KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, will be previewing the new 2022 Ford Ranger in East Malaysia the following two months.
It'll be on display in Kuching, Sarawak at Vivacity Megamall on Sept 7-11 and at Suria Sabah Shopping Centre in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on Oct 5-9.
Ahead of its showroom launch, these preview events are part of the Ranger's nationwide debut tour in five regions, including Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bahru over five weekends.
Sign up at the Register page on Ford Malaysia's official website to score exclusive invitations to a venue closest to you.
From the new-generation SYNC 4A infotainment system to large-format smartphone-like screens, and digital instrument displays replacing analogue clusters, the next-gen pickup is considered the smartest Ranger to date.
The physical instrument cluster for things like the speedometer has been replaced twith an eight-inch digital instrument panel that can be customised. These displays boast a start-up and farewell animation and a digital speedometer and tachometer.
Owners can toggle between layouts depending on the variant to show information such as driver-assist technologies, tachometer on or off and extra gauges. There's also a 'calm view' which removes information on demand from the display.
As it features on- and off-road driving modes, the instrument panel displays a different theme for each selected drive mode, with animated mode changes when the driver scrolls from one to the other.
At the heart is the SYNC 4A communications and entertainment system that offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity.
Equipped with either a 10.1- or a best-in-class 12-inch infotainment screen, the customisable split-screen setup with an information-on-demand panel displays key information like native or connected navigation, the user's connected smartphone, and more.
A large-format tablet screen was chosen to allow for a good depiction of navigation while still leaving room at the bottom of the screen for things such as climate and entertainment controls.
Keeping to the theme of digital seamlessness, many of the traditional driving mode controls have been moved from the dash and centre console to their own dedicated display on the SYNC screen.
For example, depending on the variant, drivers can go to Ranger's dedicated off-road screen with a press of a button where they can monitor the driveline, steering angle, vehicle pitch, roll angles and other controls.
The cabin climate and entertainment can be controlled via the SYNC screen, with additional physical controls mounted just below the screen for quick and easy adjustments. The screen is also linked to a 360-degree camera.
Compatible with the latest Qi technology, smartphone wireless charging is present and connected to SYNC 4A via a charging pad at the base of the centre console.
Smartphones also can be charged via a cable to a USB port or with the available 12V/240V sockets and the 150W inverter.
A high windscreen-mounted USB outlet is provided for dash cams purposes. This Type-A USB outlet converts 12V power into 5V USB output and is designed to power an external GPS or dash camera.
It also can be used to charge a smartphone, although this outlet isn't connected to the SYNC 4A system.
Depending on the variant, located at the load box, there are 400W and 12V sockets made available for any Do-It-Yourself jobs.
The new Ranger WildTrak comes with its own additional features such as a first-in-class electric parking brake which provides the opportunity for increased advanced driver assist systems (ADAS).
Its Matrix LED headlights boast a range of smart features, including auto dynamic levelling and speed dependent lighting that can adjust the intensity of the beam in front of the vehicle depending on the speed at which the driver is travelling.
The headlights also offer both static and dynamic bending capability as well as glare-free high-beams which help block light that could otherwise temporarily blind other drivers and cyclists.
