Ford PH Might Launch the Ranger FX4 Max

Just a couple of weeks after it launched the refreshed Ford Ranger lineup in the country during a virtual event dubbed ‘Live The Ranger Life,’ Ford Philippines has announced part two of this event and with that invite seems to be quite the teaser.

In the said invitation sent to members of the motoring media shows a portion of the front fascia of what looks similar to the current Ranger Raptor. This however matches the look of the Ranger FX4 Max which was first introduced in Australia last year. 

Compared to the current Ford Ranger FX4 which is just a mere appearance package, the FX4 Max is quite special. It gets various performance and cosmetic upgrades versus the standard Ranger variants, but with the same capabilities unlike on the Ranger Raptor.

First for the exterior, it gets the Ranger Raptor’s iconic ‘F-O-R-D’ front grille but with the Ranger name spelled-out just like on other variants. It also gets 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, plus unique side steps and a rear sports bar. Ground clearance is up by 19 mm making it 256 mm and off-road angles such as departure angle is up to 31°. Towing capacity is at 3,500 kg while payload capacity is close to the standard Rangers at 981 kg. It also features Fox shock absorbers beneath the vehicle just like the Raptor.

Inside are a leather/suede combination seat material and auxiliary switches on the dashboard that allow the connection of additional electrical components.

Under the hood, at least for the Australian market, the Ranger FX4 Max is powered by the same 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel from the Ranger Raptor. This still produces 210 hp and 500 Nm of torque, paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. If Ford Philippines does choose to equip it with another powertrain, it would most likely get the Wildtrak’s 2.0L EcoBlue single turbo diesel that makes 178 hp and 420 Nm of torque, also paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. 

While no details are confirmed yet, if the Ford Ranger FX4 Max is introduced, it should find itself slotted in between the Ranger Wildtrak and the Ranger Raptor. For now, let’s wait and see what happens during Ford Philippines’ virtual launch event on March 10, 2021.