The tougher, smarter, more efficient new Ford Ranger WildTrak has been named ‘Pick Up of the Year’ at the NST-Maybank Car of the Year (COTY) 2015 Awards, building on its reputation as Malaysia’s most capable, powerful, and smartest pickup.
“We are honoured to add this prestigious industry recognition to the fantastic feedback we’ve received from Malaysians nationwide – from families to small business people – who have embraced the new Ranger because of its unmatched blend of capability, safety and advanced technology,” said David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.
This is the second time the Ranger has won an award at the New Straits Times-Maybank COTY, with the previous generation Ranger being named ‘Overall Car of the Year’ in 2012.
“In 2012, we were honoured that the Ranger was the first pickup truck in the history of the awards to be named ‘Overall Car of the Year’. Today’s award builds on this success, and underscores our commitment to working with Ford to bring the world’s best cars, trucks and SUVs to Malaysia,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, managing director, Sime Darby Auto Connexion.
By any measure, the new Ranger is the most capable pickup in Malaysia. With a 3.2-litre Duratorq five-cylinder engine, the new Ranger is the most powerful pickup in Malaysia, has the segment’s highest payload capacity of up to 1,200 kg, and can wade through up to 800 mm of water, the deepest of any pickup in Malaysia.
Ranger’s safety package is also unmatched, with a range of active and passive safety features that include up to six airbags – three times more than any other pickup in Malaysia – and driver assistance technologies like Lane Keeping Aid and Adaptive Cruise Control. Ford’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and ISOFIX child safety mounts also come standard, making Ranger the only pickup truck in Malaysia to offer these two important safety features across all variants.
The new Ranger’s safety leadership was recently recognized by the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (ASEAN NCAP), which awarded a maximum 5-star safety rating, with a total Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) score of 15.45/16 points – the highest of any pickup on sale in Malaysia.
