When Ford returned the Ranger to the United States a few years ago, the truck was new to our market, but it was not brand new, and it had been on the market in other countries before. Facts have proved that Ranger is very popular and has helped expand competition in the mid-size truck market dominated by Toyota. Ford has now demonstrated the next-generation Ranger. Compared with the current model, this mid-size pickup has multiple functions and is expected to improve performance. Ford said it has worked with truck customers around the world to develop a more versatile and popular truck.

Although pickup trucks are popular in the United States, Ford's launch of the new Ranger in Europe may surprise some people. Mid-size trucks are the only option for Europeans because the roads in many areas are too small for the full-size pickup trucks of choice in the United States. Ranger is also a leader in the European pickup truck segment. As of September, it had a 39.9% market share. Orders for the next-generation Ranger will begin in Europe at the end of 2022, and deliveries will begin in early 2023.

The truck was developed by the Australian Ford Product Development Center using an international team of designers and engineers. Taking a look at the photos, it is obvious that the most significant change of the next-generation pickup truck is the new exterior design. For those who have been following the Ford Maverick, this design looks very familiar, and the surrounding designs are very similar. Maverick is a very attractive small pickup truck, and it's no surprise to see Ranger use some of the same design elements.

The new Ranger will provide matrix LED headlights for the first time and will be equipped with new taillights. While providing pickup truck styling and functions, Ford is committed to making the interior of the truck more like a car through high-quality soft-touch materials and a large vertical touch screen in the center of the dashboard. We want its design and layout to be the same as Maverick's interior. Ranger's infotainment system uses Sync 4 for connectivity and voice control.

In addition to the new body, the upgraded Ranger also has an improved chassis, with a wheelbase 50 mm longer than the current Ranger and a track width of 50 mm. The truck uses a V-6 engine and a hydroformed front end structure to provide more space for the V-6. Ford pointed out that its design also contributes to the "future-oriented" Ranger "other propulsion technology." This seems to indicate that Ford is looking at the electric Ranger of the future, which is not surprising.

In order to give customers more choices in the power of trucks, a 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 engine was developed, which will become one of the three turbo diesel engines available when it is launched in Europe. When trucks finally come to the United States, turbo diesel options are unlikely to be available, but we can hope. In addition to the 3.0-liter diesel engine, the next-generation Ranger will also provide single-turbocharged and twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder diesel engines. The twin turbocharged engine is a performance version for those who want more power, and may be the power unit of the Ranger Raptor, assuming it can continue to be used.

The engineers also focused on improving the driving and handling of the truck, designing it to be suitable for everything from commercial use to household vehicles. Offering a variety of versions of the truck, Ford pointed out that Ranger's customers cover everything from small businesses who want a basic two-wheel drive single-cab truck to serious off-road enthusiasts seeking performance and power.

By moving the front wheels forward by 50 mm, the new Ranger improves the approach angle and improves the articulation when off-road. Two different four-wheel drive systems will be provided, one of which uses electronic dynamic shift technology and the other provides full-time four-wheel drive.

One of the biggest changes inside the truck is the addition of a large touch screen in portrait mode. Depending on the level of decoration, there are two different sizes to choose from, including 10.1-inch and 12-inch screens. The large screen complements the fully digital instrument panel. In addition, Ranger will be equipped with an embedded FordPass modem to provide functions such as connection with in-vehicle devices and remote activation, remote vehicle status reporting, and the ability to lock and unlock the doors via a smartphone.

In some models, the large screen also gives the driver access to a 360-degree camera view, which makes parking easier and allows the driver to view the surroundings of the vehicle when off-road. One of the biggest benefits of widening the truck by 50 mm is the ability to pack larger items into the box, including full-size pallets or plywood.

The Ranger is equipped with a new plastic molded bed sheet and additional cargo securing points to secure the load. The cargo compartment of the truck also has flexible loading box covers on the sides and the entire tailgate, which hide the structural connection points of accessories such as the shell of the camper. The tailgate is designed to be used as a mobile workbench with integrated rulers and pinch points.

Other interesting features of the new Ranger include area lighting, which can be controlled using the Sync screen or the FordPass app. Area lighting is a 360-degree lighting system surrounding the truck, designed to improve visibility. The cargo box under the left and right handrails is also equipped with lighting to provide lighting for loading and unloading goods.

With the development of trucks, Ford is also developing its own parts and cooperating with third parties such as ARB. The new Ranger will provide a full range of 150 factory-supported work and entertainment accessories. Ford confirmed the new trucks that we will be producing at its plants in Thailand and South Africa starting in 2022. The automaker promised to announce other markets later. It is assumed that the next generation of Ranger will come to the United States, but it has not yet been confirmed.

Ford started teasing the truck with a video in September showing the new Ranger in camouflage uniforms. Details such as availability and pricing should be provided before release. However, anyone in the small pickup market that doesn't want to wait for the next-generation Ranger should seriously consider Ford Maverick. We recently talked about the 10 best features of Maverick, including its standard hybrid system and impressive fuel economy.