Ford's Ranger Bids Farewell December 22

LONDONDERRY, N.H. (06/29/2011)(readMedia)-- More than 29 years have passed since the Ford Ranger rolled onto showroom floors, but the faithful small pickup truck won't see a 30th birthday. The Ranger will be a rare sight at Ford dealers after the automaker ceases North American production on December 22, according to United Auto Workers Chapter 879. Members of the union chapter produce the pickup at Ford's Twin Cities assembly plant in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Ford designed the Ranger as a tough, capable light pickup truck that was affordable and easy on gas when it debuted in 1982 for the 1983 model year. The latest iteration, the 2011 Ford Ranger, is capable of returning 27 mpg on the highway with a four-cylinder engine. However, since the fuel economy gap between the V6 models of the Ranger and the new V6-powered 2011 Ford F-150s has been eliminated, many buyers are stepping up to the full-size Ford truck.

"The Ranger has been a faithful companion to many for a long time, so it will be sad to see it go," said Jim McGovern, general manager of Ford of Londonderry, a Southern New Hampshire Ford dealer. "The Ranger fits the on-the-move lifestyles of a lot of New Hampshire Ford buyers, but at least we have some warning before the Ranger is gone for good. Our customers still have a chance to buy the last of this special small truck."

Fuel economy has been the Ranger's claim to fame, bolstered by the 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that sips fuel while producing 143 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. With a manual transmission and two-wheel drive, the four-cylinder Ranger is still the clear leader of any Ford pickup truck in fuel economy, returning 22 mpg in the city and the aforementioned 27 mpg on the highway. Those looking for more power though will want the 4.0-liter V6 that kicks out 207 horsepower and 238 pound-feet of torque, yet sacrifices fuel economy with 16 mpg in city travel and 21 mpg on the highway.

The 2011 Ford F-150 with a 3.7-liter V6 powerplant is more fuel-efficient than the Ford Ranger V6, returning 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway while producing 302 horsepower. Meanwhile, F-150s equipped with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine deliver 365 horsepower, match the Ford Ranger V6 in city fuel economy, and get one more mile per gallon on the highway. In May, these new V6 models of the F-150 actually outsold the long-popular V8 models, with 55 percent of all F-150 sales.

Ford sold 42,399 of the F-Series in May and has sold 214,461 of the pickup trucks in 2011, up 10.6 percent year-to-date compared with the same period last year. In contrast, sales of the Ford Ranger, which has sold 7 million models over these last few decades, have been slowly dropping since its last redesign in 2001. Ford hasn't announced a North American replacement for the Ranger, though it will still produce a small truck with the Ranger name for markets excluding the United States and Canada.

"Ford might one day develop a new small truck that incorporates the innovative engine technology that we've seen in the F-Series, but until then the 2011 Ranger provides a nimble alternative for pickup truck shoppers." McGovern added. "As production slows down, it will be harder for us to get certain trims and options, so it is better for buyers to act sooner rather than later to make sure the Rangers they want are still available."

About Ford of Londonderry:

Ford of Londonderry is the premier New Hampshire Ford dealer, serving those in nearby Derry, Concord, Nashua and Manchester. Ford of Londonderry has the extensive new and used Ford inventory New Hampshire drivers desire, with amazing prices and specials on all the latest models. You can preview their wide selection of Fords at www.fordoflondonderry.com, call them at 888-871-1155, Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FordofLondonderry, or visit their Ford dealership at 33 Nashua Road in Londonderry, N.H.