Ford working on Ranger based SUV

Ford is working on a new truck-based SUV in Australia that underpins the forthcoming T6 Ranger platform and like the Ranger, it will be sold in international markets.

Ford recently sent off American engineering executive Todd Hoevener � a man who worked on the 2011 Explorer SUV in the U.S � to Australia to manage the Ranger-based SUV development.

The forthcoming SUV will predominantly be aimed at the Australian and South-East Asian market, together with Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia like the 2012 Ranger.

The T6 Ranger is scheduled to go on sale next year. The fate of the 2012 Ranger in the U.S is yet to be decided; it could go on sale or it could be axed from the Ford USA line-up with no direct replacement.

Ford Australia did not confirm the report, although Public Affairs Manager Sinead McAlary said, "T6 is a global platform and we've always said we have the capability to generate more than one vehicle off that platform."

The T6 SUV will rival the Nissan Pathfinder and the Mitsubishi Challenger.