Ford to Unveil a "Groundbreaking New Vehicle" Along with European Premieres at Geneva Show

As we're nearing closer to the 2011 Geneva Salon, automakers are providing us with more details about their plans. Today, Ford announced that it will display a number of new production and concept cars including what the company simply described as a "groundbreaking new vehicle" without getting into any specifics.

“Ford of Europe Chairman and CEO Stephen T. Odell will unveil a groundbreaking new vehicle during a Ford news conference at 14:30 on March 1 at the Ford stand,” the company said in a statement.

What Ford did reveal is that it plans to showcase an all-new version of the 2011 Ranger pickup-truck called Wildtrak, the Vertrek SUV concept that hints at the next-generation Kuga, the Fiesta RS WRC, the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid that will be joined by a C-MAX HEV when they both go on sale in Europe in 2013, and a conceptual all-electric version of the Transit Connect.

Furthermore, the company will display its latest powertrain enhancements including a new 114g/km CO2 Mondeo ECOnetic that combines 115HP 1.6-liter turbo diesel with start-stop technology, as well as the new Ka Metal created through Ford’s Individual programme.

“Today Ford has its strongest product line-up ever and we’ve got an aggressive plan to keep our vehicle portfolio the freshest in the industry," said Odell. “We have at least 20 new models and derivatives coming across our entire European range – from small cars to commercial vehicles – and at Geneva we will be introducing some of these.

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2009 Ford Ranger

Like the leftovers in most bachelors' refrigerators, the 2009 Ford Ranger is past its expiration date. While other compact pickups have grown bigger, more refined and more powerful, the Ranger is still acting like it's 1995. As such, in this age where folks also use pickups as daily drivers and even family vehicles, the hard-working Ranger comes up short in the areas of driving dynamics and passenger room and comfort.

But if you're among the relative few looking for either a stout, economical work truck or a nimble and capable off-roader for weekend adventures, the Ford Ranger certainly has its charms. An available segment-exclusive 7-foot bed allows a lot of stuff to be hauled to work sites, while the Ranger's relatively small size and rugged underpinnings make it ideal for trail-bashing.

As an everyday driver, though, the Ranger doesn't make much of a case for itself. Its more modern rivals offer more powerful engines and larger crew-cab body styles. The latter is key for those who regularly carry backseat passengers, as a crew cab provides a conventional bench seat back there with nearly sedanlike comfort. The Ranger only offers the option of an extended cab with inward-facing jump seats -- cute but they're not safe and not ideal for seating anyone except children for short trips. And sadly, the Ranger also falls behind in terms of safety features and interior design. Stability control and side curtain airbags are not available, while the cabin, though functional, is dated.

So unless you're a hard-core off-roader or a business owner in need of a basic workhorse, there's little reason to consider the 2009 Ford Ranger. Trucks like the Dodge Dakota, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma are easier and more comfortable to drive on pavement, and all offer roomier cabs with more convenience and safety features.

The XL is sparsely equipped with 15-inch steel wheels, a 60/40 front bench seat (vinyl with regular cab, cloth with SuperCab) and an AM/FM stereo. The XLT adds chrome exterior trim, air-conditioning, a CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary audio jack. These items are optional on the XL. The Sport is similarly equipped but adds unique styling elements (such as a color-keyed grille surround and bumpers), a Class III trailer hitch, satellite radio and different wheels. The FX4 Off-Road adds two-tone paint, 16-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, heavy-duty shocks, a limited-slip rear axle, skid plates, full power accessories, keyless entry, bucket seats with a center console, a leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel and cruise control.

© Source: edmunds
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Thai-market 2010 Ford Ranger MAX - spied

A cunning photographer has grabbed some shots of what appears to be production versions of the Thailand-bound Ford Ranger Max. While hardware and interior information are scarce at this point, it's clear that some of the details have been toned down from what was shown on the concept (namely the notches on the fender flares and the hood intakes).

That said, the production compact pickup remains essentially true to what we saw at last Fall's Thailand Motor Expo, giving it a bed-load of personality.

© Source: autoblog
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