Ford Ranger spied undisguised in India, launch expected via CBU route
Speculations regarding the potential return of Ford to the Indian market have been fuelled by recent sightings of the Ford Ranger in the country. This comes amidst Ford’s reported focus on electric vehicles (EVs) for the Indian market along with some popular ICE products including the Everest poised to be the first new Ford model to launch as a full import.
The Ford Ranger, sharing its underpinnings and engine options with the latest Ford Everest, has been spied in India for the second time, following an initial sighting in Chennai. Notably, the Ranger closely resembles the Everest in design, featuring a large radiator grille, squarish headlamps with C-shaped LED DRLs and shared doors. However, the Ranger sports a distinctive front bumper design and a new tailgate with the Ranger name stamped into the metal, along with slightly more pronounced wheel arches at the rear.
Inside, the Ranger mirrors the rugged interior of the Everest, boasting a horizontally-orientated touchscreen, vertical AC vents and a stack of buttons for climate control. The cabin exudes a rugged appeal with hard-wearing materials and an all-black theme, complemented by features such as ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, a full-digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, automatic climate control, powered driver’s seat and Ford Pass connected car technology.
In terms of powertrain, the Ranger offers a range of diesel engine options globally, including 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre variants shared with the Everest. These engines, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, deliver varying power outputs ranging from 170 HP to 246 HP, catering to different driving preferences. Additionally, the Ranger offers both 4×2 and 4×4 drive layouts, with the 3.0-litre V6 engine exclusively available with a full-time 4×4 system.
The possibility of the Ranger being launched in India, similar to the Everest, raises speculation about its potential market reception. While the Everest, formerly known as the Endeavour, enjoys a strong fan following in India, the Ranger would enter the market as a new nameplate. Historically, lifestyle pickup trucks have not been widely popular in India, although the segment has shown signs of growth with the presence of models like the Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max, coupled with the rising off-roading culture in the country. Mahindra is also expected to launch the Scorpio-N based pickup truck in India by next year.
If introduced in India, the Ranger could capitalise on its shared platform and components with the Everest, potentially paving the way for local assembly in the future. However, its success in the Indian market would depend on factors such as pricing, competition and consumer demand for lifestyle pickup trucks, which remains to be seen.