When you think of pick-up trucks, you’d usually associate it with the wilderness (or road bullies in recent years), and probably not the racetrack – well, that is unless you live in Thailand, where they actually race pick-up trucks on the circuit.
And it’s not just some niche racing series either; the pick-up races are such a big deal in Thailand that Ford’s local arm in the Land of Smiles is now bringing the racing-inspired styling to the streets, with the new Ranger XL Street Special Edition.
Made to celebrate the carmaker’s 25th anniversary in Thailand, the Street Special Edition gets a new set of racing-inspired bodykit, which includes bumper extensions, side skirts, and a small ducktail-style spoiler on the tailgate.
Completing the exterior modifications are the blacked-out door handles, side mirrors, 16-inch wheels, the Ranger Raptor-inspired grille with large ‘FORD’ script, and of course, no racing-inspired model is complete without racing stripes decals.
Just like a proper race car, the interior of the Ford Ranger XL Street is also relatively simple (i.e. standard). Everything is bone stock from the regular Ford Ranger XL in Thailand, including the black fabric upholstery on the manually-adjusted seats, analogue instrument cluster, and manual climate control.
It does still have some creature comfort niceties though, such as the eight-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and USB charging ports. And in true race car fashion, it’s also only available with a manual transmission (see that, Toyota?).
Powering the Ford Ranger XL Street Special Edition is the standard 2.2-litre Duratorq four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, which makes 160 hp and 385 Nm. There aren’t any advanced driver assistance thingymajigs on the racing-inspired truck, though ABS, EBD, and two airbags are standard-fit items.
All pick-up trucks should come with this amazing standard item offered in the Philippines!
The special-edition truck is priced at THB682,000 (~ RM 89k), which is THB13,000(~RM1.7k) more than the regular XL. Only 300 units will ever be made, and it’ll only be available with either a Lightning Blue or Absolute Black exterior colour.
GALLERY
