2013 Ford Ranger Truck Review

All-New Ford Ranger Conquers Every Task and Terrain with More Capability than Ever •Ranger has a payload capacity of more than 1400 kg on some 4x2 variants •Ranger's outstanding ground clearance of up to 237 mm and class-leading water-wading capability of 800 mm boost its off-road capability •Ranger's Traction Control System, part of the Electronic Stability Program, can prevent wheel spin proactively by precisely controlling engine torque to each wheel and by braking a spinning wheel completely BANGKOK, Thailand, 11 Nov., 2011 -- With a best-in-class water-wading capability as well as exceptional payload capacity and ground clearance, the all-new global Ford Ranger has a can-do attitude and go-anywhere capability that customers will appreciate. Commercial users looking to transport heavy construction materials will welcome Ranger's outstanding payload capacity of more than 1400 kilogrammes on some 4x2 variants while customers will appreciate Ranger's class-leading water-wading capability of 800 millimetres and excellent ground clearance of up to 237 millimetres that will allow them to go deeper or climb higher. "Our customers want a pickup that is tough enough to withstand rough conditions and capable enough to handle any challenge thrown at it," said Stephan Presser, manager of Vehicle Engineering, Product Development, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa (APA). "Ranger was painstakingly developed, meticulously engineered and rigorously tested to ensure it can do all this and more." Going off road An all-new compact front differential, a new upgraded rear axle, and lower overall ratios all contribute to the 4x4 Ranger's superior off-road capability which begins with a robust electronically controlled transfer case -- for both manual and automatic transmissions -- that allow drivers to shift on the fly from 4x2 to 4x4 high-range anytime via a knob conveniently located on the centre console. Low-range gearing in 4x4 models can be enabled for extra low speed torque or additional downhill braking. When the low-range gears are engaged, the throttle response is changed to an off-road setting which provides a less sensitive, softer pedal feel. This helps prevent unintentional acceleration due to the bouncing motion of the driver's foot while moving over bumpy ground. The logic control also changes the shift points for the automatic transmission. Ranger's Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system also includes off-road logic which recognises when the pickup is driven on rough roads and modifies the system to ensure the best balance between stability and timeliness of interventions. In 4x4 models, the system can be partially switched off to disable over- and under-steer control as well as engine torque reductions, while maintaining the brake intervention traction control. This setting is most suitable when driving through deep sand or extreme mud as vehicle momentum can be maintained whilst maximising available grip. "Ranger is a very composed vehicle even when going off the beaten track," said Sam Ellis, Ranger's dynamics supervisor, Ford APA. "Composure describes how comfortably and easily a vehicle tackles difficult obstacles and terrains. If a vehicle is composed, you don't have to charge at an obstacle to get over it or rush through things to get past difficult terrain. "This allows the vehicle to be driven in a more controlled manner. It's more relaxing for the driver and reduces the risk of damaging the vehicle. So composure was a very important attribute that we built into Ranger's off-road capability."