Whether you use it for business or pleasure, Ford has brought in some extra added bling with its new limited edition Ranger Thunder pick-up truck.
Priced from £32,965 excluding VAT, or £39,558 with it, the Thunder has a family-friendly double-cab body style as standard.
Only 1,400 will be allocated to Britain and 30 for Ireland with order books opening today for delivery in late summer.
Thunderstruck: This is the new limited-edition Ford Ranger Thunder – the hardcore version of Europe’s best-selling pick-up
Ford sold more Rangers across Europe in 2019 than any year on record, with 52,500 vehicles bought by customers of which more than 16,000 were in the UK alone.
Since launch in the UK in 1998, nearly 150,000 Rangers have been sold as Europeans have looked to get their hands on a piece of American-style pick-up action.
And this latest iteration is about as cattle-lassoing as they get.
At its heart is a powerful 213 horsepower bi-turbo 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine with the same 10-speed automatic gearbox used in the Ford F-150 pick-up and Ford Mustang coupe and tough four-wheel drive capability for on- and off-road performance.
The new Thunder is derived from the popular Ranger Wildtrak series.
The advantage for small and medium sized businesses is that buyers using it for work can claim back the VAT, whereas private buyers who purchase purely for pleasure will have to pay it.
It is offered in a single specification finished in sea grey with bold red highlights on the grille and sports hoop, with three-dimensional-effect Thunder badges for the driver and front passenger doors and tailgate.
The Ranger logo is finished in matte black.
Ford sold more Ranger across Europe in 2019 than any year on record, with 52,500 vehicles bought by customers of which more than 16,000 were in the UK alone
Inside the Thunder has full Ebony leather seats with distinctive Thunder red embroidery and matching stitching across the steering wheel, seats, instrument panel and key touch points throughout the cabin
Just 1,400 examples have been allocated to the UK market, with another 30 exclusive to customers in Ireland
It comes with exclusive 18-inch black alloy wheels and ebony black paint for the front grille, rear bumper, skid plates, fog light surrounds, load bay sports hoop and door handles.
LED headlights with darkened surrounds are standard, with darkened taillight surrounds at the rear.
As an optional extra, a black Mountain Top powder-coated roller shutter with bed-liner divider is available to boost the practicality of the load bay.
The stealthy black paint and red highlights looks something similar to the A-Team van from the ’80s hit TV action series.
With black paint and red contrast flashes, with think it looks like a famous motor from ’80s television…
The colour combination and stealth looks – in our opinion – is similar to the GMC van used by the A-Team in the 1980s hit series, which went on to become a film some 30 years later
The Thunder comes with a load-bay cover and a compartment system for businesses and private owners to transport good without them rattling around freely in the back
It has leather seats with distinctive Thunder red embroidery and matching stitching across the steering wheel, seats, instrument panel and key touch points throughout the cabin.
Black floor mats come as standard and contrast with the bespoke red-illuminated sill plates.
It promises fuel efficiency of 31.0mpg and C02 emissions of 239g/km under the new ‘real world’ or WLTP measure.
The new special edition marks the third generation Ranger Thunder, after the first made its debut in 2003 and the second in 2009.
Hans Schep, Ford of Europe’s general manager for commercial vehicles said: ‘With an edgier look for customers who aren’t afraid to be noticed, the new Ranger Thunder will be an unmistakable presence.
‘This capable, comfortable and stylish addition to Europe’s best-selling pick-up range is as tough and versatile as it is charismatic.’
This is the first-generation Ford Ranger Thunder pick-up sold in the UK
The second-gen Ford Ranger Thunder followed in the late 2000s with an updated look
This new third-generation Ranger Thunder is indisputably the most sinister-looking example yet
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