MEDIA.FORD.COM

Ford World Rally Team’s Nordic drivers will aim to extend the squad’s winning grip at the Swedish Rally (9 - 12 February) next week. The team has won the last five fixtures of the FIA World Rally Championship’s only true winter encounter and both Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala and Norway’s Petter Solberg have Swedish victories to their names.

COLOGNE, Dec. 15, 2011 – Ford of Europe announced today it is extending its participation in the FIA World Rally Championship into 2012 and 2013.

The all-new Ford Ranger is setting new standards in safety with a comprehensive suite of safety features – such as the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and side curtain airbags – to address the growing need for occupant safety in Australia's light commercial vehicle segment.

The all-new global Ford Ranger has more than enough muscle and backbone to get the job done – and in a highly fuel-efficient manner that will keep both the customers and their wallet equally happy.

The all-new global Ford Ranger comes to market in Australia next month, combining the toughness and capability of a pickup truck with smart technology, outstanding safety, excellent fuel economy and high standards of quality and comfort.

The all-new global Ford Ranger may boast proven pickup truck toughness and capability but it does not mean it has to drive like one. With its brand-new chassis, steering system and suspensions, Ranger offers a smooth and quiet ride, car-like comfort as well as precise steering.

With impressive towing and best-in-class water-wading capabilities as well as exceptional payload capacity and ground clearance, the all-new global Ford Ranger 4x4 and 4x2 Hi-Rider models have a can-do attitude and go-anywhere capability that customers will appreciate.

The all-new global Ford Ranger emanates power and presence from every angle, echoing the toughness and capability this light commercial pickup truck is geared to deliver. Looking both muscular and contemporary, Ranger is as equally at home on a farm as it is parked outside an upmarket restaurant.

Whether it’s taking the all-new global Ford Ranger on a road trip or just round the corner, customers will appreciate the high levels of comfort in the cabin, starting from the spacious interior, ample stowage and the latest smart technologies that make the pickup easier, safer and more fun to drive.

Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen ended the opening leg of Rallye Deutschland in third place after a frustrating day for the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team. Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila made a perfect start to the first asphalt event for the new-generation WRC cars by winning the opening speed test, but both pairings encountered problems as the day progressed.