By: Jason Woosey
Bangkok, Thailand - The bakkie sales war being fought on South African shores looks set to become even more brutal in the near future.
Ford has been giving the country's long-time best seller, Toyota's Hilux, a good run for its money on the sales charts in recent months and now the Blue Oval has just clenched its fist and upped the game with a comprehensive makeover that includes a fresh look inside and out, advanced new technologies and upgraded engines.
Revealed in Thailand on Monday, the new Ranger is set to hit local streets and plaaspaaie in the fourth quarter of this year. An all-new Hilux is also in the works for 2016, although Toyota has yet to officially reveal it.
On the outside, the new Ranger has a redesigned front end featuring a trapezoidal grille and projector headlights, giving it a more muscular face that matches the side profile and chiselled rear end, both of which remain unchanged.
So it looks tougher, but the conversation around the braai is more likely to be about what's beneath that bonnet.
BETTER ENGINES
The Range-topping 3.2-litre five-cylinder Duratorq turbodiesel continues to produce 147kW and 470Nm, but various improvements, including an upgraded exhaust gas recirculation system and idle-stop technology, improve fuel economy by up to 18 percent.
The 2.2-litre four-cylinder 'middle mannetjie' gets more muscle to the tune of 118kW and 385Nm (up from 110kW/285Nm) while the base turbodiesel sees maximum power rise from 88kW to 96kW. The latter is up to 22 percent more efficient than its predecessor. The sole petrol offering, Ford's 2.5-litre Duratec, soldiers on as before with 122kW and 226Nm.
Depending on the model in question, the engines can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. A 'proper' four-wheel drive system, complete with low range and electronic locking rear diff, is also on offer as before, backed up by a 230mm ground clearance, 800mm wading depth and decent approach and departure angles of 28- and 25-degrees respectively. The Ranger can also tow up to 3500kg.
Regardless of the terrain being tackled, the new Ranger is poised to provide a more comfortable ride, better road holding and a quieter overall experience, thanks to improvements to the suspension and additional sound deadening materials.
ADVANCED GADGETS
The cabin is easier on the eye, thanks to a redesigned dashboard and improved materials, and there's been something of a technological revolution inside this Ford.
While the lower spec models are likely to remain suitably basic, the well-appointed models come with a new eight-inch touch-screen infotainment system as well as a dual-TFT instrument cluster in front of the driver that provides 'at a glance' info from the entertainment, navigation and climate systems.
The new Ranger is available with a raft of gadgets that you wouldn't normally expect to find in a bakkie, such as Lane Keeping Aid with steering intrusion, Adaptive Cruise Control, Driver Impairment Monitor (a type of drowsiness detection) and, given that this is a bakkie after all, there's an Adaptive Load Control system that adjusts the ESC stability control system in accordance with the current load.
Yet before we get too carried away, bear in mind that this is the international version we’re speaking of; the local specification mix and pricing will only be confirmed closer to the vehicle's launch later this year.
More importantly, are you a Ranger fan or do you support Team Hilux?