march-april

11 “What makes this Ford Ranger really stand out is its muscular body features and a high belt line to its crowned bed that visually emphasizes strength and versatility for conquering any adventure,” commented Billy Longfellow, VP of Design and Engineering at Air DesignUSAand lead designer on the 2019 Ford Ranger build at the 2018 SEMA Show. Longfellow approached this Ranger Raptor project like he does any other. “The truck itself is incredible, and I didn’t want any modifications we did to take away from the aggressive factory styling that Ford worked tirelessly to achieve,” he said. “Our approach was to create something that’s not only appealing to the everyday enthusiast, but also attainable. And based on the response at the show, we nailed it,” continued Longfellow. The masculine exterior styling of this Ford Ranger SEMA build was further accentuated with a custom white and black paint by Sherwin-Williams, Borla cat-back exhaust with black chrome tips and differential cover, BDS suspension and upper control arms, Fox 2.5 Factory Series DSC coil-overs and 2.0 rear shocks, Nitto Ridge Grappler 33 x 12.50 inch tires, Fuel Vector 20 x 9 inch rims, Ford Performance off-road tow hooks and red recovery points, REV hard rolling tonneau cover, UnderCover™ Pivot Storage Box, Sundial window tint, and Air Design USA door rocker moldings, front bumper lower center bar with bumper flares, fender vents, hood scoop, rear cab spoiler, tailgate spoiler, and tailgate appliqué. Interior styling was perfected with custom black leather seats featuring white thread and a carpeted Sportliner™by Bedrug®. While at SEMA, Longfellow—a longtime, well-respected designer in the automotive industry—was honored with an Outstanding Achievement in Design award from Ford Motor Company. “It’s always nice for people to recognize your hard work, but it’s even more special to have the opportunity to work alongside such talent every day. This build wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration of our aftermarket partners. I’m honored and grateful for their participation,” he added. Air Design USA’s Ford Ranger SEMA Build Appeals to the Everyday Enthusiast T he award for comeback kid of the year goes to the 2019 Ford Ranger. With consumer excitement bubbling, Ford Motor Company arranged for seven modified 2019 Rangers to debut at the 2018 SEMA Show. Among them, an XLT 4×4 SuperCrewwith a 2.3-liter EcoBoost I4 engine and 10-speed electronic automatic transmission with a less-is-more appeal. Visit e-Keystone to learn more about aftermarket products available for the 2019 Ford Ranger.