The Ford Ranger has always come with the reputation of a reliable vehicle. That is probably why it has been used for ages in emergency services. That is why the Brazilian Police Force chose the Ford-branded pickup truck.
The Ranger first rolled out the assembly line in the early 1980s. The model was later introduced on the South American market as a replacement for the Mazda-sourced Ford Courier. The Ranger that sells in Brazil rolls off the assembly line in Argentina.
The new-generation Ranger made its debut in Brazil this past summer and sparked a major hype in the state. Ford received no fewer than 2,000 orders for the Ranger in the very first 24 hours since order banks were open. At first, only the 3.0-liter V6 PowerStroke diesel engine was available for order, with the turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel joining the lineup this fall.
The massively popular pickup got the attention of conversion companies, which found a white canvas on the Ranger and considered it suitable for law enforcement personnel and military use.
The vehicles, which fit the needs of the police officers and of the army, are customized by Flash Engenharia, a conversion company that describes itself as born to save lives, care for people and thereby change Brazil. It is, in fact, a company specializing in such transformations for public safety and health services.
That is the exact purpose of this Ranger, an XLS powered by a 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged diesel engine, which is linked to a ten-speed automatic gearbox and a four-wheel drive. The power unit delivers 250 horsepower (253 PS) and 440 lb-ft (597 Nm) of torque.
Photo: Flash Engenharia
A rear lock differential, an approach angle of 30 degrees and a departure angle of 26 degrees also make it reliable in the off-road.
In Brazil, Ford also sells the 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine with 168 horsepower (170 Nm) and 299 lb-ft (405 Nm) of torque.
Converted for military use, the model was exhibited at the International COP Congress for Police Operations, which is the largest public safety event in South America.
The Ranger is equipped with protective armor shielding, which is 30 percent lighter than the usual vehicle armor. An Impulse bumper with 360-degree lights and remote control showed up front. Three people can travel inside the redesigned Ranger, with the necessary personnel being able to sit in seats covered in resistant and easy-to-clean material. The rear seats have vanished in favor of a cell that carries equipment in what used to be the load bed of the pickup.
A facial recognition system prevents unwanted access, which is just right when chasing perpetrators or traveling close to the battle fields. When selling the Rangers converted into police or military vehicles, the company also offers assistance and training.
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