In a recent sighting of the 2022 Ford Ranger, we were able to draw slight parallels in the design language between the 2022 Ford Ranger Wildtrak and the 2021 Ford F-150 as well as this year’s model of the Ranger. It seemingly gives off a subtle Ford Bronco vibe as well, though this speculation could be way off base given that Ford had done a pretty good job of concealing the best features of the Ranger, knowing that the media would be on the lookout.
It seems that Ford is taking a different approach this time with the Wildtrak, which is more than welcome, seeing as we have had the same overall look running on the Ford Ranger for the past couple of years. The 2022 Ford Ranger Wildtrak bears the markings of a new generation of pickups. Let’s delve further.
The Ford Ranger Wildtrak Is Getting Bigger And Meaner
The Wildtrak has always tended to come off as the F-150’s younger brother. While the Wildtrak has been receiving critical acclaim across the globe, the American market designates it to second-class citizenship after the Ford F-150. This time around, it won’t be that easy to sleep on it. It just may be the dark horse the nation has been looking out for in the pickup market.
The 2022 Wildtrak spots a seemingly more sophisticated grille, quite different from its predecessor. The squared-off lights and C-shaped light element just barely visible from the spy shots signal that the truck will be reading a few pages off the Ford F-150's front visuals. Passersby who stole a peek at the truck completing its test-run point out that while the size bump is only slightly noticeable, the test truck sounded quite hefty, denoting a power boost over the current Ranger.
We Know That Ford Is Not Sleeping On Interiors Any More
The joining of hands between Ford and VW to build the 2022 Volkswagen Amarok can only spell good things for the Wildtrak. Traditionally, Ford hasn’t been attaching too high a value to the Ford Ranger’s interior, and the company has been religiously packing it with rather bland plastic then slapping on an ordinary digital display that floats above the most basic console Ford could muster. It may have something to do with the fact that a sizable chunk of their consumer demographic is more performance-oriented, but when did good looks ever hurt? There has been a shift in Ford’s priorities to include lifestyle enthusiasts who may want to prance around in Ford machines that also bear a nicer interior personality.
The spies who caught a glimpse of the pickup were quick to indicate that they spotted a large multimedia touchscreen. This might just be yet another spec lifted off the Ford F-150, specifically the 12-inch unit that relays vehicle information. The touchscreen, however, may be smaller on the Wildtrak...say 8 inches probably?
The Ford Ranger Will Likely Share Drivetrains With Its Not-so-distant Cousin, The Bronco
The current 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak sits on top of the T6 body-on-frame platform, which brought with it a bigger wheelbase and hybrid technology support. Making its debut on the 2021 Ford Bronco, we see no reason for Ford to opt-out of it. Matter of fact, given the tight parallelism between the Bronco and the Ranger, we may see the Wildtrak fitted with its own version of Bronco’s choice between a 7-speed manual and a 10-speed automatic. The 2.3l 270hp turbocharged inline-4 may also be making an upsetting comeback on the 2022 release just like its predecessor and the current iterations of the Bronco.
However, a more likely scenario with the 2022 Ford Ranger Wildrak, which is bound to be hugely popular in markets like Australia where the truck effortlessly sells, is Ford dropping the now old and drooping inline-4 in favor of a new single-turbo V6 engine with a 130kW/420Nm rating on the standard Ford Ranger Wildtrak.
Probably An Electric Ford Ranger In The Works As Well?
The new T6 drivetrain points toward the possibility of an electrified Ford Ranger, but with no news coming from the company itself, our speculation is that any possibility of an electric powertrain will more than likely mirror the hybrid setup in the new F-150 Powerboost. It is quite believable that we will be seeing a hybrid version of the 2022 Ford Ranger, but it is bound to pop up much later in the year if its release doesn't spill over to next year.