Our friends at CarAdvice.com.au have received an interesting video from a reader. Likely the first spotting of the Ranger's SuperCab body style that bridges the gap between Regular Cab and SuperCrew, the prototype “sounds as if it’s a turbo diesel mated to a manual transmission.”
The cited publication believes that we’re dealing with the 2.2-liter Duratorq four-cylinder engine that serves as the standard powerplant of the outgoing Ranger Hi-Rider. Be that as it may, the Ford Motor Company has switched to the 2.0-liter EcoBlue single-turbo diesel engine in the European Union.
“Among the mules being tested were a number of left-hand-drive vehicles,” which means that Ford is probably evaluating European and North American variants. Unfortunately, the Blue Oval didn’t want to comment on the sighting. A spokesperson did mention that “a 2,500-strong design and engineering team has been central to the new Ranger’s development.”
Going forward, the mid-sized pickup will gain a fourth body style in the guise of the single-cab chassis. This variant may look plain from the factory, but the aftermarket can upfit it for a seemingly endless number of tasks.
Twinned with the second-gen Volkswagen Amarok, the all-new Ranger is expected with a 3.0-liter Power Stroke V6 turbo diesel instead of the 3.2-liter Duratorq five-cylinder engine, a plug-in hybrid with 362 horsepower and 502 pound-feet (680 Nm) of torque, the 2.3-liter EcoBoost, and something a little more potent for the Raptor. Pretty much the Bronco Warthog's pickup-bodied sibling, the Ranger Raptor will get the twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 or the brawnier 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 from the Explorer ST.
Expected to be revealed next year for the 2023 model year, the workhorse shares many of its bits and pieces with the 2021 Ford Bronco. Speaking of which, the mid-size utility vehicle with two- and four-door options will enter series production at the Michigan assembly plant in Wayne on May 3rd.
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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