Ranger, Amarok to become twins?
Richard Bosselman.
Confidence that the next iteration of the bestselling Ford in New Zealand will remain a blue-blooded asset, once again conceived in Australia, has been expressed.
As global programme manager for the current Ranger utility, Dan Ciccocioppo heads a Melbourne-based operation that developed the vehicle we’ve enjoyed since 2011. It has just delivered a second big update – PX2 in brand-speak – and led development of an edition about to hit America.
That track record, and Ranger’s astounding sales success, should surely count for something when decisions about the replacement model are settled.
At a PX2 media day in Melbourne, Ford Australia stonewalled about the changeover timeframe and what we might see.
Yet Ciccocioppo has expressed his own confidence about Australia maintaining status as Ranger’s home room, saying simply: ‘‘That’s currently our plan, going forward.’’
The issue is the subject of intense speculation, in light of Ford having settled, in June, a deal with Volkswagen to enter into joint developments of commercial vehicles – conceivably, that’s not just vans but also utes.
The logic of Ranger and the VW Amarok becoming under-skin twins is obvious: they are likely running to parallel life cycles – with the VW’s set to end by 2022 – and such synergies are common. Mazda BT-50, currently Ranger related, will next tailor off a new Isuzu D-Max. The Nissan Navara’s DNA link with Mercedes’ X-class and a Renault is also cemented.
If such a partnered vehicle eventuated, which brand would take leadership?
Ciccocioppo says he cannot ‘‘comment on what our future plans are’’, however he indicated no reason why his team’s expertise wouldn’t continue to be exploited.
Ranger’s New Zealand success – it seems set to this year maintain supremacy as the country’s topselling ute for a fifth successive year (with three of those years being the country’s No 1 vehicle overall) – is exceptional, but it does well in Australia, and in Thailand where it is built.
Amarok, though also a strong seller for VW, has made less global impact, though it has good standing in South America and Kiwis are enjoying the V6 formats.
Ford reckons Ranger’s achievements will likely ratchet locally thanks to the Raptor and a Wildtrak also with the new flagship’s 2.0-litre biturbo and 10-speed, a modest restyle, a suspension retune, some feature tweaks and a modest price lift.
Ford internationally sees good synergies from working with VW. Detroit estimates that by 2020, commercial vehicles will make up around 90 per cent of its portfolio in North America alone.
Utes have longer production cycles than cars, yet while tightlipped on how much remaining life this Ranger has, Ciccocioppo allowed PX2 isn’t really a traditional mid-life update.
‘‘I would say it is in between what we call a larger update and an all-new model.’’
Were Ranger and Amarok to become one, chances are the Ford side would bring more advanced drivetrain technologies and driver assistance hardware while VW might seek to maintain an allwheel-drive preference.
Asked why PX Ranger retains part-time four-wheel-drive when the closely-related Everest has allwheel-drive, he offered: ‘‘There’s no particular engineering reason.
‘‘It’s more about just the tradition of what that vehicle is. It is driven mostly by customer usage. A lot of the time you don’t need that four-wheel-drive running so having that option is logical.’’
Adapting Ranger to the Everest configuration wouldn’t necessarily be a trivial exercise ‘‘but it wouldn’t be a major thing to do, because effectively it is already engineered as part of Everest. There’s a lot of commonality there.’’
Was there an expectation Ranger could become an all-wheeldrive truck? ‘‘Anything is possible and will be driven by what the market, what customers, are looking for.’’
Ciccocioppo says he has driven the current Amarok and considers it ‘‘a very capable vehicle. There are definitely similarities [with Ranger], I think there are certain attributes on Amarok that are a good benchmark for Ranger.
‘‘I don’t think there is anything specific I would mention in terms of where Amarok is better or worse, as an overall vehicle package it is certainly very capable and is certainly one we continue to watch.’’
The VW’s smooth unladen ride, a deck designed for a full-sized pallet and provision of a V6 diesel could potentially be seen as advantages – is there any thought about Ranger matching in those areas?
‘‘Well, we will certainly be looking at improving on all of those areas for future products.’’
However, he could not comment on future powertrains and whether the five-cylinder 3.2, which meets Euro 5 emissions standard (as does the new Ford biturbo, whereas VW’s flagship engine hits Euro 6) would be the largest capacity mill for Ford.
In addition to PX2, the Melbourne outfit has been intensively involved with US Ranger, which has the same platform as ours, similar looks but a 2.3-litre petrol four, also married to the 10-speed. Ciccocioppo is also programme manager for that model.
‘‘The American Ranger is effectively designed by Australia as well … what’s really pleasing for the team is how much interest there is in it.’’
Drivetrain aside, most features specific to the Americanised Ranger were to meet US regulations and requirements.
Interestingly, the ride quality amendments developed for North America and implemented to PX2 are along the same lines. ‘‘There’s definitely some similarity there.’’