1999 Four-door Ford SuperCab Expands Ford Ranger's Appeal

The addition of a four-door SuperCab to Ford Ranger's lineup makes Ranger one of the most versatile compact pickup trucks on the road. The change, made midway through the 1998 model year, means Ranger is one of only two compact pickups to offer a four-door model (Mazda's B-Series is the other).

Ranger's new forward-opening third and fourth rear doors greatly improve access to the rear of the cab. Using the third and fourth doors, owners can access the rear compartment from either side of the truck, which helps when loading cargo and gear.

"Customers confirm every day in dealer showrooms that they like more doors," Ranger Brand Manager Drew Cook said, referring to the fact that Ford Motor Company also added fourth doors to its 1999-model F- 150, F-250 and F-350 full-size pickups and its 1999-model Windstar minivan. "More doors means more utility. Utility is what today's customer demands."

The optional rear doors hinge off the corner pillars of the cab and swing out 90 degrees from the door sill. No "B-pillars" are in the way to interfere with loading. Rear doors are fitted with side-door intrusion beams for extra protection.

The four-door SuperCab model also includes flip-fold, center-facing jump seats with safety belt retractors and two standard storage bins on the lower door trim.

"Third and fourth doors have expanded the appeal and versatility of pickups and minivans," said Paul Morel, Truck Group brand manager for Ford Division. "Since we added a third door (and now a fourth door) to our F- 150 a couple of years ago, we've seen the popularity of our F- 150 SuperCab model soar from 35 percent of sales to more than 70 percent today.

"We expect 55 percent of Ranger SuperCabs or 30 percent of all Ranger models to be four-door models," Morel added.

The addition of the fourth door put the finishing touches on Ranger, completing its redesign for the 1998 model year.

For 1998, Ranger was improved to sport new front-end styling, interior, durability and performance improvements and a new front suspension.

Overall, Ranger's blend of toughness, fun and affordability traditionally appeals to value-conscious truck buyers seeking a sporty, rugged pickup that is versatile enough to go anywhere and do anything, yet efficient and stylish.

Powertrain features
Ranger offers 2.5-liter 1-4 (119 horsepower), 3.0-liter V-6 (150 horsepower) or 4.0-liter V-6 (160 horsepower) engines, available with 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains (2.5-liter engine only available with 4x2).

Transmission choices include a five-speed manual, four-speed automatic and - exclusive in the compact pickup class - a five-speed electronically controlled automatic (shared by the Mazda B-4000 pickup). This transmission is an option with the 4.0-liter engine.

When equipped with the 60/40 front bench seat, Ranger SuperCab can seat a maximum of five passengers. The jump seats can be deleted for buyers who want an open rear compartment.

New for 1999
For 1999, a flexible fuel (ethanol/gasoline) 3.0-liter V-6 engine is standard. This engine can burn 100 percent unleaded gasoline, E-85 (ethanol) or a combination of both fuels.

Other changes to Ranger concentrate on color and trim items. The Splash model is replaced by the Sport Group. New clearcoat metallic colors are Amazon Green, Deep Wedgewood Blue, Harvest Gold and Jalapeno Green. Deleted are Light Prairie Tan, Boysenberry Blue, Light Denim Blue, Deep Emerald Green and Pacific Green. One new interior color Dark Graphite - is added.