Both Rangers had an "On Tow" sign at the front and at the back and seemed to be just riding around - obviously to pique the interest of local buyers.
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With the demise of the Ranger, Ford is leaving the light-truck segment, which it has led for no less than 18 years.
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The independent European safety organization also released the results for 11 more new models that were tested along with the Ranger. With the emphasis given these days on safety, the five-star rating awarded in all but one of the models was to be expected.
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Surprisingly, given that it is a pickup, it also managed to receive the best rating ever for pedestrian protection among the cars tested by the Euro NCAP since it was established in 1997, with an 81% score.
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The Japanese automaker's iteration of the compact pickup truck theme gets its own unique exterior cues and interior styling inspired by the firm's passenger car range. Though far less aggressive than originally implied on the first teaser sketches, the BT-50's exterior design is more funky than it's Ford sibling. The same can be said about the interior which is said to feature all the accommodations of a passenger car.
Like its predecessor, Ford's new Ranger was developed in cooperation with Mazda, which will also unveil its version of the compact pickup truck called the BT-50 in Sydney.
The new Ranger moves a step closer to passenger cars in terms of styling, interior appointments as well as technology features. It will be available in three different cab body styles, 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains, two ride heights and four series choices.
The redesigned Ford Ranger will makes its debut at next month's Geneva Motor Show. Built in Thailand, the new model will hit European showrooms this April and it will be available with two turbo diesel engines in 4x2 and 4x4 configurations and three body styles – Single Cab, RAP (Rear Access Panel) Cab and Double Cab. In design terms, the facelifted European and Asian market pick-up truck is inspired from last year's Ranger MAX Concept.
Up front, the 2009 MY Ranger gets a new fascia with an 'in-your-face' three-piece chrome grille, domed hood and restyled headlamps. Other changes include the clear tail lamp design, the new exterior mirrors and the side air-vents.
The Ranger is offered with two 4-cylinder diesel engines, a 143HP 2.5-liter and a 156HP 3.0-liter unit both of which can be paired with either a five-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. According to Ford, the Ranger's towing capability with either the 2.5-litre or 3.0-litre TDCi Duratotq engine is rated at up to 3,000kg or 6,614-lbs.
This summer, Ford will launch in the U.S.A its updated 2010 model year Ranger pickup truck. While the 2010 Ranger does not feature any cosmetic changes whatsoever, it does benefit from the addition of new standard safety technologies like the AdvanceTrac with RSC (Roll Stability Control) and new combination side air bags designed for head and torso protection. Power continues to come from the same engine range that includes the company's 2.3-liter 4-cylinder unit that offers the pickup an estimated EPA fuel economy of 26 mpg on the highway. 
Less than a month's time after the unveiling of the Ford Ranger MAX Concept at the Thailand Motor Expo, and the first photos of the revised 2009 Ranger pickup truck have surfaced on the internet. These pictures, courtesy of the Thai-based Fordclub forum, reveal that the European / Asian market 2009 Ranger picks up several design cues from the prototype model including the 'in-your-face' three-piece chrome grille, the domed hood and the headlamp design. We are not aware of any other details, but expect to see an official release in the next few weeks. Hit the jump for more pictures.
Source: FordClub
The star attraction at Ford's stand at the Thailand Motor Expo that runs from November 28 to December 10 is the Ranger Max pickup truck concept. A team of Ford truck specialists in Thailand worked closely with Ford's Australia-based Asia Pacific and Africa design team, led by Paul Gibson, to create the Ranger Max. According to Ford, many of the design cues seen on the concept could find their way into the next-generation production model of the Ranger. 
Orange paintwork aside, the Range Max sports a new fascia with a huge three-bar chrome grille, a customized hard tonneau cover at the rear of the vehicle and what Ford calls a "Sportsbar" which attaches to the pickup bed and arches across the vehicle. A set of deep-dish, 18-inch alloy concept wheels and custom technical-look P285/60R18 tires with a chunky tread pattern finish the Ranger Max's extreme look.
"The tough style of Ranger Max is based on the capability and versatility that make Ford Ranger the choice of the most demanding truck owners," said Mr. Saroj Kiatfuengfoo, senior vice president, Ford Thailand. "Ranger Max's high-impact design and tough style appeal will excite truck enthusiasts in Thailand."
"We recognise that Thailand is the home of Ranger for Asia Pacific, and from Thailand we export Ranger around the world. We know Asia is a fusion of many cultures, and we look to Thailand as a wonderful blend of tastes, styles and emerging ideas. For this very reason, we decided to create Ranger Max in Thailand and show the high-impact truck to the world at Motor Expo," added Mr. Kiatfuengfoo.
If only this limited edition version of the Ford’s Euro pick-up truck was something more than just a standard Ranger dressed in “ST” livery… The only difference with the Ranger Wildtrack upon it is based is the Performance Blue color (available on the new Focus ST and Fiesta ST models) and the "Le Mans" style white bonnet stripes. Other than that, Ford