SEMA: Ford Ranger gets blinged

Australians will have access to some of the 150 performance parts and accessories announced for the Ford Ranger at the 2018 SEMA show today.

Now in production in Michigan ahead of its US release in early 2019, the Australian-developed Ranger was the star of Ford's huge exhibit at the world's largest aftermarket automotive expo.

And Ford Global Performance director Hermann Salenbauch told motoring.com.au that many of the enormous number of new and upmarket Ranger parts and accessories will come down under.

"You should absolutely expect it. We want to do that globally. This is not like when we do it here. We want to do it everywhere, "he said.

"Accessorising is really what this show is all about. It's really a thing people love. We want to take part in it. "

Showcased on new fewer than seven Ford Ranger concept vehicles at SEMA, the newly developed components include everything from roof suspension kits to roof top campers (see below).

But perhaps Aussie Ford Ranger owners should not get too excited just yet.

There are "…" between the Aussie and North American Ranger said Ford Australia's product communications manager Damion Smy.

He said it's unlikely we'll see any of the accessories in the short-term because the product is currently unique to the US.

"There are also differences in bumpers and things and the US Ranger is made in different factory," added Smy.

When it comes to the Ranger Raptor, Salenbauch confirmed Ford would not release the Raptor Raptor in the US, where Ford's first mid-size pickup in eight years will be powered exclusively by a 2.3-liter turbo-petrol engine-matched four-cylinder engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission. No diesel or single-cab versions will be offered.

"Be happy that you have it in Australia," he said. "We wanted to give a Raptor to wherever they are pick-up trucks. The Ranger [Raptor] is running where no F-150s are sold.

"Our key priority was to go global [with Ranger Raptor]… in many global markets but not North America. "

The Ford Global Performance is the leading manufacturer of Raptor Raptor, which is sold in Asia Pacific and European markets with a 157kW / 500Nm 2.0-liter four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine.

"You have to think back 10 years ago. I introduced the F-150 Raptor with a 5.4-liter engine – at the time, the strongest engine in our line-up, "he said.

"Ranger is a diesel market globally. We wanted to have the best, the strongest, the newest diesel engine [for the Ranger Raptor].

"It has no deficiencies. It's a really strong, torquey, excellent engine. We deliberately looked for that engine. This is the engine we wanted.

"Globally, in new markets, the diesel is a very good engine."

Ford Performance also used the 2018 SEMA show to launch new limited-edition versions of the Ford GT supercar and Mustang muscle-coupe. Sadly, both models are left-hand drive and unavailable from Ford Australia.

The new 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series is claimed in the road-going Ford GT line-up, with carbon-fiber wheels, a titanium exhaust, titanium lugnuts and a polycarbonate rear hatch with additional winding saving nearly 18kg.

Unlike the previous Ford GT Competition Series, the third special-edition Ford GT retains its air-conditioning and SYNC3 infotainment system, and adds bare carbon-fiber dual-exposed stripes, A-pillars and lower body panels.

Ford says it will be possible to have a Ford GT Carbon Series now via www.FordGT.com, with the final owner application process for global select (LHD) markets opening on November 8.

Meantime, the Series 1 Mustang RTR for Mustang GT and EcoBoost models equipped with the Performance Pack is a partnership between Ford Performance and RTR Vehicles.

Boost a more aggressive exterior design and tuning suspension that's claimed to make it a better track car, just 500 Series 1 Mustang RTR conversion kits with factory-backed limited warranties will be sold and installed at selected US Ford dealerships from early 2019.

In total, Ford displayed more than 50 vehicles at the 2018 SEMA show, occupying the entire length of an exhibition hall and making it the biggest OEM at this year's show.

Here's the rundown on the Ford Ranger concepts the Blue Oval used to showcase the parts and accessories it will offer US Ranger buyers from early 2019.

The first two of these seven Customized Rangers were developed by the Oval Blue Official Ford Performance and Ford Accessories teams respectively.

Ranger Pre-Runner by Ford Performance

2019 Ranger Lariat 4 × 4 SuperCrew plus:
FX4 Off-Road Package
3.73 electronic locking differential
Ford Performance by Borla cat-back exhaust
Ford Performance differential cover
BDS Suspension upper control arm kit
Fox 3.0-inch leveling kit with off-road shocks
Ford Performance differential skid flat kit
Ford Performance wheels, 17 × 8.5-inch
BF Goodrich All-Terrain KO2 Tires, 285 / 70-17
Ford Accessories matt bed, spray-in bed liner, TOUCHLINK truck bed light by Lumen, SwingCase by UnderCover
Ford RIGID white rock light kit, plus RIGID bards-series PRO 40-inch curved light bar, E-Series PRO 40-inch light bar, D-Series amber spotlights, hood hinge-mounted off-road light kit with DSS- RIGID Radiance Plus Series Pro lights and white
Addictive Desert Designs Desert Racer front bumper with integrated floor and rear bumper, chase rack and illuminated Side Slider Rock steps
Kay Automotive Graphics KPMF Air Release Premium silver graphics kit
Two 3.5-gallon Rotopax FuelpaX with FuelpaX Deluxe Pack Mount
Ford Performance by WARN Industries recovery kit includes storage bag, 22-foot by 2.0-inch blue recovery strap rated at 14,400 pounds, winching gloves and a ¾-inch D-shackle rated at 18,000 pounds
Ford Accessories all-weather floor liners front and rear-facing cameras with DVR by AMP Global

Ranger Base Camp by Ford Accessories

2019 Ranger XLT 4 × 4 SuperCrew plus:
FX4 Off-Road Package and Sport Appearance Package
3.73 electronic locking differential
Ford Performance cat-back exhaust by Borla, differential cover, skid plates and air intake snorkel
Ford Performance differential cover and skid plates
BDS Suspension upper control arm kit
Fox 3.0-inch leveling kit with off-road shocks
Ford Accessories machined-face black wheels with silver and orange accents, 18 × 8.0-inch; Ford Accessories wheel lock kit
BF Goodrich All-Terrain KO2 Tires, 285 / 65-18
Ford Performance differential cover, skid plates and air intake snorkel
Ford Accessories off-road hoop steps with Tuff-Tone coating, spray-in bed liner, bed mattress, bed extender by Lund Motion Products, cargo bed net, keyless entry keypad, TOUCHLINK truck bed light
Ford Accessories by Yakima heavy-duty Outpost rack kit, SkyRise rooftop tent, eyebolts and load stops, heavy-duty hook straps, Skinny Warrior roof rack, Skinny Warrior roof basket, Slim Shady awning, Quick-click cleats SideBar
WARN Ascent front and rear bumper and Zeon 10k winch
Kay Automotive Graphics KPMF premium air release silver graphics kit
Ford Performance by WARN Industries recovery kit includes storage bag, 20-foot by two-inch blue recovery strap rated at 14,400 pounds, winch gloves, ¾-inch D-shackles rated at 18,000 pounds plus instruction manual
Ford Accessories all-weather floor liners, safe console by Console Vault and black chrome door by Putco

Xbox Ranger by Addictive Desert Designs

2019 Ranger XLT FX4 SuperCrew plus:
Ford Performance by Borla cat-back exhaust
BDS Suspension upper control arms and six-inch lift with Fox coil-over front suspension kit
Fox 2.5-inch coil-over front and rear shocks
Custom color-matched Rev 883 wheels, 17 inches
BF Goodrich Mud Land KM3 Tires, 315 / 70R-17
Addictive Desert Designs Venom R front and rear bumpers, HoneyBadger chase rack with roof rack, tire carrier and Lite side steps
RIGID Radiance series LED lighting and rock lights provide Xbox glow
Xbox Design Studios-themed vinyl wrap
Ford Performance by WARN Industries recovery kit includes 22-foot by two-inch blue recovery strap rated at 14,400 pounds, ¾-inch D-shackle rated at 18,000 pounds, storage bag and winching gloves
Ford Accessories tray-style floor liner
Addictive Desert Custom Designs Xbox mounts
Custom-embroidered Katzkin Xbox One X leather interior
Xbox One X game consoles mounted behind rear seats, plus Xbox Design Labs winter forces game controllers
Heavy-duty headrest-mounted screens from Next Base
42-inch high-definition external screen for outside gaming
Forza Horizon 4 loaded in Xbox One X consoles

Project Nightfall

2019 Ranger Lariat 4 × 4 SuperCrew plus:
Ford Performance by Borla
BDS Suspension upper control arms
Airlift load lifter
Fox 3.0-inch leveling kit with off-road shocks
Black Rhino Mint wheels, 20 × 10-inch
Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires, 305 / 55R-20
Custom stealth bumpers from Ford Performance
ARE. CX Revo cap
Axalta paint by Lynch Concepts
Bushwacker fender flares
CargoGlide bed tray system
Lizard Skin spray-on wheel
NFab Epyx side steps
NFab tire carrier
Yakima JetStream roof rack and Highroads
Ford Performance by WARN Industries recovery kit includes 22-foot by 2.0-inch blue recovery strap rated at 14,400 pounds, ¾-inch D-shackle rated at 18,000 pounds, storage bag and winching gloves
Ford Accessories tray-style floor liner
KICKER speaker system
Trent's Trick Upholstery customer interior accents
Alea leather
Lightforce switch fascia

Project Ranger X by BDS Suspension

2019 Ranger XLT 4 × 4 SuperCrew plus:
Ford Performance by Borla cat-back black chrome tips and differential cover
Custom long-bed conversion on 136-inch wheelbase
BDS Suspension six-inch suspension lift with upper control arms
Fox 2.5 Factory Series DSC coil-overs
AirLift rear airbag system
Extended rear driveshaft
KMC XD Series Granada off-road wheels, 17 × 9.0-inch
BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM3 Tyres, 35 × 12.5-inch
Black with fiery orange custom stripes
Knapheide utility box with custom-built rack system
WARN Ascent front bumper and Zeon 10-S winch with Factor 55 FlatLink
Custom rock sliders and rear bumper
RIGID Radiance, SR-M and LED Lighting Series
Bushwacker front fender flares
Dometic CFX 40-watt electric cooler
MaxTrax MKII recovery devices
Rotopax 2.5-gallon FuelpaX containers
Amp Research fuel door
Ford Performance by WARN Industries recovery kit includes 22-foot by two-inch blue recovery strap rated at 14,400 pounds, ¾-inch D-shackle rated at 18,000 pounds, storage bag and winching gloves
Ford Accessories tray-style floor liner
sPod SE eight-button touch screen relay system
KICKER audio system

Baja-forged Ranger

2019 Ranger XLT FX4 SuperCrew plus:
Ford Performance by Borla cat-back black chrome tips and differential cover
Icon Vehicle Dynamics front suspension system with 2.5 Series remote reservoir coil-overs with CDC valve and remote reservoir secondary shocks, billet aluminum upper control arms and lower A-arm skid plate with secondary shock mounts; rear suspension with 3.0 Series bypbad shocks, 2.0 Series hydraulic bump stops
Icon Rebound bronze alloy wheels, 17 inches
BFGoodrich Mud Terrain KM3 tires, 35 × 12.5-inch
Ford Accessories spray-in bed liner
Baja-forged by LGE-CTS Motorsport features bed cage with Pro Eagle jack and spare tire mount, fender flares, front bumper with RIGID Radiance Plus 20 amber lights, rear bumper and rock rail
RIGID chase taillight AMB, Radiance Plus 40 white backlight, roof-mounted light bar and Radiance SM / 2 lighting
PPG Industries Envirobase paint in custom green army, bronze and yellow
Ford Accessories tray-style floor liner
Katzkin seat covers in black leather with black and yellow barracuda leather inserts
Painted accents in bronze and army green

Airdesign USA Ranger

2019 Ranger XLT 4 × 4 SuperCrew plus:
Ford Performance by Borla cat-back black chrome tips and differential cover
BDS Suspension upper control arms
Fox 2.5 Series Factory DSC coil-overs and 2.0 rear shocks
Fuel Ripper satin black wheels, 20 × 9.0-inch
Nitto Ridge Grappler Tires, 33 × 12.5-inch
Ford Licensed Accessories by Airdesign USA door rocker moldings, front bumper lower center bar with bumper flares, fender winds, hood scoop, rear cab spoiler, tailgate spoiler and tailgate applied
Ford Accessories carpeted Sportliner by BedRug
Custom white and black paint by Sherwin-Williams
Ford Performance off-road towing hooks and red recovery points
Ford Performance by WARN Industries recovery kit includes 22-foot by two-inch blue recovery strap rated at 14,400 pounds, ¾-inch D-shackle rated at 18,000 pounds, storage bag and winching gloves
Ford Accessories tray-style floor liner
Custom black leather seats with white thread
Custom paint inserts by Sherwin-Williams
Sundial window tint