It looks like a new variant of the Ford Ranger will be launching in Malaysia soon, based on a teaser photo on Ford Malaysia’s official Facebook page, which shows the light signature of the Ranger’s daytime running lights (DRLs).
The photo is accompanied by the caption “The Power To Thrill”, which, together with the orange graphic that appears to be a sound wave, hints at a powerful new powertrain. Looking at the global Ford Ranger lineup, there are two likely candidates: the Ford Ranger PHEV and the Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6.
The Ford Ranger PHEV is the first-ever plug-in hybrid variant of the pickup truck, which made its debut in the Australian market in 2024. It features a 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine making 187 hp and 411 Nm paired with a 102 hp (75 kW) electric motor. This results in a combined output of 281 hp (207 kW) and 697 Nm of torque, sent to a full-time four-wheel-drive (4WD) system via a 10-speed automatic modular hybrid transmission.
With its onboard 11.8 kWh battery pack, the Ford Ranger PHEV has a pure electric (EV) range of 49 km and is capable of a combined fuel economy of 2.9L/100 km. The system supports AC charging at 3.5 kW, which takes four hours to fully charge the battery.
RELATED: Ford pours USD5 billion to develop a new “revolutionary” platform for cheaper EVs
Aside from the seven standard drive modes, the Ranger PHEV also gains dedicated EV modes: Auto EV, EV Now, EV Later, and EV Charge. Depending on the variant, which are the PHEV XLT, PHEV Sport, PHEV Wildtrak, and PHEV Stromtrak, the payload capacity for the Ford Ranger PHEV ranges from 808 kg to 973 kg.
The Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6, on the other hand, is already available in neighbouring Thailand. There, the Wildtrak trim is offered with two engine choices: a standard 2.0-litre turbodiesel making 170 hp and 405 Nm and the more powerful 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6. Stepping up to the V6 variant significantly boosts the output to 250 hp and 600 Nm of torque, with power sent to the 4WD drivetrain via a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Currently, the Ford Ranger is available with three powertrain options in Malaysia. These are a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel making 170 hp and 405 Nm, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder bi-turbodiesel making 210 hp and 500 Nm, and the petrol 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 in the Ranger Raptor that makes 397 hp and 583 Nm.
It remains to be seen what Ford Malaysia has up its sleeves for the Ranger pickup. Whatever the final reveal is, we’ll be there on-site to cover the event, so stay tuned for our full launch coverage next week!
ALSO READ: The Ford Ranger Super Duty is here for hardcore work
