Motor Authority - blog Category: Ranger

For the past several years, Ford has been steadily raising its initial quality rankings, saving tons of money in warranty repairs along the way. This time around, the company has finally surpassed perennial top contender Honda in the 2009 Global Quality Research System (GQRS) rankings.

Last year Ford tied Toyota and Honda in JD Power's initial quality rankings, but this is the first year Ford has beaten Honda in any of the major ranking systems. Toyota and Ford are still tied this year, but the improvement at Ford is clear.

“This is truly a significant accomplishment for us,” said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president,... For the past several years, Ford has been steadily raising its initial quality rankings, saving tons of money in warranty repairs along the way. This time around, the company has finally surpassed perennial top contender Honda in the 2009 Global Quality Research System (GQRS) rankings. Last year Ford tied Toyota and Honda in JD Power's initial quality rankings, but this is the first year Ford has beaten Honda in any of the major ranking systems. Toyota and Ford are still tied this year, but the improvement at Ford is clear. “This is truly a significant accomplishment for us,” said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president, Global Quality. “Honda and Toyota have claimed bragging rights for years, but now we are seeing our hard work pay off. It’s evident in study after study.” The measure of initial quality is simple enough - 'things gone wrong' and customer satisfaction through the first 3 months. This measures how many issues the car has and how the new owner feels about it. Ford's tally of 'things gone wrong' was 1,228 per 1,000 vehicles, and improvement of 5% over last year. Honda was a ways back at 1,422 things gone wrong, while Toyota totaled 1,150, a number the GQRS results consider 'statistically equal'. Ford even placed four vehicles at the number one rank in their segments. The Ford Mustang took top initial quality and customer satisfaction for sports cars, while the Mercury Milan got the midsize nod and the Ford Ranger won the compact pickup segment. And these are just the results of the 2009 model-year cars. Ford expects the new 2010 vehicles just coming onto the market to raise the bar once again. On the other hand, the industry's rough 2009 and bleak outlook on 2010 mean costs may have to be cut in ways that impact these ratings. Though Ford hasn't accepted government funds like General Motors and Chrysler, the entire industry is feeling the pressure of low sales volumes. Add to that the potential strain on suppliers caused by Chrysler's bankruptcy and the future of quality and satisfaction rankings may well be out of Ford's hands, at least in the near term. For more on the 2009 Ford Mustang, check out our review of the glasstop-equipped car here.2009 Ford Mustang Read More

The Blue Oval’s venerable Ranger pickup will live well into the next decade, with a brand new model set to grace the company’s stands at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. Back in the U.S. the Ranger was recently updated to help it carry on until a new model can take its place around 2011 but European tradespeople will be able to pick up the latest model from April.

The Ford Ranger nameplate is already established in more than 100 markets around the world and the new model will only improve on this with its sleek styling, new features, and added comfort. This version of the Ranger will be built exclusively in Thailand and... The Blue Oval’s venerable Ranger pickup will live well into the next decade, with a brand new model set to grace the company’s stands at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. Back in the U.S. the Ranger was recently updated to help it carry on until a new model can take its place around 2011 but European tradespeople will be able to pick up the latest model from April. The Ford Ranger nameplate is already established in more than 100 markets around the world and the new model will only improve on this with its sleek styling, new features, and added comfort. This version of the Ranger will be built exclusively in Thailand and there is a high chance that this is the model that will be sold in the U.S. come 2011. The vehicle is available in three body styles – Single Cab, RAP (Rear Access Panel) Cab and Double Cab. The RAP Cab is a four-door system to provide easier access to the cabin by featuring two forward-hinged doors and two rear-hinged access panels. Potential buyers will also be able to choose from ten different color options, five of which are new: Highland Green, Wining Blue, Lagoon Blue, Copper Red and Desert Bronze. Inside, the Ranger pickups a number of comfort features not usually found in a commercial vehicle. These include climate control air-conditioning, an MP3-compatible stereo, and a bodyshell engineered to isolate road noise from the cabin. Power window and mirror controls are also standard on all Ranger models. At launch, the vehicle will be offered with two different versions of Ford’s Duratorq TDCi turbodiesel engine. Coming in 2.5 and 3.0L guises, the engines are available in 4x2 and 4x4 configurations and can be paired with either a five-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. The 2.5L unit is rated at 143hp (105kW) and 330Nm of torque, while the 3.0L unit is rated at 156hp (115kW) and 380Nm of torque. Both engines are able to tow up to 3,000kg.2010 Ford Ranger pickup Read More

In the middle of last year, Ford decided to extend production of the Ranger beyond its expected 2009 sunset to help meet fuel efficiency targets. This year, the Ranger gets a range of upgrades to help it carry on until a new model can take its place around 2011.

The upgrades focus maintaining the Ranger's strong suit (efficiency) and shoring up its weakness (safety). Safety is enhanced with a new complement of standard airbags, including combination side airbags that cover head and chest protection. A number of electronic safety aids are added as well, including AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control.

“The 2010 Ranger’s Roll... In the middle of last year, Ford decided to extend production of the Ranger beyond its expected 2009 sunset to help meet fuel efficiency targets. This year, the Ranger gets a range of upgrades to help it carry on until a new model can take its place around 2011. The upgrades focus maintaining the Ranger's strong suit (efficiency) and shoring up its weakness (safety). Safety is enhanced with a new complement of standard airbags, including combination side airbags that cover head and chest protection. A number of electronic safety aids are added as well, including AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control. “The 2010 Ranger’s Roll Stability Control and combination side air bag technologies will help occupants stay out of harm’s way,” said Steve Kozak, chief engineer of safety systems, Ford Motor Company. “The Ranger has been America’s most fuel-efficient pickup, and now it features a combination of safety features not offered in any other small pickup.” Other passive safety systems, such as tire pressure monitoring, and anti-theft systems, help enhance the Ranger's feature list. With its 2.3L inline-four rated at 21mpg city and 26mpg highway, the Ranger is ass efficient as most mid-size sedans, yet it offers the functionality of the pickup - a perfect compromise for many. Whether these relatively minor updates will be enough to entice buyers to continue choosing the Ranger until 2011 or not, they are likely to help keep the truck positioned well as a value proposition. Read More

Ford has unveiled a pickup truck concept vehicle bearing the ‘Ranger’ name at this year's Thailand Motor Expo. Carrying the full title of Ford Ranger Max Concept, the new concept features a bold exterior appearance and a number of interesting features, and according to its designers it even features some elements that will eventually make it to production.

The team of designers responsible for the Ford Ranger Max Concept admitted that it "wasn't meant to be elegant or pretty", but rather to represent the “dependable workhorse” side of the truck. Featuring bright orange paintwork with matte black accents, the... Ford has unveiled a pickup truck concept vehicle bearing the ‘Ranger’ name at this year's Thailand Motor Expo. Carrying the full title of Ford Ranger Max Concept, the new concept features a bold exterior appearance and a number of interesting features, and according to its designers it even features some elements that will eventually make it to production. The team of designers responsible for the Ford Ranger Max Concept admitted that it "wasn't meant to be elegant or pretty", but rather to represent the “dependable workhorse” side of the truck. Featuring bright orange paintwork with matte black accents, the designers describe the look as being directly inspired by the functional design found in some modern power tools. Additionally, industrial shapes such as the cog-like detailing in the body accents and wheel arch moldings continue this theme. The truck's powerplant is also a highlight, with a flexed 'power dome' shape on its hood indicating its pulling abilities, and a continued power dome above the tonneau cover. Sitting on 18in deep-dish six-spoke alloy wheels shod in chunky 285mm tires, the heavy duty Ranger Max features a large footprint, making it practical for working situations. While the exact power figures for the concept are not mentioned by Ford, the focus remains on the vehicle’s visual appearance. One feature that could make it to production are the side-mirror mounted repeater lamps, and the new color scheme, which has previously been seen in a similar hue on the production-spec Ford Focus ST. Read More