The All new Ranger - More than just a bakkie

The All New Ford Ranger was probably the most fun car launch I have been on to date. Although very brief, with one too many charter flights and even one missed flight, 4x4ing to elephant whispering – it was a great 24 hours!

We left Cape Town International very early on a Monday morning and were met at OR Tambo by Team Ford and the rest of the journo´s where we all chartered a rather bumpy plane ride to Nelspruit. Once in Nelspruit it was time to drive! I partnered up with Roxy from Cleo and doubted my decision instantly as Roxy took us on a wrong turn as we left the airport (ssshhh we didn´t tell anyone this :-). But it´s all about the journey right? And the journey was beautiful. We drove out of Nelspruit towards White River and into the heart of Mpumalanga. Luckily they had had some rain a couple days before we got there so everything was lush and green.

I got to drive all the various Rangers with the Wildtrack being my favourite. The new Ranger is impressive to say the least. The appearance resemebles a real, tough, American truck. For anyone who has spent some time in the States, you´ll know the kind of truck I am talking about, and I like it! I am, although I shouldn´t be, a fan a big cars as my lifestyle requires the space. 3 large breed dogs just do not fit in a hatch or sedan – trust me, we’ve tried! When it comes to carbon emissions, the Ranger 2.2 is the way to go. The Ranger also comes with Ford´s reliability, affordability (prices range from R200k – R400k) – cost of ownership is great. It´s robust, easy to clean and as I mentioned before has excellent tough truck quality.

The Wildtrak is the blinged up yet stylish Ranger. It´s a high-end 4×4 with all the mod-cons, perfect to take the boys out into the bush by day and then glam it up for dinner with friends by night.

Ford has unashamedly sniffed out the best attributes of its fiercest competitors to produce a bakkie it says doesn’t skimp on the details. It’s claimed to be bigger, more refined, safer – it is, after all, the first bakkie to achieve a five-star rating in the EuroNCAP assessment.

The all-new Ranger introduces three new engines – two Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel engines and one Ford Duratec petrol unit – that deliver outstanding torque and superior fuel-efficiency. Its 4×4 models have more ground clearance, a deeper fording height (800mm) and best-in-class towing ability – a staggering 3 350kg. It’s twice as rigid as the outgoing Ranger. It’s Ford’s super bakkie and it comes at a great price.

The all-new Ranger is one of the most high-tech compact trucks, featuring smart technologies such as Bluetooth®1 with Voice Control and Rear View Camera system in certain derivatives room and knee clearance.

Spacious

Three adults can easily fit in the second row of the Double Cab while two six-foot sized adults can comfortably sit one behind the other.Making full use of the spacious interior, the all-new Ranger Double Cab offers 23 storage spaces in the cabin – more practical stowage than most competitors. Its deep centre console bin is among the biggest in its class at 8.5 litres and can keep up to six cans of beverage cool in models with a duct from the air-conditioner.The glove box is large enough to accommodate a 16-inch laptop computer while door pockets can comfortably fit 1.5-litre water bottles. Ample storage for mobile phones and other small items can be found in the console and in areas within easy reach of the driver. Underneath the rear seats, convenient hidden storage area for tools can be easily accessed.

Innovation

Poised to be a leader in innovation, the all-new Ranger comes with smart technologies that make the pickup easier, safer and more fun to drive. On selected models with Bluetooth®1, USB and iPod®2 connectivity, there is voice control over the radio, CD, iPod, USB, electronic air-conditioning and mobile phone. Dual-zone climate control and cruise control are available on the high series.

The all-new Ranger comes with a 5 year / 90 000km Service Plan and a comprehensive 4 year/120 000km warranty with service intervals of 15 000kms. Customers will also benefit from 3 years of Roadside Assistance and a 5 year corrosion warranty as part of the Ford Ranger package. All-new Ranger 4×4 customers also receive free off-road driver training.