Ford Ranger Production Kicks Off at Michigan Assembly
It’s coming! It’s coming! By gum, the 2019 Ford Ranger is coming.
Production started on the all-new Ford Ranger at Michigan Assembly Plant this week, and to celebrate Ford invited the facility’s 3,000 employees to take part in an off-road course constructed in the parking lot. You ever have one of those days where you feel like you’ve got the best job in the world? That’s probably what all those folks felt like.
“We have been waiting for this day for a long time,” said Michigan Assembly Plant Manager Erik Williams. “The Ranger is back home in the U.S., and our employees at Michigan Assembly Plant are thrilled to be able to build it for our customers.”
What Makes the Ford Ranger So Great? Among other things, a cool towing radar
Among those taking part at the proceedings were leaders from Ford and from the United Auto Workers. Ford pumped $850 million into rejuvenating Michigan Assembly Plant for production of the Ranger and the all-new Bronco. Production of the latter is expected to get underway in 2020. Michigan Assembly Plant previously produced the Ford Focus and C-MAX; both vehicles have been effectively discontinued in the United States.
“Ford truck fans demanded a midsize pickup that’s ‘Built Ford Tough,’ and we’re delivering with our all-new Ranger that’s specially designed and engineered for American truck customers,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president of global operations. “At the same time, we’re revitalizing our Michigan Assembly Plant and securing good-paying jobs for our hourly employees here in the U.S.”
The all-new Ford Ranger, which could begin arriving at showrooms as early as the start of winter, will provide best-in-class towing, payload, and torque, making it the immediate go-to truck in the midsize pickup segment. It will feature a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine that will generate 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, and when equipped with an available Trailer Tow Package and trailer brake controller it will offer up to 7,500 pounds of conventional towing.
Also Coming Soon: All-new Ford Edge gets high-powered Edge ST variant
Photos: Ford Ranger Production is Underway
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- Photo: Ford
Richard Bazzy is the face of Shults Ford, the No. 1 Ford dealer in Pittsburgh and all of Pennsylvania. Known for his unique approach to selling cars and his penchant for cowboy hats, Richard runs Shults Ford of Harmarville, Shults Ford Lincoln of Wexford, and Shults Ford South. Visit his YouTube channel and see just how well Richard Bazzy can yee a haw.