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Motoring

On the road with the Ford Ranger Wildtrak

- Manny N. de los Reyes -

MANILA, Philippines - In car-crazy L.A., one standout pickup truck is the hulking Cadillac Escalade. Central to its head-turning styling is its distinctive sports bar, which adorns the cargo bed just behind the rear doors. I’m not much for aesthetic add-ons that don’t have any functional benefits, but the sports bar looks so good, I’d bolt it on any pickup I ever lay money down on.

Ford probably thinks so, as they blinged up their already good-looking Ranger pickup model into the absolutely spiffy Ranger Wildtrak variant.

The Wildtrak, which comes with a 4x2 drivetrain but boasts a high-riding 4x4-like stance, is positioned as the urban lifestyle truck for customers who want a tough truck that complements their active and urban lifestyle.

Exclusive Wildtrak kit includes the aforementioned sports bar, body-colored tailgate cladding with embossed Ranger branding, box rails and roof rails with aluminum bar accents, a frame-mounted aluminum gray side step with titanium-colored end caps, as well as distinctive Wildtrak decals on the front doors and tailgate.

An under-rail bedliner, body side cladding, illuminated scuff plates with Wildtrak logo, front bumper overrider, and exclusive 16-inch Wildtrak alloy wheels round out the overall styling package.

The Wildtrak is equipped with a four-sensor, three-channel, four-wheel ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) to provide maximum braking performance under all conditions. The cabin offers car-like amenities, comfort and NVH levels, thanks to ergonomic seats, climate control, MP3-compatible audio, and a body shell engineered to isolate the cabin from road noise.

The Ranger series offers an array of clever stowage solutions, including a front-door stowage bin that holds a half-liter water bottle and a handy 10-kg-capacity pull-out tray above the glove compartment.

The pickup’s instrument panel features contemporary and relaxing red illumination from its three large gauges – each set within its own binnacle. The gray-and-black color scheme in the cabin enhances the sporty look and feel, while high-quality materials as well as high levels of fit and finish endow the Ranger with an upscale, luxurious feel.

The Wildtrak is powered by Ford’s Duratorq TDCi common-rail diesel engine. It offers tons of torque for truly energetic off-the-line acceleration and quick response. Few pickups can match the ability of the Ranger to deliver excellent low-rev torque. The 2.5-liter TDCi engine packs a potent punch, developing 330Nm at a very accessible 1,800 rpm.

The Wildtrak, which comes in Black Mica, Winning Blue, and Cool White, retails for P1,080,000 for the smooth-shifting 5-speed manual model and P1,135,000 for the equally smooth (and responsive) 4-speed auto.

THE GOOD

• Head-turning body kit

• High level of refinement, inside and out

• Smooth, refined and very torquey engine

THE BAD

• No 4x4 variant

• Pricey

THE VERDICT

• A pickup so good-looking, the high build quality and superb performance seem like the icing on the cake.

vuukle comment

BLACK MICA

BULL

CADILLAC ESCALADE

COOL WHITE

DURATORQ

ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION

EXCLUSIVE WILDTRAK

RANGER

RANGER WILDTRAK

WILDTRAK

WINNING BLUE

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