Ford puts the new Ranger through some tough tests to make sure the truck can perform.
The Ford Ranger returns to the American market in early 2019, and to tantalize potential customers the Blue Oval is now showing off how it is testing the midsize pickup's abilities. The work should make for a better truck when the model finally hits the market.
Ford didn't pull any punches when evaluating the Ranger. The video shows the truck driving over an ultra-bumpy road that's so rugged that a computer has to drive the vehicle because a human couldn't take it. In addition, the pickup had to endure days of rocking and rolling on the Blue Oval's shaker table. While those tests checked the truck's suspension and build quality, the company checked the Ranger's hauling ability at the Davis Dam's six-percent grade.
When someone buys a pickup, there's an expectation that it's tough enough to handle whatever the owner does, and Ford wants to make sure the Ranger can stand up to a customer's punishment. “We torture every component – from its high-strength steel frame to its EcoBoost engine to its cloth and leather-trimmed seats – to ensure Ranger is ready for any season and nearly any terrain,” Rick Bolt, Ranger chief engineer, said in the announcement accompanying this video.
The 2019 Ranger will arrive with a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and 10-speed automatic, but the company won't yet release the horsepower or torque specs. Buyers will be able to choose between either a SuperCab body with small rear doors or a SuperCrew configuration with more room for passengers in the back. In terms of capability, the model will be available in rear- or four-wheel-drive configuration, and there will be an optional FX4 Off-Road package with upgrades like a tougher suspension, electrically locking rear differential, and steel skid plates. Spy shots suggest Ford is evaluating whether to bring the meaner Ranger Raptor to the U.S. eventually.
Source: Ford
HOW FORD IS TESTING THE 2019 RANGER TO ENSURE IT’S BUILT FORD TOUGH AND READY FOR ADVENTURE
MAY 4, 2018 | DEARBORN, MICH.
DEARBORN, Mich., May 3, 2018 – From grueling lab tests to robotic testing too harsh for humans to endure, from jagged trails in the Australian Outback to the Arizona desert, Ford is torturing its 2019 Ranger to make sure the all-new truck is up to Built Ford Tough durability standards and ready for adventure.
Ranger testing is based on the same proven standards of the legendary Ford F-150.
“We torture every component – from its high-strength steel frame to its EcoBoost® engine to its cloth and leather-trimmed seats – to ensure Ranger is ready for any season and nearly any terrain,” said Rick Bolt, Ford Ranger chief engineer.
Ford’s rigorous approach to ensuring Ranger quality and capability starts in the lab, progresses to the proving grounds then is confirmed through intense real-world challenges in locations near and far.
At Ford’s Michigan Proving Grounds, a fully loaded Ranger hits the brutal Silver Creek track with impacts so severe robotic drivers are used so humans don’t get injured. In the lab, a four-post shaker table abuses Ranger for days to check against squeaks and rattles. In the real world, Ranger towing capability is tested in high temperatures on the unforgiving long steep grades of Davis Dam in Arizona, while the Australian Outback treats the truck to more heat and choking dust over harsh off-road terrain.
Offering purpose-built features like a Terrain Management System™, Trail Control and blind spot monitoring with trailer support, plus a host of available adventure-ready features, the all-new Built Ford Tough Ranger makes its exciting return to the United States in early 2019.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 202,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.