We love getting info from our friends in the region, as the batting average always tends to be right on the money. That was true of the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ three years ago and of the Nissan Navara about 12 years ago, before these vehicles were revealed.

Now we’ve got something new again from our contacts, and it concerns one of the most popular 4x4 trucks in the market: the Ford Ranger.

According to our insiders in the region, a new internal model code appeared inside Ford for the Ranger. We won’t get into details on the actual model code (as the number of people who can see it is very limited) but what it indicates is that Ford is preparing to launch a new generation model.

Carmakers like to use internal model codes for their vehicles, and a lot can be learned by looking at the letters and numbers. For instance, Ranger enthusiasts would know that the Ranger model code is RX, with an internal model code as P703X. The “X” in both codes can change depending on the market, so for Thailand it’s RA or P703A, while in South Africa it’s RB or P703B, and for Argentina it’s RC or P703A, just to name a few.

So when a new model code arrives that is completely different from RX or P703X (X being the market it is intended for), then you know you’re dealing with an entirely new generation. And that’s what our contacts are telling us; they expected an update, but what they say is that an entirely new code appeared for the Ranger… and for the Ranger Raptor.

That indicates that a new generation model may be coming, and it is likely that it will ride on an entirely new platform. As you know, the current Ranger is an evolution of the T6 platform that has been around for a while. There are no details yet, but it is expected that the vehicle will feature hybrid technology given stricter efficiency standards and the fact that diesel prices are so high.

There are reports that the vehicle is already in development in Australia, and that the reveal will happen in the next year or so. Our insiders tell us that the Ranger will likely debut sometime in 2027, followed by the Ranger Raptor in Q4 of 2028.

That timeline makes sense as markets in the region are already trimming down their Ranger offerings. In the Philippines, Ford already trimmed down the Ranger lineup. This is usually done when an all-new model is coming sooner rather than later so as to avoid overstocking on an older model that may have trouble selling towards the end of its showroom life. But hey, we’ll see what happens in the next year or so.