Pick-up trucks were never more desirable, and no more so than the new Ford Ranger Thunder with its dramatic style and enhanced specification given to Europe’s No.1 best-seller utility cum leisure pursuits vehicle.
But eager customers have gotta be quick as the series production is limited to just 4,500 examples across Europe. With unique styling new Ranger Thunder adds exclusive interior and exterior design to the 2020 International Pick-up Award-winner as well as popular practical options as standard, to deliver SUV-like style and comfort alongside generous load carrying and towing capability.
Powered by Ford’s Bi-Turbo 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine offering 213 PS and 500 Nm of torque, Ranger Thunder also features as standard Ford’s highly impressive 10-speed automatic gearbox for smooth shifting and effortless performance on- and off-road.
Derived from the highly popular Ranger Wildtrak series, the Ranger Thunder combines high specification with optimised load hauling and tough four-wheel drive capability, according to Hans Schep, General Manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe, who said: “With an edgier look for customers who aren’t afraid to be noticed, the new Ranger Thunder will be an unmistakeable presence on or off the road. This capable, comfortable and stylish addition to Europe’s best-selling Pick-up range is as tough and versatile as it is charismatic.”
Ranger Thunder is offered in a single specification featuring eye-catching design details that highlight the model’s exclusivity. Finished in Sea Grey, the model adds exclusive 18-inch black alloy wheels and Ebony Black executions for the front grille, rear bumper, skid plates, fog light surrounds, load bay sports hoop and door handles. Bold red accents on the grille and sports hoop highlight the key details and are complemented by three-dimensional-effect “Thunder” badges for the driver and front passenger doors and tailgate, with the “Ranger” logo finished in matte black. The Ranger Thunder includes a load bay bedliner and Black Mountain Top powder-coated roller shutter – both popular options with Ranger customers. A practical new load bay divider is also featured for the first time.
The characterful interior delivers full Ebony leather seats with distinctive “Thunder” red embroidery and matching stitching across the steering wheel, seats, instrument panel and key touch points throughout the cabin. Black floor mats are also standard and contrast with bespoke red-illuminated sill plates.
Dunton Campus, the Ford of Britain headquarters in Essex, has now become the think-tank operation for Ford Europe’s Commercial Vehicle division. Here, the Special Vehicles Engineering team, along with a team of designers are working on two areas of potential growth for the business end of the brand. As leaders in various segments of the European light commercial vehicle marketplace, the projects underway to maintain its number one position include extending a broader range of conversion body variants together with the introduction of more utility-orientated and leisure pursuit type versions.
