Autoblog

A sentimental goodbye to the last Ford Ranger

Zach Bowman — Sun, 27 May 2012 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Truck, Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Ford

It's been more than five months since the Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul, Minnesota went dark. The facility produced Ford vehicles for nearly 100 years before finally being closed as part of ongoing restructuring. The closure coincided with the production of the very last North American Ford Ranger.

As you may recall, that machine is currently in service with Orkin. The website HappyWrenching.com has worked up a video commemorating the plant's final days in operation, and the clip gives us all a look into the atmosphere surrounding the pickup as it rolled off of the assembly line.

Well shot and with plenty of sentimental music, the video gives us yet another reason to miss the old Ranger. Check out the clip for yourself. Bring a hankie.

Continue reading A sentimental goodbye to the last Ford Ranger

A sentimental goodbye to the last Ford Ranger originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 May 2012 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Ford Ranger to be built mid-month, already sold to Orkin

Noah Joseph — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford

The Ranger pickup has been an integral part of the Ford truck lineup for decades. But later this month, that will cease to be - at least here in the States. That's when the very last Ranger will roll off the assembly line in St. Paul, Minnesota. And what do you know, it's already found a buyer.

The last Ranger has been sold to Orkin, the pest control company that already relies on fleets of white Rangers (and Chevrolet Colorado pickups) with the red diamond logo on the door and all manner of insecticides and other tools of the trade in the back.

"Since 1983, Orkin has used the Ford Ranger as its primary fleet vehicle because it's a reliable and economical truck," Paul Youngpeter, Director of Fleet for Rollins, Inc. (Orkin's parent company) tells Autoblog. "We're honored that Ford has agreed that we will get the last Ranger, and we'll put into our regular service rotation before it's retired to our corporate archives or used for training."

Orkin says they've got enough Rangers to last them for now, and that the company will pick a successor when the time comes. For our part, it seems only fitting to us that a terminated model should be used by exterminators, but one way or another, at least the final Ranger will be put to good use.

Final Ford Ranger to be built mid-month, already sold to Orkin originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is what a Coyote 5.0L V8 looks like in a 2011 Ford Ranger

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Truck, Ford

Ford Coyote 5.0L V8-powered 2011 Ford Ranger - Click above for high-res image gallery

Well, this certainly sounds ~~dangerous~~ awesome. What you are looking at is a brand-new 5.0-liter Coyote V8 - you know, the one found in the Ford Mustang - shoehorned under the hood of a 2011 Ford Ranger pickup. Talk about a Danger Ranger.

This engine swap comes to us courtesy of S197Forum.com member John, who works for Blow By Racing in Delray Beach, Florida. John states that one of his customers brought in this 2011 Ranger and brought it to the shop for a serious power upgrade. As if the 5.0-liter V8 wasn't enough, this Ranger will also be fitted with a Kenne Bell Mammoth supercharger and a Tremec Magnum T-56 transmission to handle all of the extra grunt.

The finished product should be a total hoot to drive. Let's just hope the suspension (and brakes!) are getting a solid improvement, as well. Head over to S197Forum.com to see the build process.

This is what a Coyote 5.0L V8 looks like in a 2011 Ford Ranger originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. Ford Ranger production ending this December

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford

After nearly 30 years, it's finally time for the sun to set on the Ford Ranger. The folks at PickupTrucks.com report that the latest United Auto Workers 879 newsletter states that the Ranger will stop production on December 22, 2011. UAW 879 covers factory workers at Ford's Twin Cities assembly plant in Minnesota where the Ranger is built.

As of this writing, Ford has no plans to offer a replacement for the Ranger here in the United States. However, the automaker just released a larger, brand-new Ranger that will be available in other markets later this year. In the United States, Ford hopes that prospective Ranger customers will look to the entry-level Ford F-150 with its 3.7-liter V6 for pickup truck needs.

In speaking to Autoblog last year, Ford says that its research shows that the vast majority of Ranger customers don't even buy the vehicle because it's a pickup. Instead, these Rangers are sold because customers are looking for the least-expensive, most economical Ford vehicle available. Ford hopes that the Fiesta will fill this void for most people, as well as the Transit Connect, for those who need hauling capability.

U.S. Ford Ranger production ending this December originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: New Ford Ranger to spawn SUV variant

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Ford, Rumormill

2011 Ford Ranger - Click above for high-res image gallery

We already know we're not getting the all-new 2011 Ford Ranger pickup truck, while the rest of the world is. Now word on the ~~street~~ internet is that FoMoCo is planning on spawning an SUV variant based off the new Ranger's compact truck platform. With the Explorer going the I'm-just-a-car-under-here crossover route, a full-on body-on-frame SUV would be a welcome addition to the Ford lineup.

According to Ward's Auto, the new Ranger, internally known as project T6, was designed from the get-go to support a seven- or eight-passenger sport utility vehicle. The Ranger's growth spurt is the primary reason we are not gaining the new pickup truck in our market. The long-wheelbase dual-cab Ranger is nearly five inches longer than a single-cab Ford F-150. The two trucks are now too close in size, says Ford, and the departing version is on the outs because its ancient underpinnings are having increasing amounts of trouble meeting regulations, among other things.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Ranger

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Report: New Ford Ranger to spawn SUV variant originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All-new Ford Ranger debuts for the rest of the globe

Zach Bowman — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, Australia, Diesel, Off-Road

2011 Ford Ranger - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford has finally unveiled the not-for-U.S. 2011 Ranger. The company has just pulled the sheets back on its compact pickup at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, and there's no mistaking the newest Blue Oval for anything but a Ford. With its corporate three-bar nose and heavily arched fender openings, the Ranger borrows plenty of cues from the likes of the Edge, but throws in a payload capacity of around 3,300 pounds and engine options with up to 346 pound-feet of torque. The 2011 Ranger will debut in 180 markets with three cab choices, two-wheel and four-wheel drive options and two ride heights.

Under the hood, the most potent engine available will be a stout 3.2-liter Duratorq turbocharged five-cylinder diesel with 200 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of twist, though the company says that there will be a choice of a total of three powerplant options, including one gasoline mill. No matter what engine buyers choose, Ford is serving up six-speed manual and automatic transmissions to handle shifting detail. Hit the jump to check out the full press release for yourself, and no, North Americans, you still can't have one.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Ranger

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading All-new Ford Ranger debuts for the rest of the globe

All-new Ford Ranger debuts for the rest of the globe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S.-spec Ford Ranger to officially end production in 2011, Ford explains why

Zach Bowman — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Truck, Ford

If you live in the States, say goodbye to the Ford Ranger. The oft-neglected baby pickup from the Blue Oval is set to end production at its Twin Cities Assembly Plant in Minnesota next year, thereby kicking Dearborn out of the segment for the first time in nearly 30 years. The rest of the world won't be without a Ranger, though. Ford is set to pull the sheets back on the newest version of the global truck at the Australian International Motor Show next month, though released this intriguing teaser image in the meantime. It's bigger, slated for 180 markets spread all over the planet and it ain't for us. The question is: Why not?

In order to head that quandary off at the pass, Ford wanted to us in on its reasoning behind killing off the Ranger in the U.S. market. Derrick Kuzak, Ford's Vice President of Global Product Development, was kind enough to give us a few minutes out of his time to answer that question and more. Get the answers after the jump.

Continue reading U.S.-spec Ford Ranger to officially end production in 2011, Ford explains why

U.S.-spec Ford Ranger to officially end production in 2011, Ford explains why originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mulally unwittingly confirms next-gen Ford Ranger for U.S. market? [UPDATED]*

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Videos, Work, Ford

Alan Mulally on CNBC - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Our trusty spy photographers have captured the next-generation Ford Ranger out testing several times now, but speculation continues to swirl over whether or not this trucklet will be available for U.S. consumption. After all, there's been talk of a more entry-level F-150 that would sort of fill the void of not having a dedicated Ranger replacement, but Ford has never ruled out the possibility of an all-new small pickup.

While talking about the new 2011 Explorer on CNBC's Squawk Box this morning, Ford's president and CEO, Alan Mulally, appears to have unintentionally confirmed a new Ranger for North America. While discussing the whole lineup of Stateside Ford products, Mulally specifically says "new Ranger," which leads us to believe that all of these test mules we've seen might not just be for our overseas friends (something that we've been wondering about anyhow, as we've seen more Stateside evaluations of this 'overseas' truck than any other foreign market vehicle in recent memory). No, Mulally doesn't come right out and say that an all-new Ranger is headed our way, but we've continued to hear scuttlebutt about just such a truck from our sources, and given that his remarks were otherwise confined to North American products, we're beginning to think that a new Ranger is all but confirmed.

To see what we're on about, follow the jump to watch the CNBC interview, and pay close attention beginning around the five-minute mark for Mulally's Ranger remark. A big ol' tip of the cap to Dan!

*UPDATE: Ford continues to tell Autoblog that the new global Ranger is not planned for North America. As we've previously reported, the new F-150 will receive an EcoBoost powertrain that should deliver similar economy figures to the Ranger while providing improved size and capability, thereby negating the need for bringing a smaller pickup in this market.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Ford T6 Ranger

[Source: CNBC]

Continue reading Video: Mulally unwittingly confirms next-gen Ford Ranger for U.S. market? [*UPDATED]

Video: Mulally unwittingly confirms next-gen Ford Ranger for U.S. market? [*UPDATED] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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7 Million Ford Rangers can't be wrong?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford

2010 Ford Ranger - Click above for high-res image gallery

It may have taken 28 years to get here, but the Ford Ranger is ~~living~~ inanimate proof that determination eventually pays off. Or something like that. Automotive News reports (via PickupTrucks.com) that Ford built its 7 millionth Ranger last month at the assembly plant in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The Ranger has gone through a number of revisions, trim levels and price increases (thanks a lot, inflation!) on its way from being a $6,289 single-cab, 73-horsepower work truck to today's $17,820 143-hp pickup. As an interesting side point, the original Ranger weighed in at 2,532 pounds and could tow 3,300 pounds. Today, the 3,030-pound Ranger can tug a total of 5,860 pounds. Progress!

All good things must come to an end, though, as Ford has announced that it will cease production of the North American Ranger in 2011. The jury's still out on the current truck's replacement, though rumors swirl that a smaller version of the next F-150 called, imaginatively enough, the F-100 may be in the offing. What are the chances that truck will have a 30-year lifespan and 7,000,000-plus sales?

Gallery: 2010 Ford Ranger

[Source: Automotive News, PickupTrucks.com]

7 Million Ford Rangers can't be wrong? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Aussie-market 2012 Ford Ranger spotted?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Ford, Australia

As previously reported, Ford's Australian arm is currently developing a new global small truck platform that will underpin the next Ford Ranger here in the United States. Codenamed T6, the truck is likely to be offered in both standard and extended cab configurations and offer various gas and diesel powerplants depending on the country it's sold in.

An eagle-eyed spy shooter in Australia managed to snap off a series of photos of the T6 Ranger out and about in the land of Oz being tested in predictably camouflaged form. Although it may look like a mangled Mazda BT-50, those body panels have only been fitted to mask the pickup's true identity. Previous reports suggest that a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder powerplant with roughly 175 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque will be offered here in the States. Assuming the new truck does in fact make the trip to America, expect it to show up in 2012.

[Source: CarAdvice.com.au]

Spy Shots: Aussie-market 2012 Ford Ranger spotted? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Is this the next-generation Ford Ranger? And if so, will we get it?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Ford

Ford's recent strategy of combining all of its vehicles from around the world on a single set of platforms may finally bring a new Ranger small pickup truck to the United States once the current model loses its long-running lease on life after the 2011 model year. Spy shooters from the other side of the world have snapped off a series of photos of Ford engineers out testing what appears to be the Blue Oval's next-gen small truck platform in both right- and left-hand-drive configurations.

The new platform is apparently codenamed T6 and it is being developed in Australia. Here in the States, the next Ranger (if we get one) is likely to be offered with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine fortified with Ford's EcoBoost technology. Expect around 175 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque from the turbocharged and direct injected mill. Unfortunately, we're not likely to see Ford's 3.0-liter Duratorq TDCi four-cylinder turbodiesel engine in the U.S., though we'd love to have access to its 280 lb-ft of twist. Ah well, can't win 'em all.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Spy Shots: Is this the next-generation Ford Ranger? And if so, will we get it? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 May 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog

A sentimental goodbye to the last Ford Ranger

Final Ford Ranger to be built mid-month, already sold to Orkin

This is what a Coyote 5.0L V8 looks like in a 2011 Ford Ranger

U.S. Ford Ranger production ending this December

Report: New Ford Ranger to spawn SUV variant

All-new Ford Ranger debuts for the rest of the globe

U.S.-spec Ford Ranger to officially end production in 2011, Ford explains why

Video: Mulally unwittingly confirms next-gen Ford Ranger for U.S. market? [*UPDATED]

7 Million Ford Rangers can't be wrong?

Spy Shots: Aussie-market 2012 Ford Ranger spotted?

Spy Shots: Is this the next-generation Ford Ranger? And if so, will we get it?

Video: Mulally unwittingly confirms next-gen Ford Ranger for U.S. market? [UPDATED]*