(October 15, 2010) SYDNEY — The all-new Ford Ranger – the latest in a wave of global vehicles — makes its worldwide debut Thursday at the Australian International Motor Show. The all-new Ranger has a powerful presence and promises to give pickup truck owners more can-do capability and a transformed truck ownership experience.

The new pickup that will be sold in 180 countries, but the United States won't be among them.

The strategy leaves Ford on a course to be without a compact pickup in its home market beginning next year for the first time in almost three decades. The current Ranger, the fourth generation of a line launched in 1982, isn't scheduled to be replaced when it goes out of production in St. Paul, Minn., toward the end of the 2011 model year.

Sales begin next summer for the new "world" pickup, which was developed by Ford and Mazda Motor Corp. on a new global compact platform and will be assembled in Argentina, South Africa and Thailand.
 
Ford says that from impressive gains in power and safety to exceptional towing capability, the next-generation Ford Ranger emerges as a clear segment leader. It not only builds on the tremendous Ranger heritage of pickup truck capability, but it also gives truck owners a spacious, comfortable, feature-filled interior and sophisticated driving experience they would expect to find only in a car.
 
Amongst the most high-tech in its segment, Ranger is the impressive result of an all-new global compact pickup truck platform from Ford — the latest to emerge under the company’s One Ford initiative — and Mazda. It replaces two previous-generation compact truck platforms currently in production to present a new face of Built Ford Tough to customers around the world.
 
Built on innovation, it boasts a list of technologies and features to lead the segment – including a new Rearview Camera System, Rear Park Assist, Trailer Sway Control and Adaptive Load Control. Ford plans to reveal even more new Ranger technologies in the coming months.
 
Destined for sale across five continents and more than 180 markets, Ranger will be offered as a complete family of compact trucks – with three different cab body styles, 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains, two ride heights and up to five series choices, depending on the market.
 
“We know trucks so we leveraged our best expertise from around the globe to create the all-new Ford Ranger,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development.

“Focusing our global resources on a single new compact pickup truck platform meant we could deliver significant improvements, technologies and features that owners will value, along with impressive fuel economy that alone will be a reason to buy.”
 
“Compact pickups are hugely important to customers in many regions of the world,” said Jim Farley, group vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service. “For many, it’s the only vehicle in a household headed by a hard-working person others depend on. These people need a truck that can get the job done – and they’ll be amazed how Ranger’s smart new technologies make the job easier. And increasingly, they’re also looking for the kinds of features, technologies, spaciousness and refinement you’d expect in a car, and Ranger is just as innovative here.”

Ranger introduces three new engines to Ford’s compact pickup truck range globally:

    • A new 2.2-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi I4 diesel engine.
    • A highly responsive and efficient new 3.2-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi I5 diesel engine.
    • A 2.5-litre Ford Duratec I4 gas engine.