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| Ford Ranger Raptors prepare to board a Roll-On-Roll-Off (RoRo) ship at Port Elizabeth harbour after being delivered by rail from Silverton in Gauteng. |
The range covers eight single cab models, nine SuperCabs and 16 double cabs.
Selling from R287 100 for the entry level single cab 2,2 TDCi 4x2 and topping out at R678 200 for the 2.0 BiT Wildtrak 10AT 4x4, the new Ranger introduces several features to help it take market share from South Africa’s best-selling bakkie, the Toyota Hilux, and keep market share from SA’s
best priced and fastest double cab, the Mitsubishi Triton.
These include a new 2-litre with either one or two turbos and a 10-speed automatic transmission alongside the proven 2,2 and 3,2 TDCi engines.
The high-tech 2.0 Bi-Turbo engine makes 157kW and 500Nm of torque from 1 750 to 2 000 r/min. This engine is available on the Wildtrak, and will also power the soon to be launched Ranger Raptor.
Ford also made significant changes to the Ranger’s suspension to improve ride comfort on especially rough roads, and the top end models can now have semi-automatic parallel park assist, keyless start, and an EZ lift tailgate, which uses a torsion rod to reduce the force needed to lift the tailgate by 70%.
Hitting the sweet spots
Among the 33 new Ranger models on offer, the 2,2 TDCi XLS 6AT 4x4 SuperCab is a good option for contractors, selling for R472 400, while double-cab dads will be happy with the new 2.0 SiT XLT 10AT 4x4 retailing for R570 200.The double cab has an 800 mm wading depth and 230mm ground clearance, and can tow 3,5 tons braked trailer weight, although towing such a load will reduce the permitted weight in the bakkie to two people and a small suitcase, thanks to a low gross combined vehicle weight allowed for the Ranger.
"it would be fair to describe this bakkie as a Euro printing machine for Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa"
But taking local sales from the Hilux is not really what the Ranger is about.
In fact, it would be fair to describe this bakkie as a Euro printing machine for Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA), which in March exported 4 186 Rangers to foreign climes, compared to 2 376 units sold locally. To meet this export demand, Ford last month sent its first shipment of Rangers from Port Elizabeth to markets in Europe, eschewing the congested Durban harbour.
Using empty rail wagons
Ockert Berry of VP Operations, Ford Middle East and Africa said there is unprecedented demand for the Ford Ranger around the world, and the company had invested over R3 billion in expanding its plant at Silverton to fulfil orders.“Together with Transnet, we evaluated how a multi-port strategy could benefit both parties by improving the use of current assets, reducing costs, avoiding the ongoing congestion in the Durban Terminal and utilising other ports for imports and exports,” Berry stated.
Hence Ford will now be sending RoRo ships loaded with Ranger bakkies twice per month to various receiving ports in Europe. The good news is the bakkies will not add to the blind-hill-passing traffic on the N2, as Ford has contracted Transnet’s Freight Rail to deliver the bakkies by rail.
VW sends cars from its factory in PE to Gauteng by rail, which wagons then return empty. Ford will now be filling the wagons from Silverton to Port Elizabeth and hence to selected markets around the world. “This will assist us in making the shipping and delivery from South Africa more cost effective, efficient and faster,” Berry said.
Rajesh Dana, port manager at Port of Port Elizabeth, said the Transnet National Ports Authority is “extremely excited” to grow business at PE’s port with Ford.
(First published in Witness Wheels.)
