Ford Ranger Wildtrak hits Australian showrooms

By Tim Beissmann
June 29th, 2012

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The Ford Ranger Wildtrak has finally landed in Australia nine months after the first examples of the Australian-designed and -engineered ute hit the market.

Originally scheduled to arrive no later than March, supply shortages caused by last year’s Thailand floods forced Ford Australia to delay the introduction of the flagship model.

Ford Australia general marketing manager David Katic confirmed supply of all variants is freeing up as the Ranger’s production plant in Rayong returns to full production.

“We’ve experienced unprecedented demand for the Wildtrak with the vehicles arriving now filling orders well into [the fourth quarter of] this year,” Katic said.

“The number of other Ranger variants arriving has nearly doubled since the beginning of the year so dealers are starting to get good stocks of all models.”

The launch of the well-equipped, sports-themed Wildtrak brings the number of variants in Ford’s Ranger line-up to 21.

At $57,390 for the six-speed manual and $59,390 for the six-speed automatic, the Ranger Wildtrak is $4000 more than the Ranger XLT.

The Wildtrak is distinguished by its unique front grille, sports bar and roof rails, exterior mirrors with puddle lamps, black tailgate handle, accented steel rear bumper, 18-inch alloy wheels and Wildtrak badging and graphics. The Wildtrak is also available in the exclusive Chilli Orange hero colour.

Inside, the Wildtrak gains a five-inch multi-function colour screen with satellite navigation and rear-view camera display, eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats and rear floor mats. The centre console gets a carbonfibre-look finish while the seat upholstery combines leather and cloth with contrasting orange stitching.

The Ranger Wildtrak is available exclusively with Ford’s 3.2-litre five-cylinder diesel engine, which produces 147kW of power (at 3000rpm) and 470Nm of torque (1500-2750rpm). The manual variant uses 9.4 litres of fuel per 100km while the auto is marginally thirstier at 9.6L/100km. Both have a braked towing capacity of 3350kg.

Supply shortages have meant the Ranger has made a slow start to sales in 2012. Sales of 4×2 variants are down 4.5 per cent compared with the same period in 2011, while the 4×4 is 26.8 per cent off last year’s pace.

With combined sales of 5245 between January and May, the Ranger sits fourth overall in the ute segment, trailing the Toyota HiLux (15,104), Nissan Navara (10,146) and the Mitsubishi Triton (7500), but remains clear of its sister car, the Mazda BT-50 (4734).

Read CarAdvice’s review of the Ford Ranger.

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Ben10

:O About time

Ill take four!
- Henry Toussaint
  
  This hit showrooms about a month ago…anyway this is my favorite ute on the market! Just it’s not my favorite price tag on the market (63k onroad!)
  - Sculldog76
    
    We paid 63k with 8k of extras…so happy when it arrives oct were told.
    - Henry Toussaint
      
      You’re luck, thats my post codes Drive away price :
    - Mark
      
      I ordered one in the UK in January,should be here at the end of the month,it is costing me;FORD RANGER Pick Up Double Cab Limited 3.2 TDCi 4WD – £22,278.63,plus
      Metallic – Moondust silver £400.00
      Satellite navigation system £750.00
      plus vat
Not a Fan

At last, a Ford I would be proud to own!
Andre

Just the ticket for over charging tradies who drive with one hand on the wheel and the other on their favourite tool ——
Darren

I have had one on order since April they can’t even give me a delivery time 2 month later. The dealer has told me jan/ feb next year. A mate just got his 2 weeks ago he ordered it in October last year. As much as it kills me to wait the product is just to good. Another friend has a XLT on order it is October deliver. I don’t know we’re you get the dealers have stock from. Come on ford produce more you have the sales. All they are doing is losing customers because or supply.
pixxxels

If I had any money, this is the vehicle I’d buy. Can’t wait to see them on the roads, I’ve been lusting after it for too long!
Zandit75

I seen a white Wildtrak on the road in Perth about 3 weeks ago, not sure if that was purely a demo model or not, but it certainly stood out on the road!
- Tickford Daniel
  
  Was
- Tickford Daniel
  
  Was this in the Guildford/Bayswater area? I also caught a glimpse of one too.
  - Zandit75
    
    I’m not familiar with Perth since it was my first time there, but it was in the facinity of Ardross on the Canning hwy.
    Was right after that storm on the Tuesday night that had everyone worried
James Cortez

Too expensive!!! That kind of money buys you the F-150 Raptor here with 6.2 l V8. Ford Australya rips you guys off.
- Guest
  
  Hi James, we have a beautiful health care system, beautiful education system and quality life. But unfortunately petrol is really expensive.. Even though F-150 Raptor sounds good, the average Joe will not be able to afford the running costs of it. Same goes with Merc and BMW’s or any prestige car brand. For example BMW M3 is over $165000 US here. You guys pay what around $85000.
  - Dudeface
    
    Don’t get me started. The M3 starts at $50K in the states. Simple fact is BMW/Merc/Audi make massive profit margins in Australia because the Aussie dollar got stronger, and they didn’t drop their prices.
    - Daniel Dacey
      
      Really its a case of while some Australians are stupid enough to pay those prices, BMW and Mercedes are happy to sell overpriced cars to stupid people. They are in the business of making money after all.
      
      Its not like you can blame them for taking advantage of the more affluent, but somewhat dim witted folk who yearn to impress everyone with their “paying my debt by the month” set of wheels.
      - Amlohac
        
        Our stupid tax system doesnt help car pricing either. Luxury car tax is a rort.
      - Dave S
        
        Sure we have a luxury car tax. One which would effect zero of the top 10 sellers and also effects our locally made cars. Lets not forget we pay almost zero tariffs on imported cars.
        
        Even with the luxury car tax, we probably pay less tax on imports than some other countries do on imports (ones which try to protect their manufacturing).
        
        i think there was a story recently suggesting that with our ‘free trade agreement’ If Ford wanted to export the Territory over there it would recieve a 40% tax.
  - James Cortez
    
    Hi Listen, use your brain airh*** we’re talking cars, we are car enthusiasts. Nothing to do with education, welfare and BS like that. The fact is: Australian buying public are fooled and ripped off by most german car manufacturers. Add to that government tax. Just returned from Thailand and for Aisan country, cars there are cheaper than australia!
    - Phil
      
      Ummm, Ford is not German. Also the Japs and Americans rip us off just as much:
      Chysler Voyager $29K ($21K for Dodge version) USA – $58K here
      Nissan 370Z $31K US - $68K here
      Lexus LS460 $68K USA – $186K here
      Jeep Grand Cherokee USA $27K, $45K here
      Dodge Journey USA $18K – $37K here
      
      From my observations the Germans have been dropping prices more than anyone else with VWs in particular being cheaper than ever, most Merc and BMW models are cheaper than they were a few years ago but on the whole no collective brands from any particular country of origin have dropped prices due to the strength of the dollar.
      - James Cortez
        
        Phil, I shouldl have clarified that most “prestige” brands are german. Yes everybody rips the Australian buying public. Not so much in the sub 20K (and in this category there are a few germans) but above that especially once you cross the 45 grand, german carmakers dominate.
      - Daniel Dacey
        
        Don’t buy the German brands then. I’m sure if enough buyers actually used common sense and refused to pay the prices they ask for in Australia, it would be suddenly found that they can bring them in cheaper.
        
        Really this is simply supply and demand. While plenty of folks are stupid enough to pay the current prices and make these companies a tidy profit, what incentive is there to go after the bottom end of the market?
        
        Buying a German brand car is not a necessity in life. Yes they do make some nice cars for driving enthusiasts, but that niche still not exclusively the German brands.
        
        Go contrary to the crowd. Buy a V8 Commodore and put up with being called a bogan at work. At least you will own the bloody thing and more in control of your debts, which is actually more important, then what the neighbours or your work colleagues think. You might even find it fun.
      - Phil
        
        Ummm Daniel……..When the V8 Commodore was on sale in the USA it was $29,310 – whilst at the same time in Australia, the equivalent spec was $47,290.
      - Phil
        
        Ummm Daniel……..When the V8 Commodore was on sale in the USA it was $29,310 – whilst at the same time in Australia, the equivalent spec was $47,290.
      - James Cortez
        
        Phil, Daniel,
        
        As i said before, a combination of buyers’s stupidity and….. Australian Government’s tax. Why would a V8 commodore sold downunder be much more expensive than its eqquivalent (Pontiac) in North America. Blame the Aust government for taxing you guys on cars —- too much tax.
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Karl-Sass/100000921334936 Karl Sass
        
        Phil, what happened to Pontiac when they tried to sell Commodores at those prices?
        While I’m not necessarily disagreeing with you, if Pontiac want to sell Commodores so cheap, it doesn’t mean that Australian consumers are being ripped off, rather US customers are getting a bargain. Dealers in Australia are far less competitive than they are state side.
        Also it’s not like Holden are making massive profits at the expense of the customer. This is a different case to some Euro brands that are simply milking people for all of their stupidity.
getadogupya

Is this thing really worth 4k over an XLT though?
- Jp
  
  Absolutely, add up the value of the extra kit alone such as rear view camera ( not even an option on xlt), part leather heated eight way power seats, sat nav etc. then u have all the different body kit and secure roller tonneau. I don’t have a drama with price on this, if anything I think it highlights that the xlt is overpriced.
  - Richo
    
    I agree with you, the $4000 is worth it and it’s not like you loose the $4000 any way as when you sell it you get most of that back. And it will be easier to sell compared to a lower level model.
- Farmaan
  
  yes
davo

Ford too expensive for a yuppie ute that will never get dirty….
- Richo
  
  Boring comment, repetitive. Is that best you can post?
  - davo
    
    Whats boring is the look of the new Ranger…..yawn…repetitive why dribble on about all its appointments over an XLT I would rather save my $$$ and by a ute that looks fresh and new like the BT-50…..
- John
  
  It is surprising that you have to pay luxury car tax on this ute. Ridiculous, fords price gouging on this product.
  - Amlohac
    
    Do you? Being a “comercial” vehicle? Becuase thats even more stupid.
    
    As i said before luxury car tax is a god damn rort.
    - Phil
      
      Some would say that spending so much money on a new car that it qualifys for the LCT is even more stupid.
      When the Government is looking for people to tax – the perfect person is one with money to burn and little regard for the rest of society.
- JDUB
  
  It’s hardly for yuppies, more like cashed up bogans !
  - http://ozmazda.com/ davo
    
    I’m a cashed up bogan (and proud of it) and I wouldn’t buy the boring looking thing….give me tyhe BT-50 any day…
http://www.facebook.com/people/Karl-Sass/100000921334936 Karl Sass

I’m surprised so many people like it, looks a bit too try hard. I’d go the XLT personally.
- Ali Farmaan
  
  u can’t be a try hard with a factory model
Richo

When quoting fuel use why not quote the urban and highway figures so people can judge what the vehicle might do in the type of driving they are doing.
Richo

I have an XLT and it’s a great ute, all the good stuff on it and drives good. The engine is better than a triton, hilux and rodeo but is no match for my mates Nissan STX 550 V6 diesel. if you want a diesel that is the best then the Nissan is the go, equipment wise it it doesn’t match but I think Nissan are looking into this.
birdie

good looking truck , but it needs the bold FORD lettering across the grille , like the raptor , to make it stand out from the lower spec models : )
- Amlohac
  
  I would have thought it being bright orange would have made it stand out enough!
Phunken

Don’t like any current Ford products BUT the Ranger is the hottest vehicle they have on range here. Love it.
- davo
  
  debatable…..
Hells_bells

I’d rather get a D-MAX.
- JDUB
  
  Same
- Ali Farmaan
  
  D-MAX looks ugly (new one) and also the colorado ..just my opinion
  - davo
    
    BT-50 for me…..same motor and gearbox as the boring looking Ford and its cheaper….and it looks better….
Colingarriock

Orderd wildtrak Sep 2011 Scotland £26,500 on the road but no one can tell me what month or year i will get it ford UK Cant tell there dealers any thing at all
Dan

Men WTF…. reading this dribble is painfall. If you got the money you buy what pleases you. I read from seppos who know it all and from Aussies that knock anyone that has the money to buy what they think is a good car. I have an M3 and am waiting on my wildtrack…. I do not feel badly for working my backside off and buying my choice of vehicles.

James Cortez – Stupitity is word you like to use to describe others. Obviously the vaccuum that sufficates Americans and leaves them oblivious to world opininion i.e. that the average yank is as dumb as a box of rocks.

They are half price in the US / EU because of the volume of sales and the fact that they earn half the money as what the average wage in OZ is. The market is set to the ability of the purchaser to pay…. its all relevant.

If you do not have the money, don’t waste it on vehicle you cannot afford, But do not make judgement primarily driven by jealously. Get over it and go for a drive….. and doesn’t matter what in.
Hayd

Well said Dan….
Jamie_h66

we live in thailand, and ordered our XLT manuel trans, doubble cab with a few little extas and we will pay after thai gov rebiat ($ 26,000 )=800,000 baht so yeah we’er happy;-)
Uncle.

Just priced the Top of range Wildtrack here in Dubai, UAE, AED, 109,000 when converted to Aussie is AUD$ 29,450, half of what they sell for in OZ, UAE market is minute compared to OZ, what is story in OZ, free trade agreement with Thailand and all, you are getting ripped of big time by someone over there, either government or the Car Manufacturers, its like everything elce there as well, its only when you go out in rest of the world you see how much we are getting ripped of for things.

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Ford Ranger Wildtrak hits Australian showrooms

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