Ford faithful have waited ages for a new Ranger and now it appears their patience will be rewarded.
Shutterbugs have captured what appears to be the 2019 Ford Ranger FX4, caught testing in production-ready sheet metal and with what certainly seems like its production face. Up until this point, we have only seen the FX4 testing in mule form. On this prototype, one can see a grill peppered with dots-n-diamonds, giving the front end a very Explorer-ish feel.
READ MORE: Ford Ranger Raptor Confirmed for 2018…in Australia
Like FX4 trims of the past and currently available on the F-150, it’s a good bet the Ranger FX4 will get added ground clearance and styling tweaks to make it unique from the standard Ranger. An FX4 will be a great foil to the Z71 Colorado, while a mini-Raptor could take on the bowtie’s ZR2. Add in a base XL and midrange XLT and one should have a pretty good picture of the upcoming Ranger lineup.
Placing a heavy wager on the availability of a raft of Ecoboost engines is a safe gamble. A combination of four and six-cylinder engines on the order sheet should surprise no one. Ford may use the direct-injected twin-turbo 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 as the premium choice. Ford’s new ten-speed automatic, co-developed with GM, is also expected.
What is up in the air is the possible inclusion of a diesel mill. The Ranger’s chief competitor, the Chevy Colorado, is offered with a 2.8-liter turbo oil burner making a stout 369 lb-ft of torque. Ford does have a diesel mill in its parts bin from which it can select; in other markets, the current FX4 can be had with a 3.2-liter diesel engine found in the Transit.
Expect to see the 2019 Ranger FX4 next year (more than likely at the Detroit show in January).
