The MY19 Ford Ranger brings Australians an even more capable pick-up with a freshened line-up that combines class-leading technology, safety and convenience features. The MY19 Ranger builds on the capabilities and off-road credentials that have seen the Ranger become the most popular 4×4 pick-up in Australia in 2017.
“The pick-up segment is at all-time record levels in Australia,” said Ford Australia President and CEO, Graeme Whickman. “The Australian market has shifted in a relatively short timeframe, pushing pick-ups like Ranger towards the top of the sales charts. It’s also seen new buyers come in to the segment, especially at the premium end, which is why we’ve made Ranger more refined and more capable at an even wider variety of uses.”
Advanced powertrains for proven performance, cutting edge technology
The MY19 Ford Ranger offers a choice of three powertrains to deliver greater versatility to match Australians’ demands for a wider variety of applications.
Having chalked up the equivalent of 5.5 million kilometres of testing, Ford’s new generation of diesel engines use advanced materials and sophisticated construction to offer Ranger BiTurbo customers a vehicle with an enhanced span of already capable attributes. With common-rail direct fuel-injection, an integrated intake manifold, and a belt-in-oil primary drive, the Bi-Turbo is compact, lightweight, powerful and efficient.
“The new BiTurbo delivers 500Nm from 1750rpm, giving customers access to more torque, more of the time,” said John Willems, Chief Program Engineer, Ranger.
The Bi-Turbo takes advantage of a sequential turbocharging to deliver greater responsiveness, drivability and maximum efficiency. A pair of turbochargers are employed for maximum performance and efficiency. The fixed-geometry turbocharger is employed to deliver greater throttle response and eliminate lag by spooling up quickly at low speeds. The secondary turbocharger features advanced variable geometry to deliver performance gains and smoothness at higher speeds, taking over from the primary initial turbo.
Available exclusively on XLT and Wildtrak, the new-generation Bi-Turbo diesel is coupled to an advanced 10-speed torque-convertor automatic to bring greater torque, improved flexibility and a quieter, more comfortable drive to the MY19 Ranger. With 500Nm from a low 1750rpm, the Bi-Turbo delivers a greater torque spread, with the 10-speed’s close ratios reducing gaps in power and acceleration to make steep, slippery hill-climbs, for instance, much easier. XLT and Wildtrak models optioned with the 500Nm BiTurbo engine maintain Ranger’s equal class-leading payload and 3500kg towing capability.
The Ranger’s proven 3.2-litre turbodiesel also delivers the outstanding payload and towing capabilities Ranger is renowned for. Its highly competitive towing applies to both automatic and manual transmission models, with 3500kg capability on all 3.2-litre powered Rangers across all body styles. Offering 147kW/470Nm, the 3.2-litre comes with a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
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MY19 Ford Ranger powertrains |
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| Engine | Power | Torque |
| Duratorq 2.2L | 118kW@3200rpm | 385Nm@1600-2500rpm |
| Duratorq 3.2L | 147kW@3000rpm | 470Nm@1750-2500rpm |
| Bi-Turbo 2.0L | 157kW@3750rpm | 500Nm@1750-2000rpm |
With Australian-led design and engineering, local Ranger testing and development saw extensive use of Ford’s start-of-the-art facilities at Geelong and You Yangs, in Victoria. This included vehicle dynamic development, as well as the Vehicle Semi-Anechoic Chamber, Kinematics and Compliance Ring at the Advanced Centre for Automotive Research and Testing.
Tougher, smarter
Ford’s Pre-Collision Assist using Inter-Urban Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Vehicle Detection and Pedestrian Detection is available on MY19 Ranger. The system is designed to detect pedestrians as well as vehicles and to bring Ranger to a complete stop, to help mitigate rear-end collisions and road-traffic collisions with pedestrians. The system, which functions at speeds above 3.6km/h, is optional on XLT and standard on Wildtrak.
Traffic Sign Recognition, available for the first time on Ranger as part of the Tech Pack on XLT and standard on Wildtrak, is designed to identify traffic signs whether they are at the side of the road or above it, permanent or temporary. An icon of the speed sign appears on the instrument cluster and changes every time it detects you enter a new limit.
Lane Keeping Aid and Lane Departure Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Collision Warning carry over to the MY19 Ranger, available on XLT and standard on Wildtrak.
In a segment first, the MY19 Ranger’s easy-to-live-with features include Active Park Assist (APA) available on XLT and standard on Wildtrak, reducing stress by enabling semi-automatic parallel parking. The driver needs only to apply the throttle and brakes, as the system steers the Ranger into the parking space.
Loading Ranger is far easier for MY19 with the introduction of an easy-lift tailgate on all pick-up models. With a new internal mechanism, the Ranger’s tailgate is now lighter to lift, with a 70-per cent reduction in initial force required to raise it for closing. Not only does this system require less effort to lift, it also means that it’s easier to lower.
Ranger’s fresh face
The MY19 Ranger’s rugged good looks see styling changes that carry on the off-road stance and visual appeal of the current model. Lead by a cleaner new grille, which features the distinctive ‘nostrils’, a more distinctively chiselled lower bumper now offers a broader intake for a more balanced look. Ranger Wildtrak and XLT boast LED daytime running lights and HID headlights, for better visibility and vision.
“A successful design should communicate its intent at-a-glance,” said Ford Asia-Pacific Director of Design, Todd Willing. “With Ranger’s reputation as an amazingly capable and versatile vehicle, it is our responsibility to create a design that clearly signals those attributes in combination with a handsome and appealing aesthetic.”
There’s also clearer distinction between models visually, with bumper treatments and colours reflecting the unique character of each model – whether a hard-working Ranger XL cab chassis, or a go anywhere Wildtrak.
Chrome brightwork on Ranger XLT and Monument accents on Ranger Wildtrak reflects each model’s unique position in the line-up, while exclusive to Wildtrak is the new ‘Sabre’ hero colour. Wildtrak’s Sabre paintwork is a rich orange with blonde accents, and contrasts strongly with the dark grey grille surrounds, Wildtrak sports-bar and optional black-finish 18-inch alloy wheels that further differentiate Wildtrak from the pack.
Mission Control
Ranger is now offered with Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS) keyless entry and push-button start as standard on XLT and Wildtrak, and optional on XLS models.
The MY19 Ranger’s interior hosts an array of upgrades to help tackle the working week, the long-weekend road trip, or the off-road adventure. With durable, tactile surface finishes ensuring a long lifespan with a quality touch and feel, the spacious Ranger interior now sports a black theme. Contrasting detail elements include shadow chrome and silver accent stitching, help give Ranger’s interior a premium feel.
SYNC 3 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility continues as standard on XLT and Wildtrak and now optional on XLS, including Bluetooth, an 8.0-inch full colour touchscreen and reversing camera. SYNC 3 enables use of Google Maps, Apple Maps as well as standard in-built sat-nav for when the Ranger is beyond mobile coverage areas. The mapping system also features a ‘breadcrumbs’ feature, allowing an unmarked off-road route, for instance, to be mapped as it’s traversed.
In addition, MY19 Ranger models with SYNC 3 may receive complementary map updates for up to seven years when a scheduled service is completed at a participating dealer. Approximately 130,000km of new roads are constructed across the country every year, quickly rendering mapping systems out of date. The map updates are included with Ford’s comprehensive after-sales care offerings, including Ford’s Loan Car Program and Service Price Promise. Any Ranger delivered after May 1, 2018, receives a 5 year, unlimited kilometre warranty, as standard.
SYNC 3 also includes Emergency Assistance as standard. Emergency Assistance uses the Ranger’s Bluetooth phone connection to automatically call emergency services in the event of a serious road-traffic collision. This system, which is offered on every Ford using SYNC, has been successful in connecting emergency services with Ranger customers on multiple occasions.
On-road comfort, off-road conquered
For MY19, the Ranger’s suspension had been upgraded across the range to reduce and better control roll, with an emphasis on improving the driving experience when fully-laden and towing.
New packaging also enables geometry changes that bring improved ride, a reduction in body roll as well as improved steering precision. Crucially, while improving the drive and refinement, the suspension changes do not impact on Ranger’s equal class-leading towing and payload capabilities.
“We’ve further improved how Ranger behaves when carrying a load, towing a boat or taking a caravan around the country,” said John Willems, Chief Program Engineer, Ranger. “Ranger is now better to drive when it’s working its hardest. It makes it easier to handle, so you can really make the most of its payload and towing capabilities, and helps to reduce fatigue on long trips, too.”
The MY19 Ranger’s upgrades are designed to take the rough with the smooth. “These suspension changes across the range have been thoroughly tried and tested at the You Yangs Proving Ground, where we have a brutal new off-road test track,” said Willems. “They not only mean we have greater comfort, but make the Ranger an even more capable off-roader, which is something that we know buyers are looking for.”
