The Ranger made a name for itself as a dependable mid-size pickup truck in several international markets, so Ford decided to bring it to North American roads in 2019. To increase its versatility, the F-150’s little brother receives a factory off-road package for the 2021 model year.
Designed and engineered by Ford of Australia, the Ranger was first introduced in October 2011, replacing the previous Mazda-derived international model.
It was initially sold worldwide with the notable exception of the U.S. and Canada, where Ford concentrated its resources on developing and marketing the F-150.
After eight years of growing international popularity, the Ranger was finally made available for North American customers starting with the 2019 model year.
Ford’s first modern entry into the mid-size pickup truck segment underwent some modifications to meet U.S. crash regulations and increase its payload.
The front was redesigned to make room for a separate steel bumper and fully boxed frame rails were also added, along with a standard rear-view safety camera.
Compared to international models, it is only available with a turbocharged 2.3 L EcoBoost inline-four that produces 270 hp (201 kW).
The truck was well received on the continent and to answer the growing demand for an even better off road performing Ranger, Ford announced the addition of a new factory package called the Tremor.
It was developed as a far more capable alternative to the current FX4 Off-Road Package, with the focus of helping drivers tackle the most unforgiving terrain without compromising the truck’s payload and tow capabilities.
The package offers a lifted suspension, redesigned front knuckles, and new 17-inch Magnetic-painted wheels that use 32-inch Continental General Grabber A/TX all-terrain tires. These modifications allow for 9.7 inches of (25cm) ground clearance, which is 0.8 inches (2 cm) more than the Ranger SuperCrew 4x4.
The suspension uses FOX 2.0 monotube dampers that feature rear piggyback reservoirs, tuned hydraulic rebound stops, and a progressive rebound end zone damping system that enables the Ranger to deliver a comfortable ride in both road and off-road conditions.
The front and rear spring are also optimized for improved off-road performance and a multi-leaf rear spring setup allows for increased wheel travel. The anti-roll bars are less stiff than the standard to improve comfort when the pavement ends.
Compared to the base SuperCrew 4x4, the Tremor’s approach angle increases by 2.2 degrees and it now stands at 30.9. The truck also has a 25.5-degree departure angle and a 24.2-degree break-over angle, both of which are greater than the base Ranger. The suspension travel also receives an increase of 6.5 inches in the front and 8.1 inches in the rear.
The new package also brings a frame-mounted steel front bash plate and high-strength underbody skid plates, a rear locking differential,
Like the FX4 Off-Road Package, the Tremor offers the Terrain Management System, which provides four distinct drive modes (Normal, Grass, Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, or Sand) and Trail Control, a driver-activated control system that helps drivers navigate more easily over rough terrain, managing throttle and braking of individual wheels while maintaining a constant speed.
Accessories can easily be connected thanks to the Tremor’s new six-switch auxiliary power bank mounted to the dash. It has rated loads of 25 amps, 15 amps, and 10 amps, plus three switches at 5 amps.
Apart from the multitude of new features, the package also adds new styling features like the Tremor-themed frond grille and the optional hood and body graphics package.
The Tremor Off-Road Package is available on the 2021 XLT and Lariat series with SuperCrew 4x4 configuration and to get it, customers must pay an extra $4,290 MSRP.
Vlad's first car was custom coach built: an exotic he made out of wood, cardboard and a borrowed steering wheel at the age of five. Combining his previous experience in writing and car dealership years, his articles focus in depth on special cars of past and present times. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News