Ford Australia has confirmed it has no plans to sell the closest thing yet to a modern, low-slung successor of the Falcon performance ute – the Ranger MS-RT.
Revealed in Europe last week, the Ranger MS-RT is mostly a cosmetic exercise, a road-focused version of Ford’s best-selling dual-cab ute developed by World Rally Championship-winning outfit, the UK-based M-Sport. MS-RT stands for M-Sport Road Technology.
With its pumped wheel arches, bespoke front bumper with jutting splitter, side skirts, rear ducktail and cab spoiler, the MS-RT is 82mm wider than a standard Ranger. Ford Europe calls it “the ultimate street truck”.
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There are 21.0-inch wheels and 275-section tyres as standard, while late this year M-Sport will offer optional sports lowering suspension that drops the Ranger MS-RT a further 40mm.
Under the bonnet, while there’s no Ranger Raptor, 292kW petrol 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, the Ranger MS-RT still boasts a meaty 177kW and 600Nm from its turbodiesel 3.0-litre V6. The Ranger’s 10-speed auto is the only transmission option, while all-wheel-drive continues to be equipped.
Inside, there’s a blue 12-o-clock marker on the steering wheel, while there are MS-RT-branded sports seats and floor mats. There’s even an optional “rally-inspired decal pack”.
Crucially for many ute owners, M-Sport has preserved the Ranger’s 3.5-tonne maximum braked towing capacity and one-tonne payload.
M-Sport describes the Ranger MS-RT as having “dynamic handling” and that it “brings motorsport inspiration to life”.
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Before you get your wallet out, however, Ford Australia said the Ranger MS-RT is not in its local pipeline – yet, at least.
“We have no news to share on any plans to bring the Ranger MS-RT to Australia,” a Ford Australia spokesperson told Torquecafe.
Designed and engineered in Australia, the Ranger is sold in markets around the world including New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and South Africa. It is manufactured in numerous plants across the globe including Thailand, the US and South Africa.
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The Ranger MS-RT will be sold alongside the Ranger Raptor in Europe, available to order now with first deliveries mid-year. Pricing has not been released, but an MS-RT version of the last-generation Ranger cost below £50K (A$96K).
M-Sport also unveiled a Transit and e-Transit MS-RTs with similar heavy cosmetic enhancements, intended only for Europe.
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