Ford Pro has unveiled the Ranger Platinum, a new, more luxurious version of its one-tonne pickup pitched a level above the Ranger Wildtrak in Ford’s line-up.
While the new Ranger wasn’t exactly spartan to begin with, the Platinum adds plenty in the way of luxury touches, such as interior leather and more tech, with power coming from the top-of-the-line 3.0-litre V6 diesel.
Torquey diesel
That powertrain produces 240hp and 600Nm of torque, which goes to all four wheels via a ten-speed automatic gearbox. While some drivers may be slightly more reluctant to drive flat out around a quarry because of its more civilised temperament, the Platinum has lost none of the Ranger’s key capabilities. The ability to tow a braked trailer or caravan of up to 3,500kg or haul just over a tonne in its well-thought-out flatbed are positives. That load bed will happily accommodate a sheet of plywood or a Euro-pallet and features extra tie-down points for securing loads and a plastic moulded bed-liner.
The engine mounts have been re-engineered to ensure a greater level of smoothness, refinement and insulation in the cabin.
While the Platinum features a few exterior touches setting it apart from its siblings — notably a unique grille and 20-inch alloy wheels — the plusher aspects of the interior are something of a bigger deal.
Tons of tech
The heated and cooled 10-way adjustable driver and passenger seats are trimmed in quilted and perforated leather, while ahead of the driver sits a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster (a little smaller than the 12.4-inch unit in the Ranger Raptor) and a portrait-aspect infotainment screen in the same size. That infotainment screen runs the latest version of Ford’s Sync4A operating system, allowing for over-the-air updates. There’s wireless phone charging and an eight-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system as standard.
Some of the standard driver assistance and safety features on the Platinum above and beyond Ranger Wildtrak models include Active Park Assist (which essentially lets the vehicle park itself) and a 360-degree camera system.
Ranger Platinum pricing
Production of the Ranger Platinum is due to begin in March 2023, with the first deliveries expected to come in late Spring. Pricing has yet to be confirmed, but considering its position in the Ranger line-up between the Wildtrak and Raptor, perhaps expect a starting price somewhere in the region of €70,000 to €75,000.