Ford Ranger Wildtrak With V6 Diesel Entering Malaysia Soon?

Australian market Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6 diesel variant pictured. A similar version is rumoured to enter Malaysia soon.

Citing an unnamed yet highly credible insider source, our friends over at local Bahasa language portal Careta.my have caught wind that Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) Ford could introduce the V6 diesel version of the current-generation Ford Ranger Wildtrak in Malaysia soon.

No exact launch timeline was specified by the unnamed source noted, but the rumoured new Wildtrak model variant is most certainly set to cost higher than the 4-cyl version currently on sale through importers and distributors SDAC Ford – more on this in a bit.

Presently, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak is marketed in Malaysia solely with a 2.0-litre 4-cyl bi-turbo diesel lump that it shares with the XLT Plus, XLT Plus Special Edition, StormTrak, Platinum, and Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo variants.

Presently, the Wildtrak guise of the popular premium 4x4 pick-up truck is marketed in Malaysia solely with a 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel heart outputting 210 PS and 500 NM. Said mill is paired with a 10-speed automatic box plus a part-time 4x4 driveline with an electronic rear diff-lock.

It’s also worth noting that this powertrain setup is shared by the Wildtrak with scores of other Ranger variants that include the XLT Plus, XLT Plus Special Edition, StormTrak, Platinum, as well as the Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo guise.

In both neighbouring Thailand and Australia, the Wildtrak variant sees a V6 diesel powertrain offered as an option alongside the 4-cyl mill detailed.

In contrast, the Ranger Wildtrak marketed in both neighbouring Thailand and Australia sees the same 4-cyl mill offered as an option alongside a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel choice. The latter boasts peppier headlining figures of 250 PS and 600 NM instead, plus a full-time 4x4 driveline.

naturally the extra cylinders – and heightened outputs – are set to come at a slight premium versus the current 4-cyl version’s RM170,888 price tag. For reference, the StormTrak, Platinum, and  Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo guises costs more at RM181,888, RM191,888, and RM248,888 respectively.

The extra cylinders does translate into higher outputs of 250 PS and 600 NM. For reference, the 4-cyl lump offers just 210 PS and 500 NM.

We speculate that SDAC Ford could introduce and price this V6-engined Wildtrak variant anywhere between RM200,000 and RM220,000. In terms of price positioning, this would mirror how the same model variant is marketed in Australia too.

Aptly, with the decline of diesel vehicle sales prompted by the rationalised diesel fuel price subsidy scheme, it’s difficult to speculate just how well received this new V6-engined version of the Ranger Wildtrak will be received in the local market.

What do you folks reckon then? Will a beefier V6-engined version of the Ranger Wildtrak, which we’ll argue is already brilliant with its existing 4-cyl mill, tickle your fancy? Would you shell out RM200,000 or more for one? Share your take in the comments section below…