YET ANOTHER SPECIAL EDITION Ford Ranger has been announced. It’s hardly surprising since the Ranger and the Mustang form the backbone of Ford’s local sales.
The Ford Ranger FX4 special edition will be offered as part of the Ford Ranger line-up in Australia. Based on the volume-selling Ranger XLT dual-cab 4×4, the return of the FX4 nameplate brings an even more distinctive identity, with unique design elements inside and out for a fresh take.
“The addition of the new Ranger FX4 to our line up really steps things up for customers,” said Ford Australia and New Zealand President and CEO, Kay Hart. “The upgraded Ranger FX4 brings all the capability of the XLT, including standard AEB with Pedestrian Detection, and adds its very own design elements and features, to offer Ranger customers even more choice.”
The Ranger FX4 sits between the Ranger XLT 4×4 and highly-equipped Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 models. The Ranger FX4 special edition will initially be limited to around 1,000 units and arrives in showrooms this December.
In addition to a five-year, unlimited kilometre full factory warranty, the Ford Service Benefits program is designed to keep your Ranger FX4 on the road longer, at participating Ford dealerships. With long 15,000km/12-month service intervals, A and B log-book services for the first four years/60,000km are set at a maximum of $299 per service.
Further adding to the ownership experience, Ford Service Benefits also bring Ranger FX4 owners Auto Club Membership including Roadside Assistance, as well as a Service Loan Car and SYNC 3 sat-nav mapping updates where available.
Ranger FX4: more goodies
The Ranger FX4 brings a host of new – and unique – features to the Ranger. Available exclusively in the versatile double-cab pick-up 4×4 body style, the Ranger FX4 has a unique front mesh grille, finished in Ebony Black, flanked by darkened versions of the Bi-LED High Performance Headlights introduced for Ranger XLT, Wildtrak and Ranger Raptor. The front-end view also brings an Ebony Black lower valence and mirror caps.
New FX4-specific 18-inch alloy wheels, an inch larger than the Ranger XLT’s 17-inch alloys, continue the black detailing, with black door handles and front guard fender feature contrasting the striking red ‘FX4’ lower front door and tailgate decals, all with a 3D effect.
Completing the look, the FX4’s tray hosts a protective bedliner and an extended black-finish sports bar, adding a stand-out visual attribute to the Ranger FX4’s load area.
The extensive black treatment applied to the outside is designed to impress with the five exterior colour choices for Ranger FX4, which consist of Shadow Black, Arctic White, True Red, Meteor Grey and Aluminium Metallic.
Ranger FX4 interior: distinctive upgrades
Race Red contrasting stitching on instrument panel, steering wheel, gear selector, centre console freshen the Ranger FX4’s cabin. The sports bucket seats are leather-accented with a special pattern design, and embossed with striking red FX4 logos on the seatbacks.
These complement the contrasting Race Red stitching that’s been applied to the gear selector, handbrake cover and the Ranger FX4’s steering wheel, door trim and special FX4-branded floor mats.
Bolstering the overall effect is the Ranger FX4’s premium black ‘soft top’ instrument panel, inspired by Ranger Wildtrak, while the door tops are finished in Tinted Graphite to further bring out the Race Red detailing throughout the cabin.
In addition to the FX4-specific appointments, the Ranger FX4 brings standard cabin features including SYNC 3 with voice-activated sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility, a full-colour reversing camera and digital instrumentation.
Driver Assist Technology standard on Ranger FX4 includes Autonomous Emergency Braking, AEB with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keeping Aid (LKA) with Lane Departure Warning and Driver Alert, Traffic Sign Recognition and Automatic High-beam headlights. For drivers who want even more technology, the Ranger XLT’s optional Tech Pack can also be chosen for Ranger FX4, bringing Adaptive Cruise Control and Semi-Auto Parallel Parking.
The Adaptive Cruise Control reduces driver workload by maintaining a pre-set distance to the vehicle ahead. The Tech Pack’s Active Park Assist is a segment first. This advanced system takes account of the dimensions of the vehicle, and helps ease the burden of parking. The driver needs only to apply the throttle and brakes, as the system steers the Ranger into the parking space.
The current Ford Ranger line-up has been rated at five-stars by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).
Under the bonnet
The Ranger FX4 will be available with a choice of powertrains. For the first time, Ranger FX4 is offered with the latest generation Bi-Turbo, 10-speed powertrain as well as the proven 3.2L turbodiesel offered previously.
With 157kW/500Nm, the Bi-Turbo powertrain was first introduced on the Ford Performance Ranger Raptor and is fitted with the specifically tuned, new generation 10-speed paddle shift automatic. The 10-speed automatic includes a lock-out feature to hold specific gears when towing, giving the Ranger FX4 a towing capacity of 3,500kg (braked) and 993kg payload. In addition to the highly capable towing, the Bi-Turbo delivers and impressive fuel efficiency figure of 7.4L/100km.
Also on offer for the Ranger FX4, the proven 3.2L, five-cylinder common rail turbodiesel is available with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. In this guise, the FX4 has a payload of 978/960kg (Man/Auto) and a towing capacity of 3,500kg. Fuel economy is 8.4L/100km (manual).
The Ranger FX4 special edition will be available alongside the full Ford Ranger line-up in Ford Dealerships from December 2019.
Once we have tested and assessed the new Ford Ranger FX4 Special Edition, seniordriveraus will bring you a comprehensive review, including everything the over-50 driver needs to know.