New photos of left-hand-drive Ford Ranger mules reveal a bit more about the next-generation global small truck. The regular- and crew-cab versions appear to share a common wheelbase, though the lumpy sheetmetal is strictly a placeholder for the body-on-frame cab and cargo box we've yet to see. Overall, the future Ranger, expected by 2012, appears a bit larger than the current Ranger sold in the U.S., which isn't available in a four-door crew-cab configuration. The new pickup likely means all Ford Ranger models will be built on a single global platform, codenamed T6, that's being designed in Australia. The current U.S.-built and overseas Ford Ranger models share only the name. An industry source says for the U.S., the T6 Ranger will likely be powered by a new 1.6-liter four-cylinder direct-injection turbo EcoBoost engine producing at least 175 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque.
Check out the 2009 September/October Issue of Truck Trend Magazine to see the full photos of the 2012 Ford Ranger!