Thailand has something like the second largest market in the world for pickup trucks (though it's probably still somewhere behind that of Newton County, Texas). It's also the culinary home of Pad Thai (i.e., linguini with shrimp and peanuts) and is the regional production hub for Ford's one-ton pickup trucks exported to Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Middle East and ASEAN countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines). If you were wondering, that's why (minus the linguini) Ford will introduce its new Ranger pickup at the Bankok International Motor Show on March 22. In appearance, the 2007 Ranger is more closely aligned with Ford's full-sized F-150 pickup than is the current version, and the new model will come with a choice of new, common-rail 3.0L and 2.5L DURATORQ TDCi diesels. At the show, Ford will also roll out its latest 4 Trac concept (below), which is an ultra-stylized version of the standard Ranger, neither of which is slated to come to the states this go 'round.
(Hat tip to Left Lane News)
Related:
Ford to Unveil 4-Trac Concept in Bangkok; The Free Trade Boys Are Clucking: Repeal the Chicken Tax? [internal]