2010 Ford Ranger: Now With AdvanceTrac And Roll Stability Control

The Ford Ranger may be withering on the vine after 13 years without an update, but the 2010 Ford Ranger is set to get some major safety upgrades. Unfortunately, it's not getting much else.

Years after AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control (RSC) debuted on the Explorer platform it spawned, the 2010 Ranger will finally get the same stability program, which makes rollovers nearly impossible. But that's not all! It also gets dragged, kicking and screaming into the new millennium with side airbags deploying to the torso. Yes, all of this is very shocking, we know, Ford does still sell the Ranger. Sure would be nice if they updated our one-time most favoritest compact pickup ever.

This whole press release reads like something which should have come out in 2004:

2010 FORD RANGER: AMERICA'S MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT PICKUP ADDS NEW, STANDARD SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES

• America's most fuel-efficient pickup – the Ford Ranger – will add as standard equipment this summer a segment-exclusive safety technology – AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control). This unique technology helps prevent skidding and dangerous rollover conditions
• The new 2010 Ranger also adds new combination side air bags – offered standard – designed for head and torso protection
• With 2.3-liter I-4 engine, the Ranger is the most fuel-efficient pickup truck with an EPA-estimated fuel economy at 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway
• Ford has more U.S. government 5-star safety-rated vehicles than any other brand and more IIHS "Top Safety Picks" than any other automaker.

DEARBORN, Feb. 6, 2009 – The 2010 Ford Ranger, America's most fuel-efficient pickup, comes to market this summer by adding unique standard safety technologies, including Ford's AdvanceTrac® with RSC® – the world's most sophisticated electronic stability control system that helps prevent skidding and rollovers – and combination side air bags.

Industry-exclusive AdvanceTrac with RSC goes a step beyond stability control systems found on competitive models with a gyroscopic roll sensor that determines both the vehicle's body roll angle and roll rate.

If it detects the vehicle is about to roll, the system automatically applies additional countermeasures – such as reducing engine power 15 percent and/or applying brakes to one or more wheels – to enhance vehicle rollover resistance.

The new Ranger's head-and-chest combination side air bags provide enhanced head and torso protection in certain side impacts. The side air bag system is designed to cushion the head, minimizing lateral head injuries in case of collision, in addition to acting as a barrier between the occupant and the side of the vehicle,

"The 2010 Ranger's Roll Stability Control and combination side air bag technologies will help occupants stay out of harm's way," said Steve Kozak, chief engineer of safety systems, Ford Motor Company. "The Ranger has been America's most fuel-efficient pickup, and now it features a combination of safety features not offered in any other small pickup."

In addition, Ranger also provides high levels of safety and security with Ford's Personal Safety System®, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and SecuriLock® passive anti-theft system, all included as standard equipment on all models.

Also standard are four-wheel anti-lock brakes, driver- and front-passenger air bags, safety belts with front pretensioners for outboard seating positions and side-intrusion door beams. Ford's front-passenger sensing system helps ensure air bags are not deployed on the passenger side when small children are detected. Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) child-seat mounts are provided in the front-passenger seat on all models.

Further adding value to the Ranger is its class-leading fuel economy and low cost of ownership. With EPA-estimated fuel economy at 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway for the 2.3-liter I-4 engine, Ranger is the most fuel-efficient pickup on the market today. Plus its 7,500-mile service intervals for routine maintenance, such as oil changes, help Ranger historically rank among the lowest cost of ownership among all compact pickups studied by Edmunds.com.

[Source: Ford]
(2009 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road pictured, not that you could tell the difference)

Send an email to Ben, the author of this post, at ben@jalopnik.com.

publish on Facebook

Upload an image | Add an image URL ×

Image URL: ×

Youtube URL: ×

Choose a file to upload:

×

Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

Loading comments ...

Earlier discussions | Other discussions | Show all discussions | Show featured discussions only | Expand all threads Collapse all threads
Start a new discussion