM
#13
Lexus Fanatic
I agree with GiantsFan that Ford is trying to protect their cash cow F-150. While yes, the last Ranger didn't impact F-150, this newer Ranger is much bigger in size and could overlap F-150 at certain price points (Double Cab Ranger vs. Extended Cab F-150, etc.) and power and features. Before, there was a very clear difference between Ranger and F-150. This could cannibalize F-150 sales/profitability.
The Ranger for the rest of the world is not used in the same way as Rangers and Tacomas are used in North America.
11-12-12, 06:38 PM
#14
Yes that is why there is no Ranger in North America, the F-150 is just as fuel efficent as a smaller truck and would really eat into sales of the F150 and that is where the make the most money.
The Ranger for the rest of the world is not used in the same way as Rangers and Tacomas are used in North America.
The Ranger for the rest of the world is not used in the same way as Rangers and Tacomas are used in North America.