Ford has decided to revive the Ranger Splash appearance package that was a common sight in the 1990s. However, the current version has just about as much to do with the original graphics as the trucks do with each other. Rather than adding a splash of color along the side of the pickup (like on the original) Ford has elected to go with black vinyl and a little bit of orange. Though it does help the truck stand out a bit more, especially when combined with the remaining accouterments, it’s not all that reminiscent of the original look.
Meanwhile, an ocean away, Europeans are getting the “Very Gay Raptor Ranger” in the most pathetic example of corporate pandering in recent memory. But let’s start with the Splash.
The 2022 Ford Ranger Splash comes in one of two flavors. The basic “Splash Package” comes with orange and black graphics along the pickup’s haunches and unique 18-inch 12-spoke wheels finished in matte black. Ford will also install orange grille nostrils with black accenting on the grille with similar treatment being given to the side mirrors, bumpers, fender vents, and wheel lip moldings. The rest is a buffet of orange stitching, which can be found on everything from the leather-trimmed seats to the gear selector.
But the manufacturer likewise wants to drive sales via manufactured scarcity, so it plans on introducing Limited Edition versions of the Splash every few months. According to Ford, the differences between them will be related primarily to the color options and the limited availability with production capping at a few hundred vehicles for each run. Details are scant here but the rotating hues will apply to both the interior and exterior and come with the same 18-inch wheels as the standard package. The first one will be called the Snow Edition and presumably will feature a white theme.
Ranger Splash Packages will be available for SuperCrew models optioned in XLT and Lariat trims. Pricing will be $1,495 with deliveries starting at the end of the year.
But what if Splash isn’t doing it for you and you want a truck that looks like it was owned by the Care Bears? Ford seemingly has you covered with the Very Gay Raptor Ranger. Unfortunately, the vehicle was designed as a way to feign commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and draw as much attention to itself as humanly possible in the process. Ford has been proudly displaying the vehicle on social media this week. But nobody can buy it and the entire pickup is allegedly based around the premise that Ford took some social media commenter to school after they said Performance Blue was a “very gay” color. In response, Ford Europe came up with a rainbow wrap to place atop a sparkly, gold-flake Raptor so it can dunk on an irrelevant comment made over the internet.
Showcasing the Very Gay Raptor would definitely hold more meaning if multinational companies didn’t spend the last two years doing this exact thing in Western markets while downplaying LGBT campaigns in regions where homosexuality has been criminalized or deemed broadly unpopular. But that never happens because it would hurt sales, making the pickup little more than a meaningless marketing tool for people who cannot see beyond the colorful paint job.
[Images: Ford Motor Co.]
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facepalm
This is pretty much how I see most pickup trucks anyway. Now, if all the truck companies would just have a feature that blared circus music whenever the vehicle starts rolling…..all would be right with the world.
0. That “Splash” package is lame. The truck isn’t lowered like on the original Splash and it seems like the decals don’t even say “Splash” anywhere.
1. I’m not sure that a company giving rando internet comments that much power is a great move. YMMV.
2. I’m not sure that giving the “very gay Raptor” a stereotypical sparkly, pink-hearted design is the big win for inclusion that Ford and the automotive press is making it out to be, but again YMMV.
“The truck isn’t lowered like on the original Splash and it seems like the decals don’t even say “Splash” anywhere”
Correct. If your going bring back the Splash at least do it right.
And why does this Splash cost $1500? The Ranger FX4 package costs $1300 and that includes decals, tires, and extra equipment.
Wouldn’t bringing the Splash back in the spirit of the original require a stepside bed?
That, and a price that isn’t off-the-rails stupidly high.
I can understand it lacking a step side bed because those basically don’t exist any more, but a sticker appearance package should be like $600 max (and the stickers shouldn’t be lame). For $1500 it really should come with a suspension drop too.
Something closer to this:
tinyurl.com/68f75k27
I’d say the truck as a whole is stupidly high, even without the package in question.
FORD TO TWATTER MORON: We’ll show *you* who is more immature between us!
I Agree.
The corporate justice warrior is at it again I see.
I do agree that multinationals tend to be quite about injustice in the world.
“It’s still illegal to be LGBT+ in 70 countries, and you could be given the death penalty in 12”.
Does Ford sell many vehicles in Russia or the Middle East?
I’m sure the usual suspects will be along deriding Ford and anything remotely supportive of LGBTQ.
As Russell Crowe’s Maximus said in “The Gladiator”, “Are you not entertained”.
They’re a couple of months late for Pride. But if you want pandering, nothing beats IKEA.
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/ikea-pride-couches/index.html
Check out the bisexual couch…assuming you’re up to date on your anti-anxiety meds.
The colours are a bit wild. I don’t mind the “asexual” and “lesbian” couches. I’m sure that will #trigger someone.
Ah the good ol’lesbian couch, an Opie & Anthony Staple
So change out the pink heart for a white unicorn and remove the “Very Gay” graphics. Nobody would notice.
I’m sure tired of being expected to congratulate and applaud the gays for being gay.
I have to agree. “Gay pride” seems to have morphed from meaning “stop being ashamed of who you are”, which I can totally agree with, into “pat yourself on the back for your non-accomplishment”.
It’s the era we live in. People taking pictures of the meal they just cooked, or in many cases, someone else cooked and calling it worthy of a post and filled with pride.
These people need to have some of their participation trophies broken, urinated upon and set ablaze.
And then told their safe space is currently occupied.
Make sure you break their crayons and rip the stuffing out of their pillows/stuffed animals in that safe space as well. Replace their comfort animals with rabid pit bulls or dingos
Virtual Signal Extreme Cringe. Well Zoro (the Gay Blade) and the Lone “Ranger” both wore the same mask. So there’s that? Maybe the next Amazon Top Gear can drive this Festooned Ranger Raptor thru Afghanistan. Will they have the same luck as Hammond’s Pink Dodge P/U thru the South? That would be a show!
Think of it as the Mirror Universe version of the Ram Power Wagon.
Anti-TRX.
If the Very Gay Raptor and the Ram TRX ever meet, it’s the end of all existence, everywhere.
youtube.com/watch?v=pj1FVsAA0jU
You mean the Rebel? The Power Wagon at least has some actual capability.
youtu.be/Ux32aMUR_0s
Maybe just a minor multiverse incursion, then.
“If the Very Gay Raptor and the Ram TRX ever meet, it’s the end of all existence, everywhere”
Or maybe that overcompensating masculinity might wake up, have a good cry and come out of the closet as a Mach E.
Ram Power Wagon Gay Panic…can I sell tickets to that one?
Ram Rainbow Power Wagon
What about the Subaru with the grille that looked like a… uh never mind.
That’s one way to kill sales.
Typical TTAC responses from Matt and the knee-jerk conservatives and libertarians.
Ford clearly isn’t selling this truck, but is marketing at a gay event. Please let me grab my pearls to clutch them. Oh the horror. Is your masculinity so fragile that this bothers you?
Matt, this site is degenerating quickly into Bertel days.
marc… If Ford marketing festooned an F-350 6.7L Powerstroke Tremor in American Flags at a Proud Boys 4th of July Parade, would sit idly by and think meh….? Make no mistake the LGBTQ / Pride Events and Parades have been hijacked into a political / social movement.
Also, what would be your alternative to a “Knee-Jerk Libertarian”? A Jack Booted Authoritarian?
not at all comparable. thanks for playing.
Look at you, all woke and stuff.
Marc would rather have a knee on the neck of a conservative or libertarian. I’m sure he would be ok with that.
“Also, what would be your alternative to a “Knee-Jerk Libertarian”? A Jack Booted Authoritarian?”
Those are opposite points on the political spectrum.
There are 4 points to that compass. Libertarian, authoritarian, left and right.
You can be libertarian left or right or totalitarian left or right.
Are you actually gonna die on the hill of “Neo fascist White Supremacy and advocating for equal rights for gays are basically the same”?
That’s where you are going? Really?
Many are already there.
In other words, Ford has added a tailgate video system to the Very Gay Raptor, which plays this, and only this, continuously:
youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ5LpwO-An4&t=54s
The splash seems like a typical special edition. Not much substance, a little style, and a little more profit. As far as the rainbow raptor, it’s just another example of a company pandering to a specific group. No different than the Harley Davidson special targeting wannabe bikers. At the end of the day, who cares?
Ford’s mystery-color-of-the-quarter plan is a guaranteed fail. If I buy a Splash today, but I’m absolutely knocked out by the color they bring out 6 months from now, do they expect me to trade mine in? If nothing else, give us a preview of what’s planned; if I have to wait 9 months for my favorite color then I will.
My recently diagnosed brain cancer is looking more and more like a Good Thing…….
Seriously?
Wow. I thought I was a cynic.
So there’s going to be something available besides black, white, or one of fifty shades of gray! Finally!
I don’t think I would have picked either of these two ways to advertise it, however! Particularly not knowing what colors would be available when!
“Fifty shades of grey”
Wrong orientation, bruh.
Domination an orientation?
Mr. Grey was straight, as I recall. Hella kinky, tho.
I bet he dabbled at some point in his life
A lot of men got laid because of that book.
Ford shamelessly pandering? Sounds right.
The only group that panders more is the democratic party. Killary and her hot sauce is a perfect example.
Ford (and the dems) don’t care about people, just seizing on an opportunity to show how “woke” they are. Yet Ford won’t pull that on their Middle East social medias.
Pandering sh*tbags
Finally, they put some color on it. Now if it only hadn’t grown so big. I’d have gone for that if it were 1997-sized.
Ford should make that raptor a trim level here in the US, and not as special order – it should be available on dealer lots.
Of course, I suspect Ford’s US operations are seriously hoping that this doesn’t get more press. I suspect they are well aware of their customers’ feelings on every topic under the sun through extensive research, and this doesn’t exactly sync up with the vast majority of F-150 owners.
I’m betting that the Ranger Raptor will come. The Colorado is supposed to be getting the turbo engine out of the 1500.
If Ford can build a Sasquatch or Warthog Bronco, they can build Ranger Raptor.
Oh, not the plain old regular one. They need to bring that colorful version with the rainbow stuff on it.
That would demonstrate that they are sincere.
I’d drive it…. well, through some mud holes and probably never wash it again. But I’d drive it.
I’m usually one of the more easily offended homos out there but the Very Gay Raptor gave me a good chuckle. Nice to see someone at Ford has a good sense of humor. Unlike Matt and most of the posters on this site, evidently.
Someone on the internet called a performance blue Raptor “gay” so Ford responded by creating a sparkle gold Raptor with Lucky Charms livery and sent it to a German Pride event.
I’ll admit the joke is lost on me, but then again this is my Ford:
tinyurl.com/2wfjduh8
Stepsides or GTFO.
Stepsides Matter…
I hope I can say that without offending anyone or setting off a left or right-wing sh!tstorm.
Everyone keeps talking stickers, but the Stepside was the defining feature and for a while you could only get it on the Splash.
Stickers?! It was the mid 90’s…there were more sticker packages than you could count. Nobody cared and if I remember, it was a relatively small decal package, especially by mid 90s standards.
LOL!
LOL!
Possibly relevant (apologies in advance):
https://jezebel.com/these-are-the-top-10-gay-and-lesbian-cars-1569142181
What, they polled every gay person? LOL…
A lot of VW’s on that list.
In an attempt to feign inclusivity, Ford creates a garish, stereotype-enhancing machine based on a (likely fake) social media comment. This is the most 2020’s thing I’ve seen in a while.
LOL
“ In an attempt to feign inclusivity, Ford creates a garish, stereotype-enhancing machine based on a (likely fake) social media comment. This is the most 2020’s thing I’ve seen in a while.”
Best comment in here. Perfectly summed up
Thanks for your support Ford, in helping us fight for the same rights we’ve had as everybody else for the last like, 20+ years.
I’m gay and happily married to another man , yet even my husband and I can’t stand this pride s**t anymore.
We don’t deserve a special day (or now a whole f’n month!!!) for being gay, and we sure as hell don’t need a rainbow ranger. Enough already!!
Worth whatever Ford paid to do it just to watch everybody here rage. You guys are hilarious.
it’s like everyone searched for and found the inner EBFlex on this one. Posky certainly knows how to work ’em good.
Found *the truth.
Maybe Ford should spend more time fixing the oil dilution issue on the Ranger and less time on cosmetics
But that would require more than virtue signaling.
Nobody does corporate pandering like Ford.
Well, I did ask for larger metal flake. (Thank you, Forde.)
https://www.freep.com/videos/money/cars/ford/2018/06/18/bill-ford-jr-opens-up-talks-detroit-ford-vs-forde-name/708009002/
Kudos to Matt for calling out the corporate world’s PC hypocrisy in different markets.
Is anyone actually dumb enough to believe that corporate wokeness is sincere?