This Special Ranger celebrates racing on and off road
The new Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition makes its debut at the Paris Motor Show, combining motorsport-inspired styling with luxurious features and Ranger’s proven capability.
Many pickup buyers choose their truck based on towing and practicality. But while those weight and payload numbers matter, there’s also something about a pickup’s driving position and road presence that attracts owners well beyond the traditional farm-or-forest customer.
That was at the core of why we worked with Ford to develop the Ranger MS-RT. As the design and engineering director at MS-RT, I loved the challenge of balancing Ranger’s core capability with adding bucketloads of style and flair.
Now, the Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition 1 offers even more of both for customers who really want to stand out from the crowd. Our latest pickup fits right into Ford’s commitment to capability on and off the beaten path — a spirit we share at MS-RT, standing for M-Sport Road Technology — coming from our unique collaboration with the M-Sport rally team who’ve run Ford’s entry in the World Rally Championship since 1997.
We’re all car lovers and motorsport fans at MS-RT, so we had a lot of fun using the Ranger as a canvas to combine nods to Ford’s history with the hand-crafted elements and hard-working capability that characterise everything that leaves our workshops.
What makes Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition stand out?
Whether you’re using it to carry tools and materials during the week, or towing a racing car or boat at the weekend, 2 Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition turns heads. The motorsport inspiration is obvious; for example, there’s no missing the twin racing stripes running across the front bumper, bonnet and tailgate with gold contrast edging.
The truck’s 21-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels are finished in gold to match. They partly remind me of the wheels on the record-setting Mustang GTD supercar and complete Ranger MS-RT’s visual punch.
The MS-RT wider arches, side skirts and unique bumpers make the truck look planted on the road, while the twin rear spoiler setup has echoes of the “whale tail” wings from the Sierra RS500 or Escort Cosworth. These are the cars that many of the team had posters of on our bedroom walls as kids.
Do the cabin and driving experience match the style?
While the outside screams performance, the Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition’s interior is nothing like a stripped-out racer. Instead, teams at Ford and MS-RT created a luxurious cabin that still delivers enough practicality for work and family.
The steering wheel defines a huge part of the driving experience and connection to the road. In the Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition, race-inspired sculpting is designed to give a secure grip while a heated rim, perforated eco-leather cover and gold stitching add luxury.
Heated, heavily bolstered MS-RT front seats and more gold stitching throughout the cabin continue the theme. Every Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition also gets a plaque in the cabin to prove its authenticity.
You might need to change your idea of what a pickup’s interior is like. We’ve got equipment levels that match what you’d expect in a premium SUV. Standard kit includes a 12-inch touchscreen with SYNC 4 infotainment, 3 Android Auto and Apple Carplay connectivity, 4 ambient lighting and dual-zone automatic climate control.
Driver assistance is a priority for these customers too, and Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition offers Ford’s suite of helpful systems including intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Change Warning and Aid, Active Park Assist, and cameras with rear and top view to help manoeuvring. 5
Is the Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition still as capable as other Rangers?
We knew Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition customers wanted something special, but we — and they — wouldn’t accept compromising the capability that’s made Ranger the best-selling pickup in Europe for 11 straight years. 6
We retained the unique suspension setup from Ranger MS-RT. It sits 40 mm lower than standard Ranger models, with firmer front dampers and a specially retuned rear suspension setup. The result is composed cornering and sharper steering feedback than the standard Ranger as well as a more hardcore appearance.
Despite the lower suspension and aerodynamic bodykit, Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition keeps Ranger’s hard-working spirit. I knew owners use their Rangers for towing, but I was still surprised to learn just how many; in the UK, for example, it’s 89 per cent. As capability is still vital, we preserved the full braked towing capacity up to 3.5 tonnes 2 and up to a tonne of payload. 7
Customers choosing the plug-in hybrid powertrain where available can also specify Pro Power Onboard. Compare it with a typical portable generator: it can help reduce fuel costs, there’s no generator or jerrycans that can be stolen, it doesn’t eat into load area or payload, and it can deliver up to 6.9 kW. 8 Camping, loading a trailer or clearing a work site in darkness are easier with 360-degree Zone Lighting that can illuminate the area around the truck.
What else do I need to know about it?
The Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition is available exclusively as a practical double cab, with four doors and a rear passenger bench.
All vehicles are hand-finished by MS-RT in the UK — and as the exclusive elements meet Ford’s exacting production standards, the Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition comes with the same level of warranty cover as a standard Ranger, 9 with Ford dealers able to do all servicing and maintenance.
Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition is open to order now, so speak to your dealer if you want to be getting behind the wheel of one when deliveries begin in spring 2027.
Dr. James Kerr is the design and engineering director for MS-RT. He leads the team responsible for designing and developing the rally-inspired variants of Ford Pro commercial vehicles, and has previously worked on everything from hypercars to high-performance off-road vehicles. If not in a design studio or workshop, you’ll find James on the touchlines coaching his rugby team or completing charity fundraising challenges.
Ranger MS-RT Features:
- Motorsport-inspired bumpers and integrated diffuser
- Extended front and rear wheel arches
- Sculpted side-skirts
- Cab and ducktail spoilers
- Revised sports suspension lowered by 40 mm
- MS-RT illuminated seat badges (PHEV only)
Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition additions:
- Exterior gold decals over Agate Black paint
- MS-RT 21” gold diamond-cut alloys
- Sports steering wheel with gold stitching and on-centre marker
- MS-RT sports seats finished in premium eco-leather and suede with gold contrast stitching.
- Gold floor mats
- Champion Edition plaque on the centre-console
1 Ford Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition Plug-In Hybrid homologated CO2 emissions 146-148 g/km WLTP Euro 6e-bis, homologated fuel efficiency 6.4-6.5 l/100 km WLTP Euro 6e-bis and pure electric driving range up to 42 km WLTP. Ford Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition V6 diesel homologated CO2 emissions 284 g/km WLTP Euro 6e-bis, homologated fuel efficiency 10.8 l/100 km WLTP Euro 6e-bis. The declared WLTP fuel/energy consumptions, CO2 emissions and electric range are determined according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended. The applied standard test procedures enable comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. A range of up to 42 km can be achieved with a fully charged battery – depending on the existing series and battery configuration. The actual range may vary due to various factors (e.g. weather conditions, driving style, route profile, vehicle condition, age and condition of the lithium-ion battery)
2 Max towing varies based on vehicle configuration, number of passengers, accessories, and load weight of transported equipment. Available on Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition.
3 Don’t drive while distracted or while using handheld devices. Use voice-operated systems when possible. Some features may be locked out while the vehicle is in gear. Not all features are compatible with all phones.
4 Compatible Android or iPhone with compatible active data plan and software required. SYNC® 4 does not control third-party products while in use. Third parties are solely responsible for their respective functionality. Google, Android, Android Auto, Google Maps and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC. Apple CarPlay is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
5 Driver-assist features are supplemental and do not replace the driver’s attention, judgment, and need to control the vehicle. They do not make your vehicle autonomous or replace your responsibility to drive safely. Please only use if you will pay attention to the road and be prepared to take over at any time. See Owner’s Manual for details and limitations.
6 Based on S&P Global Mobility sales data 2015-2025. Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
7 Max payload varies and is based on accessories and vehicle configuration. See label on doorjamb for carrying capacity of a specific vehicle. Always properly secure cargo. Payload and towing are independent attributes and may not be achieved simultaneously.
8 See Owner’s Manual for important operating instructions.
9 See your dealer for limited-warranty details.
