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Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) has taken the wraps off of its 2019 Ranger pickup for the North American market.
Ford hasn't offered a Ranger in the U.S. since 2011. But it has kept the model alive in many overseas markets, where the current version has developed a loyal following for its considerable off-road ability.
It's that Ranger that served as the basis for the new one coming to U.S. showrooms late this year. Here's what we know about it -- and what we still don't know.
Here it is: The 2019 Ford Ranger. Ford said that the new Ranger will begin arriving in U.S. showrooms by the end of the year. Image source: Ford Motor Company.
All the details, and the one question Ford hasn't yet answered
Here are the high points that truck enthusiasts have been waiting to read:
- Drivetrain: At least initially, there will only be one engine available in the Ranger, a 2.3 liter EcoBoost four-cylinder mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford didn't release power figures for the Ranger's version of the 2.3 liter engine. The same engine is used in the Lincoln MKC; in that application, it's rated at 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque. (A higher-performance Ranger Raptor is in development, but Ford hasn't yet shared details.)
- Design: The global Ranger was given a big overhaul for North America, but it isn't an all-new design. (That's not a bad thing: It's based on the current global Ranger, which gets good reviews in places like Australia.)
- Configurations: All of the Rangers sold here will have extended cabs; Ford will offer both SuperCab (small rear-hinged doors) and SuperCrew cab (full back doors) configurations.
- Trim levels: At launch, the new Ranger will be available in XL, XLT, and Lariat trims, with optional Chrome and Sport appearance packages, and an available FX4 Off-Road package. The Lariat versions are pretty plush, with leather seats and nice trim. But unlike the F-150, Ford isn't offering a super-luxury version of the Ranger -- at least, not yet.
- Construction: Unlike its F-150 sibling, the Ranger doesn't have aluminum body panels. It's built with conventional steel panels on what Ford describes as a "rugged high-strength steel frame." Ford notes that the Ranger was "torture-tested" alongside F-150s, and should provide similar durability.
- Technology: The new Ranger will have the usual bag of Ford tech goodies, including optional SYNC 3 with an 8-inch touchscreen. Rangers with the FX4 Off-Road package get Ford's Terrain Management System and a new system called Trail Control, sort of an off-road cruise control.
- Production: The new North American Ranger will go into production at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant near Detroit in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Read more on The Motley Fool.
