The Ford Ranger has only recently returned to the American market, but the model that US buyers finally got is one that had been on sale in other markets for years, so it's already a little dated. That takes nothing away from its capabilities, and many first-time buyers have remarked on how composed it is both on the road and off it.

Nevertheless, a new model would be welcome, and that's what we're getting. It is set to be quite a departure from the current model, boasting more size and all-new styling cues that Ford has been doing its best to keep secret. Fortunately, as development progresses, more of the new pickup is being revealed, and new spy shots posted on the Instagram reveal that it will be quite a looker.

One of the images was posted by a user with the name 'bill_AUS', so we originally inferred that these shots were taken down under in the land of kangaroos and Crocodile Dundee. However, closer inspection of the background reveals a banner that appears to come from an Asian country, possibly Thailand, with this likely being a location for hot weather testing.

As the revealed light design shows, the new Ranger will borrow styling influence from the latest F-150 and the new Maverick, both of which are pretty handsome pickups. We can also see an intricate grille with full-width bars connecting each headlight and suspending the Ford badge. The lower bumper houses fog lights as usual, but this is likely the model to be sold in the rest of the world, so the American version may have a slightly different front fascia.

Unfortunately, there are no images of the rear of the truck. Nevertheless, we know that the US has a long wait ahead of it because production timelines have revealed that the new Ranger will only enter production in Michigan in May of 2023. Australia, Thailand, and other markets will get their new Rangers first, but the American-spec model should be worth the wait with Ford claiming that it will be the "toughest, most capable and connected Ranger pickup yet." Our hope is that when it does finally arrive, Ford execs deem the market lucrative enough to launch the Raptor version here too. Fingers crossed.