The all-new Ranger may be on the horizon, but the Ford Motor Company couldn’t afford to rest on its laurels. For the 2021 model year, the mid-size workhorse received a few updates in Thailand to keep things fresh until the newcomer shows up with the Bronco’s ladder-frame chassis.
Now available to order in the Kingdom of Thailand from 559,000 baht or $18,735 at current exchange rates, the Ranger is a little bolder thanks to a trapezoidal grille that comes standard on all but three specifications. Loosely inspired by the grille found on the XL trim for the U.S., this update is joined by black wheels and mirrors for most trim levels and body styles.
Slotted right under the Raptor, the Wildtrak now comes standard with a remote-operated tonneau cover, which is listed as the Power Roller Shutter. The final change for 2021 comes in the guise of the Ford Ranger XL Street, a specification that’s aimed at “fearless spirits” and “the beaten track.”
Exclusively offered with the Open Cab, a six-speed manual transmission, and the 2.2-liter Duratorq four-cylinder turbo diesel, this version stands out from the crowd with stripe graphics inspired by Ford Thailand's racing truck. Bear in mind, however, that 160 PS (158 horsepower) isn’t exactly the output you would expect from a pickup that looks this nice on the outside.
Those who want go-faster credentials will have to specify the 2.0-liter EcoBlue bi-turbo diesel, the same engine that Ford utilizes in the dual-cab-only Raptor. Speaking of which, the off-road variant is available from 1,699,000 baht in this part of the world, a sum that works out to $56,940. Fitted as standard with the 10R torque-converter automatic transmission of the Ranger for North America, the Raptor cranks out 213 PS (210 horsepower) and 500 Nm (295 pound-feet) of torque from 1,750 rpm.
Last, but certainly not least, the 3.2-liter Duratorq hasn’t returned to the lineup after Ford of Thailand dropped it two years ago for the 2.0-liter EcoBlue mentioned in the previous paragraph. Marketed as the Power Stroke in the U.S., this powerplant was discontinued over CO2 emissions.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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