Ford Ranger SUV One Step Closer To Confirmation; A New Raider?

When lifting the curtain on its refurbished Design Centre at Campbellfield, Ford Australia gave its strongest indication yet that the rumoured Ranger seven-seat SUV may not be far away.

Speaking to motoring media from Australia, Thailand and India, Ford public affairs director Sinead Phipps underscored the importance of the Ranger project, and of Ford's global ambitions for it beyond the current vehicle. 

"Ranger is just the first vehicle for the T6 platform," she said.

While Ford has a blanket policy not to comment on future model plans, such an admission - one certain to ignite speculation - would perhaps indicate that engineering and design is well-advanced on the new car.

Of course, Ford Australia's local design team can be expected to take the lead in the development of this vehicle as it did in the development of the Ranger. That car is now sold in 180 countries and is a pivotal vehicle in Ford's global model spread.