Power and Metal race
Published: 22/10/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Motoring
All-new Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 boast biggest bodies and most powerful engines in-class.Ford’s horizontal grille can be found in several UStailored SUVs and trucks.
- Styling & Packaging
Ford and Mazda used the Sydney motor show last week to debut the all-new replacements for the Ranger and BT-50 pickups.
The first body derivative unveiled is the four-door double-cab, as seen here in these first pictures, while standard and open-cab versions follow later.
Even though the current crop of one-ton pickups are already overly big in size, the race for metal apparently hasn't stopped. The new Ranger and BT-50 sit on a 3,220mm wheelbase length - the longest in-class.
The previous record-holder was the Nissan Navara with 3,200mm between the front and rear axles.
Sources attribute the increase to the need to improve legroom for rear passengers - an aspect sorely lagging in the outgoing Ranger and BT-50.
The cargo bed is also said to be bigger than before. Such a long length could theoretically backfire on driving agility, which is why neither brand is talking about turning radius.
Apart from the three body styles, drivers have a choice of two ride heights, as is available in the current models. The tall version is geared for 4x4 driving, although it will also accommodate a 4x2 variant for those simply needing more ground clearance.
Ford, which has been mainly responsible for the development of the pickups, claims that the chassis is all-new, and it comes with a newly designed front strut suspension and rear leaf-spring system.
Although the Ranger and BT-50 share the same platform, they have bespoke exterior and interior design for the first time ever - the same formula applied in the Fiesta/2 and Focus/3 passenger cars.
While Ford has focused on a wedgy theme as used in US-tailored SUVs and big trucks, Mazda has stuck to the wavy principle found in its cars.
- Engine & Transmission
Ford has once again taken the lead in engineering the engines and transmissions. There will be two turbo-diesel and one petrol four-cylinder motors to choose from.
There's a new downsized 150hp/375Nm 2.2-litre diesel replacing the 143hp/330Nm 2.5-litre. To ensure the power race is still on, there's a 200hp/470Nm 3.2-litre superseding the 156hp/380Nm 3.0-litre.
Ford hasn't mentioned whether the 2.2-litre unit has anything to do with those used in the Land Rover Freelander, Ford Mondeo, Mazda 6, Citroen C5 and Peugeot 407 sold in Europe.
There's also a 166hp 2.5-litre petrol head that can run on E100 ethanol and be adapted to after-market LPG and CNG systems.
While there's a five-speed manual gearbox for the petrol version, diesel variants get either a six-speed manual or automatic (with Tiptronic-style manual shift) to choose from. Rear-wheel-drive (4x2) and four-wheel-drive (4x4) will also be on offer.
- Market & Pricing
Although the all-new Ranger and BT-50 are shown in production-ready forms, they will hit world markets including Thailand - one of the three places around the world responsible for manufacturing - in the third quarter of next year.
Ford is keen to elaborate some new features in the Ranger like rear-view camera, park assist and technologies assisting the vehicles when laden with cargo.
While it will be imperative to price the Ranger and BT-50 competitively against its rivals, Ford and Mazda will take extra prudence in trying to give more equipment for the money spent. Sources say the brands need to shore up its presence in the tough pickup market in Thailand.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/autopreview/202662/power-and-metal-race