They're here: Pre-production models of Ford's new Ranger, Everest touch down in SA
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Ford South Africa revealed its next-generation Ranger and Everest; albeit in pre-production form.
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Both vehicles are touted to set new standards in their respective segments when they launch later this year.
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The Ranger and Everest will be built in South Africa at Ford's Silverton assembly plant.
The South African market is getting ever closer to the local launch of the next-generation Ranger bakkie and Everest SUV. Both vehicles were shown to a global audience via digital presentations, along with the expected specifications available to each. Ford South Africa, too, is excited about the prospect of launching both vehicles in the local market and is confident that they will set new standards in their respective segments.
Just weeks after the Everest's reveal, both the new SUV and new Ranger were shown to media representatives at Ford's Silverton assembly plant in Pretoria, South Africa. According to Ford SA, local media are among the first in the world to see both the new bakkie and SUV in the metal outside of those working for Ford.
Media were given an overview of the updated production facilities where both the Ranger and Everest will be built, along with a reveal of the two models - albeit pre-production units that were imported for homologation purposes.
The highlight accompanying the news was that a new 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine would headline both the Ranger and Everest's engine line-up.
The new unit will offer 184kW and 600Nm and is mated to Ford's 10-speed automatic transmission. Speaking on the engine, Pritika Maharaj, Ranger and Everest programme manager, notes that this engine has been added to see to customers' needs and demands.
Maharaj says: "We're offering this engine specifically because some customers told us they wanted more power and torque for towing and extreme off-roading. When you drive a Ranger with the V6 turbodiesel, it feels like a much bigger (bakkie). And it feels strong in the sense that it's got plenty of power and torque, which is exactly what our customers told us they wanted."
Ford's new V6 diesel engine will complement the existing range of single- and bi-turbo 2.0-litre diesel engines.
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