Ford RANGER WILDTRAK SPECIAL EDITION PICK-UP
If youre one of these lunatics who enjoy travelling out into the back of beyond in order to risk life and limb by participating in some absurdly dangerous adventure sport, Ford have thoughtfully created a vehicle just for you. At first glance, it looks like theyre limiting their market a bit here. Just how many of these death-defying individuals are there in the UK? Arent us Brits supposed to prefer a cup of tea and a nice sit down to plunging off a cliff with an elastic ban tied loosely round our ankles? As with so much in the modern motor industry, its all smoke and mirrors stuff. By telling us that the Ford Ranger Wildtrak is aimed at trendy adventurous types like mountain bikers, snowboarders and jet skiers, the Blue Oval marketeers instantly arouse the interest of individuals who have no intention of ever undertaking any of the above but would like other people to think that they do.
The Ford Ranger Wildtrak is a special edition version of the standard Ford Ranger that, as is special edition tradition, offers lots of equipment and styling accessories for an attractively low price. Fords promotional blurb on the vehicle tells us that: "the Ranger Wildtrak is the ideal vehicle to transport the active sportsperson to the most extreme terrain, anywhere in the world". Whether its true in Venezuela or Papua New Guinea is difficult to ascertain but, if the marketing men are to believed, over here its virtually a given that all active sportspersons drive around in special edition pick-up trucks. The reality is a little different because the relative success of these vehicles in recent years has more to do with the pick-ups commercial vehicle tax classification than any growth in sports apparently designed to put the participant directly in harms way. Most of the people you see driving these vehicles arent bleach blonde surf bums but builders, plumbers or other self-employed business people.
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"The Ranger now needs to fight its corner on grounds of equipment and value for money"
So to the Ranger Wildtrak itself. The vehicle is offered in an exclusive two-tone red metallic colour scheme and most people will probably select that, instead of the five other paint options available on the standard Ranger. You can tell its a Wildtrack and not some other special edition Ford Ranger (there are a few of them) by its special aluminium sports bar which curves round the back of the cab, down the sides and partway along the loadbay lip. Oh yes, and the word Wildtrak is written in big letters on each flank just behind the front wheelarches.
The remainder of the styling features run to roof bars to help in attaching cargo that you cant get in the load area, side steps, five-spoke alloy wheels and colour-coded door handle protectors. Wander round the back to the Wildtraks loadbay and youll find that Ford have thoughtfully fitted a lockable roll n lock Mountain Top cover. A perennial problem with the pick-up truck is the absence of any secure storage space for tools and other expensive equipment. You can put them in the cab but they probably wont do your seat fabric any favours and the leather in the Wildtrak would soon stop looking its best after such treatment.
The Mountain Top load cover simply solves this problem. Its basically a metal roller blind that can be extended to form a secure cover over whatevers in the vehicles load area or retracted when you need to carry larger items in the back. Inside the Wildtrak, there are more features that you wouldnt expect to find on a commercial vehicle. This pick-up has the claim to fame of being the first UK market Ford model to be launched with an MP3-compatible DAB digital radio included as standard.
It also features two-tone leather seats, air-conditioning, ABS brakes and a drivers airbag. The Ranger itself isnt the newest of pick-up products and, despite all the equipment on the Wildtrak, the cabin is showing its age a little. It is quite spacious inside, however, and the driving position is much more laid-back than you would imagine given the vehicles lofty ride height. The Wildtrak, like all 4x4 Ford Rangers, is powered by a 2.
5-litre 12-valve Duratorq turbo diesel engine tuned to generate 107bhp. The Duratorq set-up is a little raucous but powerful with good low-end torque similar, in other words, to the diesel powerplants that youll find in most UK market pick-ups. The 4x4 transmission system also follows a familiar formula. The driver can select three modes, rear-wheel drive, 4x4 and a special low range 4x4 for serious offroad obstacles.
To aid rear-wheel traction on treacherous surfaces, theres a limited slip differential as standard. The Ranger performs well in the rough with its proven mechanical set-up and chassis. Where Ford have taken a distinct step forward is in terms of the comfort and handling in the latest version of the Ranger. The on-road ride of pick-ups generally leaves something to be desired - especially when unladen - and even though the Ranger still maintains this rather bouncy tradition, it subscribes to a less extreme form.
Both front and rear dampers have been tinkered with, making journeys over rough road surfaces noticeably more sedate. In addition, driver-friendly alterations to the power steering and gearbox make pottering about town less of a chore. That the Wildtrak came on the UK pick-up scene when it did is no coincidence. Weve seen a succession on vastly improved new products launched by rival marques and well be seeing more in the not too distant future.
Fords Ranger was competitive against the old pick-up guard but this new breed have taken things to the next level. The Ranger now needs to fight its corner on grounds of equipment and value for money, hence this generously specified, tightly priced Wildtrak model. It certainly looks the part, the £19,100 OTR list price seems generous and the Rangers proven mechanicals should stand up to all the rough treatment you can dish out.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
PICK-UP: Ford Ranger Wildtrak Pick-Up
PRICE: £19,100 (OTR) TOWING CAPACITY: [Braked] 2,800kg GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: 2,845kg.
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver and passenger airbags, anti-submarine front seats, collapsible steering column, safety belt grabbers.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height (mm) 5012/1740/1740
