Ford Australia has finally pulled the wraps off the Ranger T6 facelift, now packing more technology, revised looks as well as a brand new engine. This is the second time the Ranger T6 has been facelifted – the first was introduced here in October 2015.

Now, the biggest news here is the introduction of the new flagship 2.0 litre bi-turbo EcoBlue diesel that first made its debut in the Ranger Raptor. It outputs 213 PS and 500 Nm – the same as the Raptor – and gets hooked to a new 10-speed close-ratio automatic gearbox.

The engine features common-rail direct fuel-injection, an integrated intake manifold and a belt-in-oil primary drive, making it compact and lightweight. It boasts the same class-leading payload and 3,500 kg towing capability. This engine is optional and limited to the XLT and Wildtrak variants.

The older 2.2 litre (four-cylinder) and 3.2 litre Duratorq (five-cylinder) oil burners are still available in standard XLT and Wildtrak model, offering 160 PS/385 Nm and 200 PS/470 Nm respectively. Both engines are paired to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions from before.

Other upgrades include retuned suspension, which help reduce body roll and improve driving experience while fully-laden. The new geometry doesn’t compromise towing and payload capabilities, and it also improves ride and steering precision. A new tailgate mechanism is installed to facilitate a 70% reduction in the initial force required to raise or close the rear door.

For looks, the updated pick-up wears a new front grille, re-profiled front bumper and LED daytime running lights with HID headlights (standard on XLT and Wildtrak). There is now a clearer visual distinction between the Ranger variants, each differing in bumper treatments or even body colour – the Wildtrak gets a bright orange Sabre paintwork and a more rugged exterior styling. Keyless entry and push-start button are new and standard for XLT and Wildtrak, but optional on the XLS.

Inside, the changes are minimal. Ford’s Sync 3 system is now available across the board (optional on the XLS), with the eight-inch infotainment system now supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionalities. The Ranger’s built-in mapping system also supports a ‘breadcrumbs’ feature that helps owners retrace their tracks when going off-road. Emergency Assistance, which automatically calls 000 after a serious collision, is included with Sync 3.

In the tech department, the 2019 Ranger is now equipped with Autonomous Emergency Braking with Vehicle Detection and Pedestrian Detection. The system is capable of stopping the car entirely, and functions at speeds above 3.6 km/h. It’s standard on the Wildtrak, but optional on the XLT.

Besides AEB, there’s also Traffic Sign Recognition which identifies a variety of traffic signs. An icon of the speed sign will then appear on the instrument cluster and changes every time a new limit is detected. Other standard systems that’s part of the Tech Pack are Lane Keeping Aid and Lane Departure Warning as well as Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Collision Warning.

For the first time in a Ranger, the Active Park Assist system makes its debut in the pick-up. This however, is a semi-autonomous system and still requires driver’s input by way of throttle and braking applications. It’s standard on the XLT and Wildtrak (part of the Tech Pack), but optional on the XLS.