There’s a new Ranger in town, with the “ultra-high specification” Ranger Platinum usurping the established Wildtrak at the apex of Ford’s regular pickup line-up.

This gives buyers more choice in the premium sector, with the outgoing Wildtrak having accounted for a heady 60% of all Ranger pickup sales in Europe – making it the most popular manufacturer’s most popular model.

See also: Pickup buyer’s guide 2022-23

Although it will still be available, the Wildtrak will play understudy to the Platinum variant, which brings fancier exterior detailing and a higher-grade, leather-trimmed cab, paired with a 3-litre V6 turbocharged diesel up front.

This delivers up to 240hp and 600Nm through Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission and new electronically controlled full-time all-wheel drive system – a combination that, according to official stats, is good for 28mpg.

Unlike the more sophisticated but less workaday Ranger Raptor, which sits in a class of its own, the five-seat, double-cab Platinum is rated to tow the full 3.5t and, like the rest of the Ranger family, has a payload of more than 1t.

Exterior highlights include a unique grille, silk chrome finish and 20in alloys, plus a soft-close tailgate, privacy glass and “signature” daytime running lights.

Inside, both driver and passenger are treated to quilted leather seats with heating and cooling functions and 10-way power adjustment.

© Ford

One 12in screen forms a digital read-out behind the steering wheel to replace the traditional gauges, while a centrally mounted second screen, in portrait orientation, controls the infotainment system.

A Bang & Olufsen audio kit and wireless smartphone charging are both standard, as is a ruck of driver assistance systems for parking, changing lanes and viewing the surroundings through a 360deg camera.

Order books are open now, with prices starting at £44,400 (ex VAT). Deliveries are expected to begin in late spring.

Below the high-performance Raptor and Wildtrak models that are already on sale, Ford has also launched the Ranger in rugged XL (double-cab from £29,800), and XLT (from £31,150) trim.

Both prices are excluding VAT.