Ford working on Ranger based SUV

Ford is working on a new truck-based SUV in Australia that underpins the forthcoming T6 Ranger platform and like the Ranger , it will be sold in international markets.

Ford recently sent off American engineering executive Todd Hoevener – a man who worked on the 2011 Explorer SUV in the U.S – to Australia to manage the Ranger -based SUV development.

The forthcoming SUV will predominantly be aimed at the Australian and South-East Asian market, together with Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia like the 2012 Ranger .

The T6 Ranger is scheduled to go on sale next year. The fate of the 2012 Ranger in the U.S is yet to be decided; it could go on sale or it could be axed from the Ford USA line-up with no direct replacement.

Ford Australia did not confirm the report, although Public Affairs Manager Sinead McAlary said, "T6 is a global platform and we've always said we have the capability to generate more than one vehicle off that platform."

The T6 SUV will rival the Nissan and the Mitsubishi Challenger.