Managing director Neale Hill says the creation and design of the new Ranger "involved an Australian-based, four-year development programme, involving almost 500 engineers from around the Ford world."
"It also involved exhaustive testing in some of the world's harshest operating environments. The result: capable, comfortable, powerful, fuel-efficient and with outstanding safety features. It has been designed, engineered and produced to be a leader in its segment."
New Zealand customers will select from three cab styles, body styles and drive configurations.
Three cab styles will be available: double cab (four doors), car-like comfort, seating for five people.
Super cab (two conventional doors; two rear panel doors): no B-pillar, giving easy access behind the front seats.
Single cab (two doors) on special order from early 2012.
Body styles: well side and cab-chassis.
A new 3.2 L Duratorq TDCi 5-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, with a maximum torque of 470 Nm and power rated at 147 kW, will power the line-up in New Zealand (a 2.2 litre Duratorq TDCi engine will be available from special order only, and only in the single cab 2WD XL cab-chassis model from early 2012).
For the first time, turbo-diesel Ranger models will be available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission to provide reduced engine rpm and extend driving range on long highway trips or in city traffic. And 2WD and 4WD in the Hi-Rider variant (low-rider variant only available from special order, and only in the single cab 2WD XL cab-chassis model from early 2012).
Convenient electronic shift "on-the-fly" (ESOF) is fitted to all 4WD models and allows the driver to move between high-range 2WD, high-range 4WD and low-range 4WD using only a centre console-mounted switch.
For maximum traction in off-road conditions, an electronic locking rear differential is fitted to all Wildtrak, XLT and XL 4WD models as standard equipment.
Safety features include dynamic stability control with roll-over mitigation, hill launch assist, traction control; load adaptive control; and trailer sway control; anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and emergency brake assist.
Driver and front passenger airbags, and front seat side airbags and curtain airbags, will be standard on all models.
Prices start at $34,690 for the single cab model.