New for 2004

• Raised power dome hood standard on all trim levels

• Nostril grille: horizontal bars on 4x2, honeycomb on 4x4

• New bumper valance

• Rally gauge cluster

• New Ford-style steering wheel

• Upgraded cloth seating surfaces

• Optional leather seating surfaces (late availability)

• Pioneer® Sound Package: 290-watt, seven-speaker system with in-dash, six-disc MP3 player

• 510-watt Tremor now available with MP3 capability and on 4x4 models (late availability)

• New exterior colors: Dark Shadow Grey Clearcoat Metallic, Dark Green Satin Clearcoat Metallic, Silver Clearcoat Metallic

Overview

Ford Ranger has been America's best-selling compact pickup for 16 years running. For 2004, Ranger features a sporty new interior, tougher exterior styling and an all-new Pioneer® audio system.

Ranger's suspension has improved bushings, springs, tires and shocks for improved ride comfort. Ranger's two off-road packages feature proven heavy-duty equipment. The FX4/Level II is fitted with retuned Bilstein shocks that improve control, handling and performance both on and off the road and continues to feature BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A Tires and Alcoa forged-aluminum wheels. Tremor and Edge models feature improved shock tuning and larger wheels and tires.

Ranger is built in Edison, N.J., and St. Paul, Minn.

Design and Equipment

The 2004 Ranger is available in XL, Edge, XLT, Tremor and FX4 trims in both 4x2 and 4x4 offerings. Cab configurations include Regular Cab and SuperCab, in both Styleside and Flareside versions. A long-wheelbase option is available on Regular Cab Styleside models.

Key exterior design elements include aggressive valance and hood structures and a new nostril grille, consistent with the rest of the Ford Truck lineup.

The sporty and functional interior features an all-new seat system with sculpted bolsters and higher seatbacks for improved comfort. Also available are optional sport bucket seats and leather-trimmed seating surfaces. A leather-trimmed steering wheel with a new four-spoke design, seat-mounted cup holders and a floor console round out the Ranger interior.

New for 2004, Ranger offers a Pioneer® Stereo System featuring an AM/FM CD/MP3 player that delivers 290 peak watts of power through nine speakers and an integrated power subwoofer. Also from Pioneer®, Tremor delivers 510 watts of power through a new in-dash CD/MP3 player and is offered with a 4x4 drivetrain, in addition to the 4x2 offered in previous years.

Powertrain

Under the hood, the 2004 Ranger offers three engine choices, including a recently introduced 2.3-liter I-4 and two V-6 engines. The 2.3-liter I-4 produces 143 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 154 foot-pounds of torque at 3,750 rpm, thanks to new intake and exhaust camshafts, throttle body, exhaust manifold and engine calibration.

Ranger's 3.0-liter V-6 engine is flexible-fuel capable, producing 154 horsepower and 180 foot-pounds of torque, and is standard on all 4x2 SuperCab models equipped with a five-speed manual transmission.

Ranger is also available with a 4.0-liter SOHC V-6 that produces 207 horsepower at 5,250 rpm and 238 foot-pounds of torque at 3,000 rpm. All three engines are available with a five-speed automatic transmission or a heavy-duty, five-speed manual transmission.

Safety

Ranger maintains its second-generation air bags and safety belts with outboard pretensioners, side intrusion door beams and the theft-deterrent SecuriLock? system.

Major Equipment and Options

XL: 2.3L I-4 engine, five-speed manual transmission, anti-lock 4-wheel disc brakes, front and rear stone guards, black-faced gauge cluster, cloth upholstery, AM/FM stereo with clock, molded black color bar grille, tow hooks and 15-inch argent styled wheel.

Edge adds to XL: 3.0L V-6 engine, fog lamps, power windows, locks, mirrors and remote keyless entry, AM/FM/cassette/ CD/MP3 stereo, front cloth sport-bucket seats, body color front- and rear-step bumper, black mesh grille, 16-inch silver five-spoke cast aluminum wheels with gray color painted insets (4x4) and white-faced instrument gauge cluster.

Tremor adds to Edge: Five-speed automatic transmission, 510-Watt Pioneer Audiophile Sound System, four 6x8-in coaxial speakers, tilt steering wheel, speed control, Tremor decal, 16-inch machine-finished five-spoke aluminum wheels, optional exhaust tip and step bars, tonneau cover, bed extender, bed liner, sliding rear window, privacy glass and sport bucket seats.

XLT adds to Edge: AM/FM/CD stereo, chrome front- and rear-step bumper (4x2 XLT Appearance Package and 4x4 XLT), molded black color bar grille and 3.0L V-6.

FX4 Off-Road adds to XLT: all-terrain tires, 16-inch wheels, premium gas shocks, front tow hooks, skid plates, 4.10 limited-slip axle and wheel lip moldings.

FX4 Level II adds to FX4 Off-Road: a higher level of 4x4 performance with Alcoa wheels, BF Goodrich tires, Bilstein shocks and a Torsen limited- slip differential.

XLT Appearance Package: front chrome bar grille, chrome front and rear step bumpers, 15-inch all-season OWL tires and 15-inch chrome steel wheels.

Pioneer Sound Package includes: AM/FM six-disc CD/MP3 stereo, multi-channel amplifier, subwoofer, premium speakers, front bucket seats and tilt wheel with speed control.

Bright Appearance package includes: chromed bedrails, step bars and exhaust tip.

by Ford