One of Australia’s most popular utes, the Ford Ranger, has received a range of special-edition updates designed to enhance its capability when the going gets tough.

Heading the list of changes is an accessory package for the Ranger XL 4x4 double cab chassis, which Ford has dubbed the XL Special Edition.

Changes include a factory-fitted steel bull bar with integrated mounting points for lamps and UHF antennas and a standard LED light bar.

Ford says the new bull bar is covered by covered by the Ranger’s five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and has been crash-tested for compatibility with vehicle safety systems such as the XL’s autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

A fixed-head snorkel tops off the Ranger XL Special Edition’s upgrades, which Ford says provides a higher air-intake position to provide cooler and cleaner air to the engine on dusty roads, while also improving fording ability.

Ranger XL buyers can also now choose an optional Continental all-terrain tyre fitted to larger 17 x 7.5-inch steel wheels in place of the standard 16-inch wheels, for enhanced off-road performance.

With a recommended MLP of $500, the optional rubber can be factory-fitted, hence bypassing the need to shop and fit tyres post-purchase.

The Ranger XL 4x4 is also now offered with a Heavy-Duty Pack on single cab, super cab and double cab body configurations in both cab chassis and pick-up, at a cost of $1600–2000.

The pack combines suspension upgrades with the Continental all-terrain tyres on 17 x 7.5-inch black-painted steel wheels, solid wheel nuts, plus black side steps on all models but the single cab chassis. A rear-view camera kit already standard on pick-up models is now also available on cab-chassis models.

Continuing the upgrades, the Ranger XLS 4x4 now comes with a choice of black-finish 17-inch alloy wheels over the standard 16-inch alloys for a look that’s more consistent with higher-spec Rangers such as the XLT, FX4 and Ranger Wildtrak.

And arriving in showrooms in September is a Ranger XLT 4x4 Fully Loaded (pictured above and below) double-cab with a suite of optional design, technology and convenience options bundled together for greater value.

The XLT 4x4 Fully Loaded features larger 18-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss black adaptive cruise control, leather-accented seat trim and semi-automatic parallel parking.

Ford says the pack is available on both the 3.2-litre five-cylinder or the 2.0-litre bi-turbo powertrains at a recommended drive-away price of $1500 over the standard XLT double cab, a saving of more than 50% compared with buying the options separately.

A new optional factory-applied spray-in bedliner is also available as a more durable alternative to “drop in” or aftermarket bed liners on all XL, XLS, XLT Double Cab Pick-Up models.

“We’re working hard to ensure that tradies and their teams across the country, and businesses pushing to get back on their feet, have the right equipment and support to get on with what matters to them most,” said Andrew Birkic, the newly appointed President and CEO of Ford Australia and New Zealand.

The Ranger was the best-selling 4x4 vehicle in Australia and New Zealand in 2019 and this year holds a narrow lead in this market over its arch-rival the Toyota HiLux.

However, with a heavily revised HiLux, due to launch later this month, and both a new Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT50 bringing stiffer competition, the changes are no doubt also designed to ensure the Ranger remains competitive against these new players.