Ford has joined the twin cab ute sports recreation market with the introduction of a `Wildtrak' variant of the popular Ranger workhorse.

With large decals, a sports bar integrated into the design, and out-there colours, the Wildtrak is hard to lose in a crowd.

Wildtrak is the new `hero' variant of the Ranger with the PK range now on sale almost two years after the PJ model was launched in 2007.

PJ replaced Ford Courier.

The PK range gets an all new front end design and interior upgrades and is inspired from the Ranger MAX show truck, revealed at the Thailand International Motor Expo last November.

Wildtrak comes with 18 inch alloy wheels, integrated sports bar, box rails, a roller-shutter style lockable tray cover, bed liner and decals ... which look more like tatts for trucks.

The PK Ranger is more of a facelift than an all-new model, with the mechanicals the same as the PJ it replaces.

Ranger comes with a choice of two engines, both diesels, of 2.5 litres and 3.0 litres capacity.

Ranger has been a success story for Ford which had doubled sales in this segment since 2006.

The segment itself was in a growth spurt with sales up 70,000 to 120,000 in the past six years. The global financial situation could see that growth shrink.

Ford Product Marketing Manager, Christine Wagner, said the PK range was defined by what Ford call `Tough Style'.

The vehicle's front end has had major plastic surgery and now features a three-bar grille, twin lateral nostrils, wrap-around head and raised bonnet.

Ranger is available in three series levels, XL, XLT and Wildtrak.

There's a choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmissions in 4x2 or 4x4 variants.

As a workhorse Ranger scores impressively with a 1000 kg payload capacity and towing capability up to 3000 kg, depending on model.

The 2009 PK Ranger introduces five new models to the range: 4X2 XL Crew Cab pick-up with a 2.5 L auto, XL Hi-Rider crew cab chassis 3.0 L auto, and XLT Hi-Rider Crew Cab Pick-up 3.0L man/auto and 4X4 XL Crew Cab Chassis 3.0 L auto and Wildtrak Crew Cab Pick-up, 3.0 L man/auto.

Ford launched the Ranger on the mid north coast of NSW using a variety of urban roads, highway and country tar and gravel roads.

The vehicle feels much the same as the PJ model and is class-leading in terms of ride comfort, given these vehicles use leaf springs at the back end.

The diesel engines are a little noisy, but that too is common across the various makes.

Ranger's 4X2 range starts from $24,490 while the 4X4 range starts from $31,990.

The popular twin cab variants, XLT starts from $45,990 for the five speed manual and $2000 extra for the auto and the Wildtrak is $3000 more for both manual and auto variants.