Versatile All-New Ford Ranger

We were a big group of journalists, mostly from the motoring media that were invited by Ford Group Philippines to be part of the regional media presentation of the All-New Ford Ranger last March 23. It was held in one of the huge function halls of the Bangkok Shangri-La Hotel, where we were also billeted for four days, long enough to stay also for the 32nd Bangkok International Motor Show, which ran from March 24 to March 27, where the all-new Ford Ranger global pickup truck made its ASEAN debut at what was vaunted as the biggest and most interactive stand ever assembled in Thailand by the Ford Motor Company.

It was a big event for Ford in the region, and with a reason (a host of them, as a matter of fact). They were launching what’s vaunted as one of the “most high-tech” compact pickups, featuring smart technologies such as Bluetooth and Voice Control and Rear View Camera system where the camera image is displayed in the rear view mirror and with a strong claim for being sure-footed in all terrain due greatly to its “best-in-class water-wading capability” of up to 800 mm (best for Ondoy-prone countries like ours) and technologies like Hill Descent Control and Hill Launch Assist.

Ford’s newest global compact pickup will be offered in three cab body styles – Regular, Super and Double – all considered among the roomiest in the segment.

During the impressive 3-wide screen presentation, the Philippine media contingent together with their counterparts in the region were appraised that the all-new Ford Ranger will be produced from a highly robust single global platform that replaces the two platforms currently in production regionally. It will be manufactured in Thailand, South Africa and Argentina for more than 180 markets worldwide. Designed and developed in Australia, it is the first truck to be built under the One Ford strategy as part of a global product program bringing together the full engineering expertise of ford around the world.

Jim Baumbick, engineering director, product development, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa explains, “With the One Ford strategy, we were able to deliver a truck with no compromise. The engineering team in Australia had full access to the global Ford capability, testing facilities and, most importantly, corporate knowledge around delivery of Ford Tough Trucks”.

Being tough may not always necessarily mean powerful. This significant issue was well addressed by Ford in their all-new Ranger.

The Ford executives were firm in declaring that the all-new Ford Ranger powertrains have been engineered to give customers a superior combination of power and torque at class-leading fuel efficiency. Three new engines are available to suit every purpose and pocket, namely; a new 2.2-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi four-cylinder diesel engine with peak torque output of 375 Nm and power output of 110 kW (150 PS), a highly responsive and efficient new 3.2-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi five-cylinder diesel engine with a substantial 470 Nm of torque and power rated at 147 kW (200 PS) and a 2.5-litre Ford Duratec four-cylinder petrol engine with 226 Nm of torque and outstanding power at 122 kW (166 PS). It can be aftermarket up-fitted to run on LPG.

The petrol engine boasts the best fuel economy in its class, with the two-wheel drive model achieving 9.8 L/100 km in a combined cycle. The diesel engines also deliver superior fuel efficiency, recording fuel consumption in a combined cycle of as low as 7.6 L/100 km on a 4x2 variant with the 2.2-litre engine to 9.6 L/100 km on a full-trim 4x4 model with the 3.2-litre engine.

These exceptional figures will give Ranger – fitted with an 80-litre fuel tank – a range of more than 1,000 km on selected models before filling up for fuel. All the engines have also been calibrated to meet the most stringent emission standards in the markets where Ranger will be sold.

The all-new Ford Ranger has also something new to offer in the transmission department. Six-speed transmissions are rare in the compact pickup market and Ranger is the first truck of its kind to offer an automatic one. The new six-speed automatic transmission has been extensively tuned to deliver smooth, quick shifts almost imperceptible to the driver, reinforcing Ranger’s car-like refinement.

The Sequential Shift Control in the automatic gearbox offers a host of adaptive and performance modes as well as manual control through sequential manual shifting. This level of sophistication is unique in the segment. The transmission also comes with a number of smart Ford technologies that deliver enhanced performance, functionality and refined shift qualities.

A smart innovation is the automatic transmission’s ability to recognise when the vehicle is on a gradient. Using Grade Control Logic, the transmission will automatically downshift during downhill driving to provide additional braking from the powertrain when it senses the driver is applying the brakes.

The new six-speed automatic and manual transmissions are available on the diesel engines while the 2.5-litre petrol engine is offered with the proven five-speed manual transmission as standard equipment. Transmissions and final drive ratios have also been carefully matched to deliver superb acceleration, excellent fuel efficiency and a quiet ride.

At the 32nd Bangkok International Motor Show, the all-new Ranger took center stage at the Ford display stand together with the hot-selling Fiesta and a host of interactive displays like a robot presenter, a 3D mini theatre, a driving simulator of the all-new Ranger, a virtual safe driving game, etc., which stimulated visitors no end.

Ford ASEAN president, Peter Fleet explains why their dazzling display, “We’re leveraging this year’s Bangkok Motor Show as an international stage for the ASEAN reveal of the all-new Ford Ranger global pickup, which will be built right here in Thailand. We’ve taken the opportunity to create a world-class display on the Ford stand so that Show attendees can experience and truly understand our commitment to Thailand and the ASEAN region.”

During the entire experience the motoring journalists had the privilege of having the Ford Group Philippines current president, the very friendly and very tall, Randy Krieger. Although relatively new in the territory, Randy easily warmed up to the motoring journalists, most of them veterans of the two other American presidents that Ford had in the country.

It has been quite a while that I have attended an out-of-the-country trip hosted by Ford and I must say that we have been well taken cared of by the newly-wed Ford avp corp com, Anika Salcedo-Wycoco. And despite having the Ford dealers also in Bangkok, the very charming lady who’s now handling Ford’s marketing, Minnie Valencia, made sure she joined our media group for some (or was it a lot) after dinner drinks at Bangkok’s famed Dome, which gives you a breathtaking night view of the Thai capital’s colorful skyline.

Thanks for the engaging and highly informative experience.

Philippine Road Safety Action Plan

More than a hundred road safety advocates to be led by undersecretary Dante M. Velasco are expected to convene in Tagaytay City starting tomorrow March 31 up to April 1 to draft and formulate the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2011-2020 (PRSAP), an inventory of all road safety activities that road safety advocates both in government and the private sector, which includes among many others, Sunshine Television (STV) and Socio Com Foundation for Asia commit to undertake during the decade. It is a living document containing doable and sustainable programs, activities and projects, which government agencies, business entities and associations and civil society vow to pursue individually and collaboratively to make our roads safer during the decade.

Top-ranking road safety consultant, Arnel Doria, former general manager of Honda Safety Driving Center represents STV and Socio Com Foundation as Road Safety Seminar Director of the Young Street Smarts Club Road Safety School Tour, which has so far conducted free road safety seminars in 9 schools in Metro Manila and adjoining provinces, in the two-day seminar organized and coordinated by the office of DOTC assistant secretary Dante Lantin.

MMPC defers turn-over ceremonies

In a gesture of sharing the grief and contributing to the recovery of suffering Japan, the management of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines has decided to cancel the turnover ceremonies of its outgoing president Masahiko Ueki and incoming president Hikosaburo Shibata and instead contribute to Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) fund to be contributed to the Japanese government in its efforts to help alleviate the suffering of many of its citizens in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and succeeding tsunami.

A total of Four Million pesos from Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, its dealers and suppliers was turned over to PNRC represented by its chairman, former senator, Richard Gordon.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments: (E-Mail) [email protected].