Ford Ranger Platinum Debuts In EU – The Ranger We Never Got

The European continent houses a plethora of densely-populated cities. Said cities are notoriously known for its narrow streets and strict emission regulations – a habitat that big diesel trucks won’t thrive in. Unless you’re working blue-collar jobs, most of the Old Continent’s folks would prefer something compact, luxurious and sleek over some bulky pickup trucks.

To combat this, Ford has introduced the all-new 2023 Ford Ranger Platinum especially for markets in and around the EU. This iteration of perhaps the Blue Oval badge’s most commercially successful pick-up truck emphasises on ‘luxury and exclusivity’, unlike the seemingly utilitarian siblings it lines up with, nor is it as rugged or sporty as either the Wildtrak or Raptor variants.

Dubbed the most luxurious Ranger ever, the Platinum variant is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel mill that produces 235 HP and 600 NM – a slight downgrade compared to the petrol-powered Ranger Raptor (392 HP). This drives all four wheels via Ford’s proprietary all-wheel drive (AWD) system that is electronically controlled to work all the time.

Said V6 powertrain is mated with a 10-speed automatic gearbox that has been fine-tuned to reduce noise and vibration. This, in turn, promises much-refined performance in this rather beefy pick-up truck that is also capable of towing up to 3.5 tonnes.

Visually, the Ranger Platinum comes with a more sophisticated and exclusive exterior that sets it apart from the rest of the Ranger line-up. The front fascia boasts a new pin-style chrome grille, a la Mercedes-Benz, flanked by the current-gen Ranger’s signature C-shaped, DRL-equipped headlights.

Sitting above Ford’s iconic Blue Oval badge is an embossing that spells ‘platinum’ across the length of said front grille – so folks will definitely know this is no run-of-the-mill Ranger.

The Ranger Platinum rides on a set of 20-inch wheels, wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler Territory HT all-season tyres, for good measure. Its flatbed can carry up to 1,000 KG, and the tailgate now comes with a soft-close feature – a perfect blend of luxury and practicality.

Inside this truck lies a rather comfy cabin fully-equipped with luxury amenities. The front two seats are electrically-operated with 10-way adjustment, as well as having both heating and cooling functions. The seats are all leather, and there are faux wood trims around the dash too – minimum requirements for any car claiming to be ‘luxurious’.

The addition of ambient lighting, 12-inch infotainment screen as well a Bang & Olufsen hi-fi audio system completes the luxury offerings available inside the Platinum.

The advanced driver’s assistance (ADAS) offerings are quite comprehensive, though somewhat expected of any EU market-bound vehicle. Said offerings include active park assist, blind spot alert, 360-degree camera and lane departure warning.

Aside from the EU, this dual-cab-only Ford Ranger Platinum will also grace the land Down Under, topping the Australian Ranger line-up. Price is expected to start at around £44,000 (RM235,866) for the UK market, while Ford Australia commands AU$76,990 (RM230,712) instead.

With sales already started in said markets, the 2023 Ford Ranger Platinum deliveries will commence later within the first quarter of 2023.

Folks, what do you think of this luxury-oriented Ranger Platinum truck? Would you pick this over the Baja 1000-winning Ranger Raptor? Considering its availability in right-hand drive (RHD) markets like the UK and Australia, should Ford consider bringing this ‘forbidden fruit’ of sorts into our local market? Leave your thoughts in the comments down below…