Ford is attempting to stake a claim in the Australian mining industry with a debut at the Mining and Engineering Expo in Western Australia next week.
From May 6-8 Ford will be debut the new Ranger 4×4 XL, with a range of features that could prove to be attractive to the safety-oriented mining culture.
Ford has said that the Ranger 4×4 XL has been “designed to suit the needs of mining industries across Australia”, developed to fulfil customer demand for a light commercial vehicle that has added functionality in harsh work environments.
With the new Ford Ranger fulfilling 5-star ANCAP safety rating requirements for new vehicle purchases by large fleet companies, there are a range of factory features fitted to the donor XL model to better meet the needs of mining customers, and is designed to make the installation of commercial equipment simpler and more integrated for efficient transition from delivery to operation.
The Ranger 4×4 XL Plus has a range of tailored features including 17-inch Steel Wheels with All Terrain Tyres for challenging terrain.
Heavy duty canvas seat covers come standard to protect seats from mud and dirt while ensuring the seat mounted thorax airbags remain unobstructed.
The provision of an expanded wiring harness includes additional pre-wired electrical circuits and an auxiliary switch bezel, which facilitates the easy installation of electrical equipment such as light bars, driving lights and radios.
The Ranger also comes with a second, 80 amp hour deep cycle battery with battery isolator, to provide power for auxiliary equipment while ensuring the main battery is not depleted.
The Ranger’s steel bull bar also incorporates mountings designed specifically for driving lights, antennas and flags.
The Ranger 4×4 XL has a 3.2 litre turbo diesel engine and automatic transmission, locking rear diff and 3.5 tonne towbar, with prices ranging from $46,280 to $52,760.