Meet the Ford Ranger Stormtrak & Wildtrak X – The New Ranger Models We Didn’t Get (Yet)

Pick-up trucks are a commodity that’s increased in popularity amongst locals in recent years, offering better practicality and off-road manoeuvrability than other vehicle types. No longer seen exclusively in rural, flood-prone areas, the pickup popularity has also hit the urban areas, thanks to the birth of a new pickup sub-category, the lifestyle pick-up truck. 

In the ‘lifestyle’ pick-up truck market, the Ford Ranger is probably the best in the segment, striking a perfect balance between utilitarian, off-road capabilities with daily drive quirks and features. While Ford’s official distributor in Malaysia, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), has offered a slew of variants for folks to choose from, there are still a few versions of the Ranger that simply didn’t make into SDAC’s list – for now…

Starting off with the Ford Ranger Stormtrak that recently made its debut in Thailand at the Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS) 2023. The Stormtrak is placed above the Wildtrak as the new range-topping variant for the standard Ranger, before you go further to the full-blown, performance-oriented Ranger Raptor model.

Powering the Stormtrak is the same 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbodiesel mill carried over from the Wildtrak, capable of delivering 207 HP and 500 NM. Power is then sent to the wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Visually, the Stormtrak is primed with a new distinctive black-hued front grille that also houses the auxiliary lights, aside from the actual C-shaped LED headlights flanked on its sides. It also rides on a set of 20-inch wheels with new spoke design and red highlights, while being wrapped in bigger 255/55/R20 all-terrain tyres as standard.

At the side, there’s also the Stormtrak lettering sitting at the lower part of the front door, plus black stripe decals that run all the way to the flatbed part. Speaking of flatbeds, the Stormtrak features a flexible rack system for its flatbed, now with an adjustable sports bar that offers a better convenience for users to haul up their loads.

On board, the range-topping Thai-spec Ranger is laced with red trims to match the black upholstery of its seats, while the front ones now being embossed with Stormtrak lettering – also finished in red. In terms of equipment, the Stormtrak is primed with a 12-inch infotainment display, a bigger 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver, dual-zone climate control system, as well as a dedicated Active Park Assist system to complement the electric parking brake (EPB).

In Thailand, the Ford Ranger Stormtrak starts at THB 1.264 million (RM 164,197) for the non-AWD 4x2 variant, while the 4x4 version is priced at THB 1.399 million (RM 181,734).

Moving to Land Down Under, Ford Australia has expanded its Ranger line-up with the new Wildtrak X. And just like the Thai-bound Stormtrak, this ‘extreme’ special edition model also sits between the Wildtrak and Raptor.

Although it employs the same 2.0-litre turbodiesel mill rated at 201 HP and 500 NM as the non-X Wildtrak, this new Ranger comes with 30 MM wider tracks and 26 MM higher ground clearance, as well as re-tuned Bilstein dampers, granting it a much better off-roading capabilities. Unlike the style-over-substance Stormtrak, the Wildtrak X rides on new 17-inch wheels wrapped around in all-terrain tyres measuring 265/70/R17.

Up front, the Wildtrak X boasts a unique front grille design, also featuring auxiliary LED lights. The side profile is being donned with aluminium cast side steps, black-hued Wildtrak X letterings, as well as several blacked-out parts like the side mirrors and door handles.

Moving to the interior, this Ranger is primed with a similar-looking cabin to the standard, non-X Wildtrak, featuring the vertically-oriented infotainment display that sits above the climate controls, flanked by the front A/C vents. Bolstering the Wildtrak X’s off-roading pedigree is the presence of the Trail Control system, which is essentially the off-roading version of the cruise control system, albeit capped at only 32 KM/H.

On top of that, the Wildtrak X also comes with novel Rock Crawl mode that maximises grip in tough off-road conditions, aside from the standard 4WD high and low-range.

Available in exclusive Cyber Orange paint, the Wildtrak X is poised for a price tag around AU$51,000 (RM150,088), with deliveries set to commence in the latter half of the year.

Elsewhere, we’ve previously covered the European special Ford Ranger Platinum, dubbed as the more ‘premium’ version of the Ranger, sitting on the same par as the Wildtrak. For the Malaysian market, the Wildtrak is still the range-topping Ranger variant offered by SDAC, aside from the top-of-the-line Raptor model.

Folks, what do you think of these two special Ranger models? Keen to see SDAC officially offering them here? As always, don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments down below…