Ford is headed to the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show and is bringing an impressive lineup with it, one of which is a special edition of Europe’s best-selling pickup truck, the Ford Ranger. It may not look the part at first glance, but the Ford Ranger Black Edition is just that, thanks in part to a limited production of just 2,500 examples across the continent. Of course, it comes dressed in black, hence the name “Black Edition.”

It’s fitting that Ford is bringing a special edition Ranger with it to Frankfurt. The pickup, after all, is regarded as Europe’s best-selling pickup, a title it has earned after posting record sales this year, including 23,100 units sold in July 2017 alone. What better way to celebrate the Ranger’s status than by dressing it up, slapping on new exterior detailing, dialing up on the standard features, and then showcasing it at one of the world’s biggest auto shows. It’s a good move that adds an extra layer of intrigue into the Ranger Black Edition, even though there’s not much about the pickup that counts as an “exclusive” other than the selling point of it coming in “all black” garb. Still, it should make for an interesting vehicle in Frankfurt. And considering the Ranger's popularity in Europe, Ford shouldn’t have any problems selling the 2,500-unit inventory of the special edition.

Continue reading more about the Ford Ranger Black Edition.

What makes the Ford Ranger Black Edition special?

There aren’t that many outlandish aspects to the Ranger Black Edition, though you have to give credit to Ford for capitalizing on the pickup’s popularity. It’s a smart play that should pay off well. It’s certainly worth pointing out that the Ranger Black Edition does have a few special features, the most prominent of which was the use of an Absolute Black finish on elements of the Ranger’s body that normally featured chrome detailing. The treatment creates a definitive look to the Ranger that aesthetically brings out the best of its off-road, go-wherever personality.

Other than streamlining the color of the Ranger Black Edition’s body, the only other notable feature of the special edition pickup is the list of standard equipment that it comes in. These features inlaced satellite navigation, front parking sensors, and a rear-view camera. Likewise, the special edition pickup also benefits from having Ford’s own SYNC 3 multimedia system with an eight-inch touchscreen, a dual-zone electronic climate control, leather seat trim, and power-folding, heated side mirrors.

It is easy to characterize the Ranger Black Edition as a muted version of how special edition models are packaged. History even shows that the Ranger isn’t typically the first pickup-of-choice within Ford for special-edition treatment. That distinction falls on the F-150, as we’ve seen time and time again with the abundance of SE models attached to the half-ton truck. That said, Ford did a pretty good job of creating an individualized look to the Ranger Black Edition. It may not be for everyone, but an all-black pickup that features more standard equipment than it otherwise would have is a pretty good proposition.

It’s just too bad that Ford is only releasing 2,500 units of the Ranger Black Edition, all of which will be based on Ford’s Double Cab body style. The model is already available in Ford dealerships in Europe and if Hans Schep, general manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe, is to be believed, the Ranger Black Edition will be “snapped up within weeks.” Better get a head-start then.

References

2016 Ford Ranger

Read our full review on the 2016 Ford Ranger.

2018 Ford Ranger

Read our full speculative review on the 2018 Ford Ranger.