Sleek New Ford Ranger able to tough it out

Sleek New Ford Ranger able to tough it out

Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Sukabumi, West Java

The moderator looked ahead and asked, "Any questions".

None of the journalists, gathered at the Lido Lakes hotel in
Sukabumi, West Java, on Tuesday, raised their hands. The more
impatient among them shouted, "Let's just try the car".

Within seconds, they were lined up front of the hotel and
ready to take a seat in the New Ford Ranger.

The former model -- with a 2.9lt engine and four-wheel drive
(4x4) line-up -- has been superseded by the new version boasting
a 2.5lt engine and 4x2 line-up.

We drove the car from the hotel to its ATV (All Terrain
Vehicle) track, about eight kilometers away. Traversing the
narrow, muddy and bumpy track beside cassava and banana fields,
the new 4x2 Ranger earned its nickname of "the little truck".

Even with smaller engine capacity of 2,499cc, the vehicle
still had the strength -- with maximum power of 90 Horse Power
(HP) at 4,100 rotations per minute (rpm) -- to overcome the tough
terrain.

There are now eight variants available on the market -- the
single cabin 2.9lt 4x4, double cabin 2.5lt 4x4 XLT, the Hurricane
4x4, double cabin 4x4 limited, double cabin 2.9lt 4x4, double
cabin 4x2, Rear Access System (RAS) cabin 2.9lt 4x2 and single
cabin 2.5lt 4x2.

PT Ford Motor Indonesia is optimistic of its capacity "to
challenge the potential opportunity in the one-ton pick-up
truck", said the company's general marketing manager, Bagus
Susanto.

Among the different variants, the RAS, commonly known as the
one-and-a-half cabin, is likely to grab most of the attention
from customers.

"The area behind the seats can be opened up to load stuff that
you don't want to put in the back," Bambang said.

Unlike the double cabin, the RAS has steel plating on its
rooof and no fixed b-pillar, giving it 30 percent greater
strength in its body structure.

Although the New Ranger is designed as a fresher, more
attractive model, theree is no compromising on its hardy
qualities. The grill and the headlights are bigger than the old
version, and the integrated bumper does away with that heavy
truck look.

Since the car's launching over a year ago, the company has
sold over 1,331 units, almost double its target of 700, mostly to
mining, oil and timber companies in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Nusa
Tenggara.

"We are confident that with these new models, we can widen our
range of offerings that fit the needs of both commercial users
and city dwellers," said Will Angove, the company's president
director.

Although it sets no target for the New Ranger, Ford aims to
take over the market leader position from Daihatsu Hi-Line in the
4x4 line-up and Toyota Kijang in the 4x2 line-up.

"Our 4x2 Ranger is aimed at people who have businesses and
need a transportation device to load their goods, but at the same
time can use the car for personal purposes," Bagus said.

More adventurous customers may want to personalize their cars.

"Therefore, we also provide accessories for those who want
their car to look more luxurious or macho," said Bambang
Priandoyo, the company's product planning and pricing analyst.

Accessories for the Hurricane and double cabin 4x4 limited
include leather seats, leather shift knob and steering wheel,
footsteps, two-tone color and CD changer. Both variants are also
equipped with SRS airbags for the driver and passenger.

The New Ranger is offered from Rp 99 million (US$12,118) for
the single cabin 2.5lt 4x2 model -- the price is only valid until
July 31 -- to Rp 237.3 million for the double cabin 2.5lt 4x4
Hurricane model.

Since the main market is outside Java, the company said it is
looking to open more dealerships in Pekanbaru, Palembang,
Balikpapan, Makassar and Denpasar, as well as Surabaya and
Semarang in Java, this year to provide comprehensive after-sales
service.