Ford is giving us all an early look at the next Ranger pickup with this just-released video. Globally, the Ranger is a big deal for Ford as sales are big in places besides the US. In the UK, for instance, it has been the number one pickup sold for five years running. In Australia, it is the best-selling vehicle period. So outside of the US, it’s Ford’s F-150.

Yes, it is still partially hidden behind camouflage, but some features stand out. It’s more square-shouldered which makes it look heavier than the current Ranger. The grille is more upright and mimics its larger F-150 sibling. Headlights are now stacked LEDs. 

Ford’s next Ranger shares the Bronco’s body-on-frame platform

Shown in the video are both the extended- and crew-cab bodies. But we know there will also be a single-cab, too. Overall, it looks like a larger truck even though it maintains most of the current Ranger’s dimensions. It will share the Bronco’s T6 body-on-frame platform. 

Specifications and details are limited as of now. By sharing Bronco’s platform, that also means there will be a V6 option. So the base engine will be a hybrid 2.3-liter four-cylinder. 

Will the US finally get the Ranger Raptor?

The V6 is a turbocharged 2.7-liter engine. Should the Raptor version arrive here, and we think it will, that model will feature a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. Either a seven-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic will be the transmission choices. 

Overall, this next Ranger should be much improved over the current model that was released in 2012. Other automakers have stepped up their game, so there is a lot of new ground for Ford to cover. What the US got when the Ranger was introduced here was an eight-year-old design. 

Last year Ford sold over 100,000 Ranger pickups. So, while it doesn’t come near the F-150 in terms of numbers, it is still an important product in Ford’s truck arsenal. For the first quarter of 2021, it has sold over 65,000 Ranger trucks. So this year could be even bigger.

The video shows how rugged and capable the new pickup will be

But the point of the video isn’t to tease the design or features. It is to show how rugged terrain is no match for this all-new Ranger. The video touches all of the bases; churning over sand, snow, off-road trails, and rock crawling. It is definitely a capable truck.

The Ranger will also be the basis for Volkswagen’s Amarok pickup. It has been seen testing in and around Germany. The Amarok is now not expected to be sold in the US. It should feature unique sheet metal to distinguish it from Ford’s version. 

Pricing and when the new Ranger goes on sale has not been released. This video indicates its release isn’t too far off. We expect it late this year. Then it will go on sale in 2022, with deliveries happening in the first part of 2023. When that happens, MotorBiscuit will bring it to you.