New Ford Ranger Wildtrak brings ruggedness, tech together

Ford today unveiled the new Ranger Wildtrak, the most hardcore version of its premium pickup truck. And while its looks may scream “rugged” and “designed for traversing the wilderness”, it’s actually packed to the brim with tech.

Included as standard is the latest version of SYNC 2, Ford’s in-car connectivity system, which allows drivers to make voice commands to control the car’s climate controls, entertainment system and navigation system .

That’s not to say Ford’s neglected the outdoorsy stuff though. It claims that the Wildtrak, which has 230 mm of ground clearance, can wade through water up to 800 mm deep for instance. The 3.2-liter diesel it sports means it probably won’t be short on power as it does so.

Even there though, there’s some tech involved. An electronically controlled transfer case allows drivers in 4×4 models to shift on the fly from 4×2 to 4×4 high with a knob on the center console. Drivers can also apparently engage low-range 4×4 gearing, while an electronic locking rear differential helps to improve traction in difficult conditions.

An eight-inch touchscreen places more controls at the driver’s fingertips, with color-coded corners for easy menu navigation.

The new Ranger also features a 240-volt power socket that can be used to power a laptop or tablet computer anywhere, even far away from civilization.