The next-generation Ford Ranger is an exciting new truck, and while it has seen a few delays at the start of its production life, Ford is still hard at work, and it looks like they have an idea planned for the new mid-sized truck. On June 3, CarExpert captured images of a longer version of the Ford Ranger parked at an IKEA in Melbourne, Australia, along with appears to be a Pro Power Onboard system.
Long Bed Ford Ranger Prototype: Details
The dimensions of the cabin seem normal, though the Ford Ranger prototype is left-hand drive and features a longer bed than what’s found on the regular double-cab truck with extra space between the rear door and rear wheel. The exhaust also exits out of the side on the right-hand of the vehicle. It’s hard to tell how much longer this prototype is compared to the 2023 Ford Ranger dual-cab, but it’s noticeably longer and could be an extra 25-30 cm (10-12 in) long.
The long bed Ford Ranger prototype barely fits in its parking spot and makes some other cars around it look pretty small. The build label on the long bed states that the vehicle was produced in China in December 2021 and is currently the only test mule they have. The inside of the bed is a 12V socket and a 400V inverter generator with a US-style power plug, similar to what we see with the Ford F-150 and its Pro Power Onboard generator. Australian Ford Ranger trucks currently don’t receive Pro Power Onboard . This, along with the left-hand drive orientation, indicates that this truck may be intended for the US more than other markets, but we’ll have to wait and see for sure. This could also be our first glimpse at a Ford Ranger hybrid model, which is expected eventually.
The bed also features multiple tie-down points and the load box access caps for accessories such as canopies and equipment crossbars. One interesting detail that isn’t found on this prototype is access steps behind the rear wheels to allow users to get to the items in the bed more easily. The reason this feature is omitted may be because of the side-exit exhaust.