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Ford Ranger gets the Edge edition and a strong new V6 engine
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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SILVER CITY, Nev. -- A stretched motor coach loaded with tourists heading to the historic mining camp of Virginia City struggles through Nevada's thin-air altitude along the steep and winding route 341. It teeters around treacherous curves and slows to a crawl on uphill grades.
Choking on fumes, we trail the coach in a new Edge edition of Ford's compact Ranger pickup, dressed up for 2001 issues with a fresh face, revamped interior fittings and more optional accessories, including the muscular new V6 powertrain aboard our Ranger SuperCab 4x4.
The chance to get ahead of the bus comes on a long grade with the rare straight stretch bereft of the incessant double-yellow passing line. We check the mirrors, signal our intention, then crank the steering wheel to the left and stomp the throttle.
What happens next surprises even the driver because our Ranger virtually shoots around that bus, ignoring the grade, the altitude, even the truck's own hefty bulk of more than 3600 pounds.
Hold those horses: Ranger is enthused with so much power.
The optional new engine, a 4.0-liter single-cam V6 constructed in Germany by Ford, crowns Ranger's power chart and boosts the truck's trailer-towing ability. Compared to the previous top Ranger engine, this new plant muscles up 29 percent more horses for best-in-class performance of 207 hp. It charges off the line and rips to speed quickly for no-fear passing, while also producing strong torque for off-road work in the four-wheel-drive version.
Coupled to the big V6 is a heavy-duty five-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic lifted from Ford's Explorer that brings adaptive shift logic through sophisticated electronic controls. The automatic in effect adds another notch between first and second gears of a four-speed automatic. This creates more precise gear ratios and quicker response for accelerating, towing a trailer or, with four-wheel-drive traction, heading away from pavement into rough terrain.
Our Ranger also acts aggressively on sand and dirt when we tackle a tricky desert trace littered with rocks and -- to make it interesting -- several wheel-sucking pits of mud.
The truck's high stance keeps the undercarriage clear of ruts along the trail, as skid plates in the four-wheel-drive off-road package protect the transfer case and fuel tank.
And that new engine plows over all obstacles.
Ranger's part-time four-wheel drive system operates with no-brain convenience. The pulse vacuum hub-lock device sets front hubs automatically for quick shifting into four-wheel-drive mode. Then a rotary dial on the dashboard lets the driver switch from rear two-wheel to four-wheel high gear or further down to four-wheel low for those mud holes or climbing over rock piles -- and you can switch it while rolling, even at speed.
It's easy to detect new editions of Ranger because the truck reveals a revamped prow characterized by new dual reflector-type headlamps, and the hood bulges from a power dome bump as sides flare around the wheelwells. Ford's designers lifted some of the muscular styling features off the larger F-150 truck and set them on Ranger to beef up the package and streamline it.
As a result, Ranger's flanks show curving shoulders and flat vertical planes cut by several horizontal streaks and the wheel flares. A Styleside edition maintains the flat sides from front to back, but the Flareside notches a step into each side panel behind the cab and that indention shows off a rounded rear fender.
Then the sporty new trim -- Edge -- dresses Ranger in a monochromatic color scheme of red, white, blue, black, or blatant Chrome Yellow. Geared to active lifestyles, the Edge carries body-colored bumpers and the power dome hood, with two-wheel-drive versions standing as high as a four-wheel-drive Ranger since 4x4 suspension elements apply.
Walls of the truck bed, available in either six-foot or seven-foot box length, hold recesses and ledges to support cargo partitions that can divide a load, and all Rangers get a back step bumper located beneath the fold-down tailgate.
The Edge edition also caps the box rails with protective covers.
Several inventive new optional devices enhance functions of the truck box.
For one, a bed extender in U-shaped tubular steel flips around to the open tailgate as a brace for corralling long cargo items. Also, a hard two-flap box lid opens in front and rear sections sliced by a vertical partition, with a security lock installed on the forward bin.
Two cab sizes work for the new Ranger. A Regular Cab has a bench seat for three, but the SuperCab pushes the rear cabin wall back to carve out an interior storage area. Two side-facing jump seats may be added to the bay, as can a pair of rear-hinged doors to reach the rear quarters.
Ranger Edge gets a rubber floor for easy cleanup. The Edge bench seat divides in 60/40 sections, and a center armrest folds down.
Premium components come with the Edge, including air conditioning and an audio kit with in-dash CD deck.
Ford divides the Ranger into two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive models in three levels of trim with Regular Cab and SuperCab configurations and either the flat Styleside or indented Flareside fender design.
Entry point to the line starts at a Ranger XL Regular Cab Styleside edition with a six-foot box. Its base four-cylinder engine produces 119 hp and connects with a five-speed manual shifter in two-wheel-drive traction mode.
Options for the XL include the seven-foot box and larger SuperCab cabin, along with the four-wheel-drive system and a 3.0-liter V6 engine that delivers 150 hp.
Ranger Edge in monochromatic design and Styleside or Flareside shape for Regular Cab or SuperCab can carry either the 3.0-liter V6 or new 4.0-liter V6.
The top trim -- Ranger XLT -- brings all three engine choices, plus luxury items inside and touches of chrome outside on front bumpers and wheels.
For the four-wheel-drive Ranger, a special off-road package applies the skid plates, Bulge body shocks, five-spoke aluminum 16-inch wheels and all-terrain tires.
A broad range of prices works on Ford's new truck, starting around $12,000.
Base MSRP for Ranger Edge totals to $14,435 for the 3.0-liter V6 with Regular Cab Styleside design in two-wheel-drive, and extends to $23,940 for the SuperCab 4x4 Flareside 4x4 packing the 4.0-liter V6. Deluxe XLT runs from $13,950 to $24,070 or so.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2001 FORD RANGER Specs |
| Description: |
Compact pickup truck
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| Model Options: |
Compact pickup truck
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| Wheelbase: |
Reg. Cab 4x2: 111.6 inches
SuperCab 4x4: 125.9 inches
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| Overall Length: |
Reg. Cab 4x2: 187.5 inches
SuperCab 4x4: 201.7 inches
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| Engine Size: |
OHV 2.5-L I4
OHV 3.0-L V6
SOHC 4.0-L V6
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| Transmission: |
2.5-L: Manual/5
3.0-L: Manual/5, Auto/5
4.0-L: Manual/5, Auto/5
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| Drive: |
2WD rear, 4WD
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| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/EBD/ABS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front)
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| Gas Mileage: |
2.5-L M/5: 25.5/34.0 mpg
3.0-L A/5: 18.9/27.8 mpg
4.0-L A/5: 17.7/25.0 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 11,840 to $ 27,000 |
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