Ford Pro, the company's commercial vehicle division, has unveiled the Ranger Platinum, a new high-end version of its popular pickup, due to arrive in Ireland late spring of 2023.
Whereas other versions of the Ranger have focused on performance or off-road capability, the emphasis with the Ranger Platinum is on on-road comfort with more in the way of interior tech and luxury and less of the rugged styling. The model will sit above the Ranger Wildtrak in Ford's line-up.
Differentiating the Platinum from its other Ranger siblings is the grille unique to the model and new 20-inch alloy wheels with high-gloss ebony detailing. There's also a soft-close tailgate, privacy glass and roof rails as standard.
Plush interior
Different though the Platinum is on the outside, it's on interior specification that it majors. The cabin, for instance, features 10-way adjustable, heated and cooled driver and passenger seats clad in perforated and quilted leather, setting off the open-grained dark maple wood.
While there's a 12.0-inch digital driver's instrument cluster, it's the 12.0-inch portrait-aspect screen in the middle that really stands out, running the latest version of Ford's Sync4 operating system. The Platinum gets an eight-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system and wireless phone charging as standard with the capacity too for over-the-air updates to improve the vehicle over time as required.
Brawny V6
Powering the Ranger Platinum is a Volkswagen 3.0-litre diesel V6, in use by Ford as part of a tie-up between the two companies - the same tie-up that has seen the Ranger and VW's Amarok share the same platform, powertrains and production facilities as well as a combined effort on the latest VW Caddy and Ford Transit/Tourneo Connect vans.
Developing 240hp and 600Nm of torque, the V6 engine in the Platinum still sends its power to all four wheels through a ten-speed automatic gearbox, with the engine mounts having been re-engineered in order to reduce noise and vibration and make the Platinum that bit more refined. That engine also offers ample performance and, despite the luxury touches, the Platinum is no less capable of towing a braked trailer or caravan of up to 3,500kg in weight than the rest of the range - or indeed of hauling a payload of just over a tonne in its flatbed.
The Ranger Platinum is on sale now and, although Irish pricing is still to be announced, considering its position in Ford's line-up, expect something somewhere around the €75,000 mark - a little less than the new Ranger Raptor. First deliveries are due in late spring of 2023.