All-new Ford Ranger

The all-new Ford Ranger has just been awarded five stars from Euro NCAP and is the first pick-up to receive this impressive safety rating. Euro NCAP is the largest and most respected independent authority on crash testing in Europe.

The new Ford Ranger pick-up scored 89 per cent overall, which is a pretty high score for any type of vehicle, and moreover the Ranger also scored the hughest rating ever, for any vehicle in the pedestrian protection category  scoring 81 per cent. The assessors at EuroNCAP described the Ranger’s results as “remarkable” with “impressive” scores in all areas.

The all-new Ford Ranger has a reinforced passenger cell that utilises high-strength steel throughout and this structure combined with the all-ladder frame, was optmised to manage the crash energy in a variety of simulated crashes and impacts. Side curtain airbags are standard on all Ranger cab styles and is designed to protect both rows of passengers in Double Cab or Super Cab models.

Other innovative safety features on the all-new Ford Ranger include Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Trailer Sway Control System, Hill Descent Control and Hill Launch Assist. The Ranger’s ESP system also includes “off-road” logic to recognise when the pick-up is being driven on rough roads, to ensure the best stability.

Ford Ranger

Ford is supplying the new Ford ranger pick-up as a support vehicle at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (from 3rd -5th July). The Ranger is built for the job, as this tough off-roader makes it the perfect choice for the team responsible for event support. The Ranger’s class leading 3,000kg braked trailer load capacity plus seating for up to five being particulary helpful to the event team.

Christopher Salmon, motor sports event manager for Goodwood, said “The Ranger’s towing capability, load space and real agility off-road make it the ideal choice for our location and set-up. It really makes a difference to the event team to have the right support vehicle at the Festival”. The event team will be using six Ford vehicles, including double cab and super cab Thunder derivatives, throughout the event.

MK1 Escort Mexico

Other vehicles on display from Ford will includes the iconic MK Ford Escort Mexico which won the 1970 London-Mexico rally (and winning the re-run in 1995) and the new Ford Focus RS. Hannu Mikkola will be driving the Escort on the Goodwood hillclimb, having been the triumphant driver on both previous occasions. The Ford ranger will go on sale in September 2009 and Ford contract hire prices are available now.

VW Amarok Pick-up

The new Volkswagen pick-up, which was showcased as a concept last year, is due to be launched in Europe in 2010 and will be called the Amarok. The new names translates into “wolf” in the language of the Inuit, one of the Eskimo people who live in Northern Canada and Greenland. In South America the name translates into “he loves stones”.

Developed from scratch, the new Volkwagen Amarok will be launched as a double cab pick-up with four-wheel drive, with a single-cab version being introduced later. Power will come from Volkswagen’s next generation of common rail turbo engines which claim to offer class leading fuel consumption and emissions.

Stephen Schaller, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said “This name fits the characteristics of our pick-up perfectly, which will set new standards in its class. We took great care selecting this name, which will be used globally and is meant to invoke positive associations in all the relevant international markets. The Amarok is a powerful and robust vehicle with great stamina, just like the wolf”.

Competition in the sector will come from the Mitsubishi L200, Toyota Hi-Lux, Isuzu Trooper, Nissan NP300 (and Navara) and the Ford Ranger.