Ford is expanding the model range of the most popular novated lease vehicle in 2022. The Ranger will now include the off-road-focused Wildtrak X and will arrive in the second half of 2023.
The Ford Ranger has been the most popular novated lease vehicle for the last three years according the annual survey conducted by Fleet News Group. It has also been the top selling vehicle in Australia during this time.
With a recommended Manufacturer List Price (MLP) of $75,990, Ranger Wildtrak X bridges the gap between the high-performance Ranger Raptor and the recreation-orientated Wildtrak and is designed for customers who want greater off-road capability and smart features that support their passion for adventure without compromising the Ranger’s impressive 3,500kg braked towing capacity.
“Ranger is more than just transportation: it enables an unlimited lifestyle, giving owners the ability to tackle work, family and play with one, feature-packed vehicle,” said David Grice, chief platform engineer, Ford Ranger. “We have designed and engineered Wildtrak X with the overlanding community front of mind.”
“We know Australian customers love the versatility their Ranger offers them. Wildtrak X really captures their desire for exploration, with new hardware and features so they can head across the country or go further off-road than ever before,” added Andrew Birkic, President and CEO, Ford Australia and New Zealand.
Elevating the Wildtrak X’s on- and off-road ability are core wheel and suspension improvements. The Ranger Wildtrak X’s Bilstein Position-Sensitive Dampers not only allows drivers to go further off the beaten track, but also improves on-road cornering manners. This is thanks to End Stop Control Valve (ESCV) technology within the Bilstein dampers. The position-sensitive dampers allow for better fine-tuning and calibration so that the Wildtrak X’s on-road comfort matches its off-road performance. With a monotube design and nitrogen-charged external reservoir, the Bilstein dampers have an increased tuning bandwidth that allow for dual driving characteristics.
The Wildtrak X will be the first Ranger 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel variant to feature the advanced Full-time 4WD system instead of the part-time ‘shift on the fly’ 4×4 system.
With a keen focus on owners interested in traveling from urban environments into the beautiful wilds and back again, Ranger Wildtrak X’s suspension has been specifically tuned for touring and payload in mind, but without sacrificing comfort during unladen driving. Overlanding enthusiasts will benefit from the damper tuning, which deftly sidesteps the usual drawbacks of a ‘lift kit’, improving tarmac handling and cornering composure. Importantly, the Wildtrak X retains the same 3,500kg braked towing capacity as the standard Ranger Wildtrak.
Additionally, General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres are fitted as standard, with the 265/70 R17 rubber wrapped around new 17-inch alloy wheels. The combination of new suspension, wheel, and tyres results in a 30mm wider track width front and rear, and an additional 26mm of ground clearance when compared to the existing Wildtrak.
Wildtrak X also helps owners out on the trail with two new off-road tools that have been engineered to tackle challenging terrain. Trail Turn Assist helps owners negotiate tight bends on narrow tracks by applying the brake on the inside rear wheel, significantly reducing the turning radius. It’s designed to be used on loose surfaces at speeds under 19km/h and can be used when the truck is engaged in either 4H or 4L and the rear differential is unlocked. In certain circumstances, Trail Turn Assist can reduce the Wildtrak X’s turning circle radius by up to 25 percent, providing significant benefits when navigating tricky off-road conditions.
Trail Control – also seen in the Ranger Raptor – helps drivers maintain a constant low speed while off-road. The driver simply selects a set speed below 32 km/h and the vehicle will manage its acceleration and braking while the driver concentrates on steering through difficult terrain.
Similar to the drive mode on Ranger Raptor, Rock Crawl on Wildtrak X has been designed to help customers traverse uneven, rocky terrain in a controlled manner at low speed. This drive mode requires low-range 4WD to be engaged and will automatically lock the rear differential for maximum traction. Rock Crawl mode will also automatically actuate a unique throttle and transmission calibration that is designed to help the driver traverse the terrain as smoothly as possible.
Ranger Wildtrak X features Ford’s Flexible Rack System, which consists of two main components: a Sliding Load Rack that can be locked into five positions along the length of the load bed, and the Folding Roof Racks that store inside the rails when not in use. The flexible load system can be operated by one person and doesn’t require any tools to set up or stow.
Customers wanting to stand out from the crowd benefit from Cyber Orange being an exclusive colour for the Wildtrak X special edition. Externally, the Wildtrak X gets a new off-road grille design with LED headlamps and a Cyber Orange accent strip, a steel bash plate, cast aluminium side steps and Wildtrak X badges on the front doors and tailgate, black Ford oval badges front and rear as well as distinctive Ranger lettering across the hood. The grille surround, bumper H-bar, wheel lip mouldings, fender vents, mirror caps, door handles and rear bumper are all finished in asphalt black. Ensuring drivers have the best possible vision during low-light conditions, Wildtrak X builds on Ranger’s Matrix LED headlamps with auxiliary LEDs, integrated into the unique front grille.
Inside, the Wildtrak X boasts new leather-accented seats with Miko® suede and Wildtrak X embroidered into the seat backs, upper glovebox and all-weather front and rear floor mats. Terra suede wraps the glovebox, instrument cluster hood, door trim and centre console rails while Cyber Orange contrast stitching is used on the seats, steering wheel, gear shifter, doors and the upper glovebox. Additionally, standard for Wildtrak X compared to the regular Wildtrak is a B&O Sound premium audio system, and the larger 12.4-inch Digital Cluster found on the Ranger Raptor and Platinum variants. The Wildtrak X is also fitted with an overhead auxiliary switch bank for aftermarket accessories.
Under the bonnet, the sole engine choice is Ford’s 2.0-Litre Bi-Turbo inline four-cylinder diesel, which is now well-known to Ranger enthusiasts. Mated exclusively to a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Wildtrak X’s hearty 150kW/500Nm outputs will ensure owners can get wherever they want, whenever they want. Continuing Ford’s commitment to reducing emissions around the globe, the Wildtrak X will be the first Ranger variant to meet the Light Duty Truck EU Stage 6 emissions level and will require the use of AdBlue.
