2012 Ford Ranger Engine and Undercarriage Spied

By Paul Maric | March 23rd, 2010

If it wasn’t enough that CarAdvice brought you exclusive scoop photos of the 2012 Ford Ranger ‘T6′ interior, the CarAdvice spies have provided us with exclusive scoop photos of the 2012 Ford Ranger ‘T6′ engine and undercarriage.

Speculation earlier last year suggested that Ford engineers would continue with independent front suspension, but it was unclear what they would do with the rear.

We can exclusively tell you the 2012 Ford Ranger ‘T6′ will feature independent double wishbone front suspension with coil springs, while the rear will use semi-elliptic leaf springs with dampers.

While the leaf spring rear suspension does nothing for ride and handling, it will help retain the Ranger’s impressive 3000kg towing capacity. Rear drum brakes also remain on the Ranger, it’s likely that rear disc brakes won’t make it to the production model.

Ford Australia has been awarded the job of developing and designing the 2012 Ford Ranger ‘T6′. Ford Motor Company of Australia representative, Sinead McAlary told CarAdvice:

Ford Australia announced in 2006 that it had won the work to be the lead design and engineering centre for the development of the T6 platform, off which the next generation Ranger comes from.

The first “top hat” from that platform is the next Ranger and FOA has led the design and engineering of that vehicle as well - right here in Melbourne and at our proving ground in Lara. We’ve also had significant input into the Mazda variant that comes off the same platform. It has been a major program of work for the company over the last number of years.

One of the key complaints issued with the outgoing Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 was the width of the vehicle. The B-series of utes that share the Ranger and BT-50 model designations were always limited to Japan’s 1.7m width limitations.

As you can see by these spy photos, the width has clearly increased. The increase in width suggests a vehicle that will compete squarely with the HiLux, Navara et al. in terms of size.

It’s clearly hard to see the exact shape of the 2012 Ford Ranger ‘T6′ body, courtesy of clever padding used to obscure the lines, but one thing’s for sure, it will have an Australian design influence. With regards to the markets that will receive the new Ranger, Ms. McAlary told CarAdvice:

…The next generation Ford Ranger is a global vehicle and will be sold in more than 100 countries worldwide, including Australia. The only ‘major’ market that won’t be receiving it at the moment is North America. It will definitely be sold here though.

Our sleuth spies have also snapped scoop photos of one of the engines to be used in the 2012 Ford Ranger ‘T6′.

Although speculation suggests that the 2012 Ford Ranger ‘T6′ will use a 1.6-litre variant of the new line of Ford global EcoBoost engines, we believe the Ranger will utilise the 2.0-litre variant of the EcoBoost engine. The upcoming Volkswagen Amorak will hit the ground running with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the 2012 Ford Ranger ‘T6′ is likely to be the same if it is to compete on level ground.

Pictured on this production prototype is Ford’s 3.2 litre Puma turbocharged diesel engine. It will replace the current 3.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine. The 3.2 litre Puma engine produces 150kW and an impressive 470Nm of torque. It can currently be found in the Ford Transit.

Insider sources also suggest two other engines will be available in the Ranger. A 2.2 litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine (also codenamed Puma) and a 2.5 litre Duratec petrol engine (identical to engine currently used in Mazda3) will also be available, in addition to the 2.0 litre EcoBoost engine mentioned above.

Transmissions expected to make it to launch are the MT75 (five-speed manual gearbox), MT82 (six-speed manual gearbox produced by Getrag) and the 6R80 (six-speed fuel efficient automatic gearbox).

Insider sources have also suggested that the Ford Ranger will be available with leather seats (optional) and a reversing camera.

The 2012 Ford Ranger ‘T6′ is shaping up to be an impressive commercial vehicle. We will keep you posted with all new details that come to hand.

Ford Australia announced in 2006 that it had won the work to be the lead design and engineering centre for the development of the T6 platform, off which the next generation Ranger comes from. The first “top hat” from that platform is the next Ranger and FOA has led the design and engineering of that vehicle as well - right here in Melbourne and at our proving ground in Lara. We’ve also had significant input into the Mazda variant that comes off the same platform. It has been a major program of work for the company over the last number of years.

Motojoe

I sincerely hope that Ford will also implant and offer, besides the minisize 2 Liter mosquito mickeymouse motor, a real engine of minimum 3.0 Litre
Please, FORD , dont make the same mistake as the VW, to implant an engine that only supplies full power if you put the pedal to the metal – exactly meaning that.
http://fiat bill

Let’s hope these scoop spy photos don’t affect FOA’s future design contracts.

o

nowhere near as bad as the leaks europe and the US have

http://Munrodu@yahoo.ca Dustin Munro

Ford should keep making it’s rear drive cars and use platforms already in use to improve safety,reduce production costs of vehicles already using the platforms,give customers more choice on vehicle selection,and improve fuel economy.Ford should not become HONDA USA or HONDA BLUE OVAL by getting rid of rear drive cars.Here is a copy of a letter I emailed Ford:

Idea Title: Body On Frame And Unibody Global Rear Drive

I reccomend making a 2011 Ranger with Mustang engines for better fuel economy and using the next Ranger platform as midsize global rear drive.Use the F-150 platform for full size body on frame global rear drive same way Taurus platform is used for other fwd vehicles.

Make a 2011 model Ranger Pickup truck by retrofitting the 2010 model with the 3.7 litre 305 hp Mustang engine and for the base model-either the 4 cylinder being developed for the Mustang or a “coyote Jr.”A four cylinder version of the coyote v8.Thast would improve fuel economy,power,and reduce production cost over the current model.Then buiild the 2012 model globally as planned and including in the United States.Use that platform for Midsize Global Rear Drive (with optional 4wd)vehicles including cars like the Falcon in Australia-all of them either unibody like the compact Mustang and the Falcon currently are or all on body on frame(which ever is better).Ford should also use that platform to ressurect the Thunderbird and Continental in the United States.The unibody Honda Ridgeline can tow 5000 lbs.
For a full size Global Rear Drive Platform (and optional 4wd),use the F-150 pickup platform for full size cars and vans like the Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis /Town Car,Econoline Van,Full size Falcon,possibly a ressurected Scorpio in Europe etc.Full size vehicles should be Body On Frame for major towing capacity and the F-150 now meets the same safety ratings as the 2wd Taurus.All rear drive cars should have front wheels in front of engine to have at least 50% weight at the back for great winter traction.

AB

Mate forget any ideas you have of any Sedan using a Body on Frame construction. There is no way the F-150 will ever share its underpinnings with a new car, neither would anyone want it to
Aquahead

Don’t think that your idea will get much traction mate, sorry….

About as good as it will get will be the Ranger will sporn the Everest/Endeavour wagon version. If we’re really lucky, Ford will bite the bullett and develop either independant rear suspension or a coil/multilink set up such as Nissan and Mitsubisihi have down with the Navara/Pathfinder & Triton/Challenger.

Lukearama

god help us. Ford can’t build IRS and if you sell one with this towing capacity very dumb peson with 3000kg to tow will buy one. God help the tyre services who sell them tyres…

http://Munrodu@yahoo.ca Dustin Munro

In North America,Ford currently makes the full size Crown Victoria along with the Grand Marquis and Town Car as body on frame.Ford uses the front drive Taurus to make the Flex minivan and the Focus platform for the Transit minivan so using the F-150 platform for full size rear drive would not be hard to do because the base model F-150 pickup truck is only 1 inch longer than the 3 full size cars.The current base model Ranger is lighter than the 3401 lb base model Mustang.I looked up the Falcon regarding the towing capacity and it is 2300 kg 5000lbs with it’s unibody design while the Ranger can do 5600 lbs with it’s body on frame.Ford should make a new generation unibody “Falconranger”a unibody ranger on a new generation Falcon platform which may use a stretched version of the Mustang platform.Maybe Ford could raise the towing capacity of the unibody Falcon to 6000 lbs which is to my understanding what the 2012 Ranger will be.A new generation Ranger or Falconranger should be Unibody like the current Mustang and Falcon and share the same platform-shrunk for compact vehicles,shared with midsized unibody vehicles and stretched for fullsize unibody vehicles like the full size falcon.Since Ford shares it’s front drive car platforms with it’s minivans,there is no reason they cannot make a midsize unibody Mustang-Falcon based pickup truck and share it’s F-150 platform for a new ‘panther’platform for it’s North American bof full size rear drive cars.
For example,lets compare the wheelbase,length,and weight of the current Crown Victoria with base model F-150 and Ranger pickup trucks and the weight of the top line versions.
Crown Victoria F-150 Ranger

Wheelbase 114.7 in 125.8 111.5

Length 212.0 in 213 189.4

weight (lbs) 4,118 4693 3012
(top line)Town Car 4359 5,744? 3672
DEON

You say that the engine in the pics is the 3.2l 5sil diesel engine, doesnt look like one!
christiaan cronje

Ja thats a 4 cylinder engine. I am still concerned about the cost of these new pickups. Got a ford supercab 4×4 with the old 2.5 tdi and a Mazda singlecab 2×4 with the 2.5 tdi. Both are fitted with upgraded turbo, intercooler, exhaust. Just small changes that got them putting out 110KW and 320NM.These pickups get driven hard and they dont quit. Now if the engine goes I can Replace it for about 16000 SA Rand. My question is… Do you really need all this hightech mambojumbo in a 3rdworld country?
http://yahoo.com rudy of manila

Lets wait and see till hit the market.its a new generation of 4×4 .yes we need more power of ford. here in my place we demand power and speed good ground clearance reliable transfer case.and good gear transmission..previous edition of ford ranger ,sad to say unreliable transmission cannot sustain rpm in sudden release of gas pedal.not so strong in rough and hill climb terrain. with this new generation of ranger i hope for the best and excited to own one…