The Ford Ranger returns soon to the United States. Unveiled at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show, the 2019 Ford Ranger will hit the road starting next year.
Ford said mass production of the midsize truck will commence later this year and Ford dealerships across the country will start getting deliveries in the first quarter of 2019. The iconic vehicle is set to hit the road in two build configurations dubbed as SuperCab and SuperCrew, and both will boast Trail Control and Emergency Brakes as headlining features.
"The all-new Ranger is designed for today's midsize truck buyer, delivering even more utility, capability and technology for those who blend city living with more off-the-grid adventures on weekends," the U.S. carmaker said in a statement.
The Ranger's imminent homecoming is in response to what Ford termed as "continued growth in midsize pickups," adding "Ranger has always held a special place in the hearts of truck fans."
When the Ford Ranger starts selling again, buyers can pick from the entry-level XL, mid-level XLT, and high-level Lariat trim series. The latter variant, according to Ford, will be available in Chrome and Sport finishes with option for FX Off-Road packages.
Focus On Souped Up Features
It's worth noting that Ford only discontinued the Ranger in the United States a few years back. Elsewhere, the truck remains a Ford bestseller and most of the features and functionalities packed with the 2019 flavor have been tried and tested from across the globe.
But one Ford Ranger feature that is totally new is called "Trail Control," described by the carmaker as akin to having cruise control while on off-road mode. When in use, Trail Control makes for an easy driving as the feature assumes full control of acceleration and braking on all wheels while on slow motoring from one to 20 miles per hour over a rough road.
As expected, Ford beefed up on the safety features that will roll with the 2019 Ranger. The truck will have an automatic emergency braking system and a rearview camera plus adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. All these offerings have been designed for optimal safe driving experience.
Confirmed so far to power up the 2019 Ranger is a 2.3-liter four-cylinder twin-turbo EcoBoost engine that will work in tandem with a 10-speed automatic transmission. And to better compete with rival vehicles that now enjoy modern features, the returning Ford Ranger has most of the trappings of advanced technology such as Sync 3 with links to Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and the in-house FordPass Connect Wi-Fi hotspot.
While the 2019 Ford Ranger, being the homegrown bet, is certain to strike a sentimental chord on U.S. buyers, it remains to be seen how the truck will fare with current segment leaders like the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma.
