2012 Ford Ranger

FIRST THOUGHTS: The Ford Ranger has always been a tough performer on both job sites and off-road. With this new, locally designed and developed model, Ford has set the bar high and achieved levels of on-road refinement never before seen from the Ranger. Ford has Amarok and HiLux clearly and squarely in its sights. It's easy to get a little misty eyed and slip on the rose tinted spectacles when you're test driving a bona fide local product. We spend so much seat time in vehicles designed and built overseas, that a true Aussie product is rare. However, let's get that little bit of patriotism out of the way early. There's no need for it with Ranger. Sure the Ranger was developed and refined here, but it's heading to no less than 180 markets -- more than any other Ford product. And, it's going to kick some serious goals in every single one of them judging by our first drive. Straight up, the Ranger looks like a truck, in the US sense of the word. Think Ford F150. There's no doubt that Ford's legendary truck DNA is on display here and I think that's a good thing. I've always appreciated a truck that looks like a truck. They are supposed to be tough as nails and built for the long haul. The Ranger looks like that, but it's also quite stylish and that's thanks to the subtle use of F-Truck DNA. visit mynrma.com.au/motoring for more information