[Auto] Europeans Get This Rad, Sporty Ford Ranger MS-RT

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Europeans Get This Rad, Sporty Ford Ranger MS-RT
While it's related to our Ford Ranger mid-size pickup truck, the version Europeans get nevertheless is different. And to put a finer point on this fact comes the new Ford Ranger MS-RT, a sporty-looking version based on the Wildtrak trim. It's no Ranger Raptor—the Wildtrak sits just below that bona fide sport truck in the Euro lineup—but the MS-RT brings some rally-inspired sportiness that gives this well-equipped pickup a bit of an attitude.
The lower fascia receives sporty-looking inserts with integrated fog lamps that adds aggression to the front view, while a honeycomb-pattern grille is installed in place of the staid three-bar arrangement in the normal Wildtrak. The 20-inch OZ Racing wheels do a lot of the lifting for the overall coolness of this appearance package, too, but the fresh fender flares and side skirts are pretty sweet, too. The MS-RT is available in Frozen White, Sea Gray, or Agate Black—options that may be too muted. Why not a bold color for a bold truck?

Inside, it's mostly stock Ford, with orange contrast stitching on the leather seats, but there are some MS-RT badges and so forth to remind you that you spent a little more to give your Ranger a pinch of attitude. Power comes from the Ranger's twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel engine, which pumps out 210 horsepower and a tarmac-churning 367 lb-ft of torque.

The "MS-RT" portion of the truck's name comes from the third-party vehicle-design company that has a strong—and official—relationship with Ford's European commercial vehicle division. That means this Ranger MS-RT will be sold through Ford dealers, with a normal warranty and so forth, starting this summer. It joins Ford's other MS-RT offerings, including the Transit and Transit Connect. Pricing has not been announced.