The new Ford Ranger has won the International Pick-Up Award 2013. All 24 member of the judging panel ranked new Ranger as their number one choice; praising its performance on- and off-road, strong engine line-up, payload and towing capability, and safety.

New Ranger won the award following extensive testing at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, England, after which it was awarded 47 points – more than the combined number of points garnered by the second- and third-placed Isuzu D-Max and Volkswagen Amarok. The award was presented to Ford by jury chairman Pieter Wieman.

New Ranger is offered in three versatile cab bodystyles – Double, Super and Regular – that are among the roomiest in its class; comes with a choice of two powerful and economical Duratorq TDCi diesel engines, and with a choice of 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains.

“Ranger is great for work and great for leisure, and customers will appreciate the difference as soon as they get behind the wheel,” said Paul Randle, vehicle line director, Global Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe. “This prestigious award is testament to the work of our global product teams and there is plenty more to look forward to with the launch of the all-new Transit and all-new Transit Connect in 2013.”

Totally new from the ground up; new Ranger now delivers more payload and class-leading towing capability; along with innovative new comfort and driver assistance features; and is the first such vehicle ever to achieve a Euro NCAP 5 Star rating.

So far in 2012, Ford has this year already won International Van of the Year award for the all-new Transit Custom and its 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine was named the 2012 International Engine of the Year.

All eyes now turn to the Continental Irish Van of the Year 2013 award which will be announced by the Irish Motoring Writers Association (IMWA) Van Jury Chairman Michael Moroney on November 22nd. The Ford Transit Custom is on a shortlist of eight van for that prestigious award.

The Ford Ranger is also a strong competitor for the prestigious Continental Irish Commercial 4×4 of the Year award which will be announced by the IMWA in January. Amongst others, it will compete against other pick-ups such as the Toyota Hi-Lux, Mitsubishi L200 and Great Wall Steed in a very competitive competition.

To further demonstrate Ford’s prowess in the light commercials sector, also in January the blue oval has both the Ford Fiesta Van and the Ford Kuga Van competing for the Continental Irish Car Derived Van of the Year 2013. It too is organised by the IMWA and is takes specific account of the Irish market and Irish drivers.

Pic caption: (L to R) Paul Randle, vehicle line director, Global Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe, receives the International Pick Up of the Year award for the New Ford Ranger from Peter Wieman, Chairman of the International Pick of the Year jury