The Ford Ranger is a name actually used for two distinct lines of compact pickup trucks, which are also known as the Mazda B-Series (North America) and the Mazda B-Series (International). The North American Ranger is Ford’s compact pickup truck in the region. It was very successful in the region, proving to be the best-selling compact pickup truck in North America from 1987 to 2004. Ford began development on the Ranger in 1976, emphasizing fuel efficiency and overall quality. It was conceived to be a smaller, more compact alternative to the bigger used Ford F-series models of pickup trucks, but to offer the same performance. Thus, the Ford Ranger featured similar styling to the F-series, used a similar architecture, and was also offered with four-wheel drive capabilities. The common standard for trucks is the ability to haul a standard piece of plywood, and Ford designed the smaller Ranger’s box to be capable of doing so. The first generation Ford Ranger was introduced to the market in 1982, with a wide variety of transmission and engine options. Engines ranged from 2.0L displacement to a 2.9L Cologne V6 in the 1986 Ranger GT. The SuperCab option was introduced in 1986, and offered an additional 17 inches of storage space behind the front seats. The second generation Ford Ranger came out in 1989 with a major facelift, including new front fenders, hood, grille, and flush composite headlamps. The steering column and the dashboard were also modernized. Anti-lock brakes were added to the rear wheels, and the option of a 21 US gallon fuel tank was made available. The third and fourth (current) generation of Ford Rangers saw more improvements to the model, consisting of aerodynamic improvements and longer wheelbeds, among others. The latest Ranger can come with a 4.0L engine for greater power. The current Ranger, in the FX4 Level II version, comes equipped with a 31-spline 8.8-inch rear axle, 31” all-terrain BF Goodrich tires, 3 skid planes, upgraded tow hooks, and Bilstein shocks. Ford even came out with a battery electric version of the Ranger, named the Ford EV. It had a fairly short run of four years, coming out in 1998 and being discontinued in 2002. It was generally considered to have acceptable performance, and smooth, quiet handling due to being an electric vehicle. The Ford Ranger has had a long and successful run, and is still in production at present. From its humble beginnings and through years of development, it looks set to continue its reign as one of the most successful compact pickup trucks in circulation.