AUCKLAND, New Zealand. 7 September 2016 – No longer a ‘neck and neck’ race, the Ford Ranger has bolted well beyond its nearest competitors. The Ford Ranger is now more than 1400 ahead of the current number two ute and more than 2000 ahead of the Corolla, further cementing its position as New Zealand’s favourite overall new vehicle.
Meanwhile, Ford continues to improve the Ranger adding upgrades and refinements including Ford’s SYNC®3 arriving this month on XLT and Wildtrak, and from September, a cleaner and more efficient Euro5 compliant powertrain.
“There is certainly no resting on our laurels when it comes to the Ranger,” said Cameron Thomas, Marketing Manager, Ford New Zealand. “Despite the sales success Ranger has enjoyed, it’s still a very competitive market in New Zealand and we want to ensure the Ranger remains the overall best value for Kiwis. The upgrades and improvements will help keep the Ranger that much further ahead of the competition.”
From September, the Ford Ranger XLT and Wildtrak come loaded with SYNC3, Ford’s new in-vehicle communications and entertainment platform, featuring Apple CarPlay®, Android AutoTM, faster performance, more conversational voice recognition, intuitive smartphone-like touchscreen and an improved graphic-user interface.
The new communications and entertainment system is faster and easier to use with enhanced response to driver voice commands. SYNC 3 features all-new hardware and software, building on the capability of the industry-leading technology that launched in 2007. Ford SYNC is now in more than 12 million vehicles on the road globally.
“The key for any in car system is to provide smart technology that is safe, easy to use and clearly useful,” said Thomas. “SYNC3 improves on the established platform, providing those key ingredients while also allowing customers to add in their own preferred functionality or apps via AppLink.”
AppLink allows customers to connect their smartphone to their vehicle and control compatible apps using voice commands or buttons on the vehicle display screen.
The Ford Ranger now includes a rear view camera on XL well-side models, XLT and Wildtrak, reverse parking sensors across the entire range, and front parking sensors on the XLT and Wildtrak.
About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 198,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and, until its sale, Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford New Zealand, please visit: www.ford.co.nz