Keen to take your Ford Ranger on an overlanding adventure? Well, the Blue Oval brand has previewed a new off-road package for the double-cab bakkie at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.
The kit was conceived by the Ford Performance division and is billed as a “first taste of what’s to come” for buyers in North America, though the accessories come from Australian off-roading experts, ARB.
“Ford customers love to personalise the performance and appearance of their vehicles, especially Mustang, Bronco and Ranger,” said Mark Wilson, Ford North America Vehicle Personalisation manager. “The Ford Performance parts packages we’re debuting combine the latest design trends with aftermarket accessories engineered to work with these vehicles out of the box.”
Known as the Ford Performance Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) offering, the package is described as a “turn-key solution” to transform the Ranger into an “even more highly capable off-roading vehicle”.
Targeting the overlanding space and available on 4×4 Ranger derivatives (featuring the XLT or Lariat trim levels offered in the US), the package includes an ARB-sourced overland suspension kit. ARB furthermore provides new front and rear bumpers with additional (red-painted) recovery points, while an onboard air compressor, a trio of SOLIS lights and a fridge/freezer combo are also available.
The vehicle on show at SEMA 2023 furthermore features a “Ford Performance” decal applied across the top of its windscreen, along with bold graphics (including the “ORV” logo) for the bonnet and above the rear wheel arches. All-terrain tyres have also been fitted.
For now, it seems this package will be limited to the North American market, applied to models manufactured at Ford’s Michigan assembly plant. However, there’s always a chance such a kit will spark similar action in other markets (it’s worth keeping in mind the automaker already offers various factory-backed ARB options Down Under).
For the record, the Silverton-built Ranger sold in South Africa is already available with an Off-Road Pack, but it’s relatively tame in comparison to this latest kit, comprising only steel underbody protection, 17-inch alloy wheels and all-terrain tyres. In addition, of course, the new Wildtrak X and Raptor cater to local off-road buyers.
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