The Ford Ranger (T6) Thread

Ford to build new Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok in South Africa

Silverton will build next Ranger and platform-sharing Volkswagen Amarok, creating more than 10,000 jobs

Ford is expanding its operations in South Africa, making its largest ever investment in the country to the tune of $1.05 billion (roughly £0.77bn).

The sum will be invested in Ford’s factory in Silverton to prepare it to produce the new Ranger pick-up truck and the closely related Volkswagen Amarok next year, improving its environmental credentials and increasing its annual capacity from 168,000 to 200,000 vehicles.

To achieve this enhanced capacity, Ford will hire 1200 new workers at Silverton, bringing its South African workforce to 5500 as well as creating around 10,000 new jobs in the plant’s supply chains.

The American firm will also spend $686 million (£503 million) upgrading the plant’s infrastructure. The upgrades include a new on-site robot-equipped body shop and stamping plant, box line and paint shop improvements and the addition of new vehicle modification and training centres.

 
Looks like the 3yr extended warranty which we took out on my 4yo Ranger to get me to the new one in 2023, is going to already pay for itself. 4th service yesterday and the source of a cold idle vibration from underneath the vehicle was diagnosed as a CAT which needs replacing. Going to be a big bill for the warranty.....
 
New Ford Ranger FX4 bakkie variants: prices for South Africa revealed!

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has quietly revealed pricing for its new FX4 derivatives, which rejoin the locally built Ranger bakkie line-up.

Offered exclusively in double-cab configuration with the Blue Oval brand’s 2,0 SiT powertrain (with the choice of 4x2 or 4x4), the new Ranger FX4 slots in below the Wildtrak and Thunder models but just above the XLT on which it is based.

In South Africa, the Ranger 2,0 SiT XLT FX4 4x2 starts at R618 900, while the Ranger 2,0 SiT XLT FX4 price kicks off from R687 900. A spot of quick maths suggests the FX4 package thus effectively costs R30 000.

So, what do you get for the extra cash? Well, we’ve combed through the specifications and found the FX4 upgrades to a drop-in bedliner (with a 12 V socket) while also gaining underbody protection, a black (Thunder-style) mesh grille, black side-mirror caps, black exterior door handles, black 18-inch alloy wheels, black side steps, a black “extended” sports bar and an “Ezi-lift” tailgate. "FX4" decals affixed to the lower part of the front doors are included as well.

Pricing:

Ford Ranger 2,0 SiT Double Cab XLT FX4 10AT 4x2: R618 900
Ford Ranger 2,0 SiT Double Cab XLT FX4 10AT 4x4: R687 900


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New (SA-built) Ford Ranger bakkie to gain hybrid option, says report

A fresh report out of Australia claims Ford has “confirmed” it is developing a plug-in hybrid version of the next-generation Ranger bakkie.

Ford in Europe recently announced that by mid-2026 its entire passenger vehicle range on the continent would be “zero-emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid”, before moving to “all electric by 2030”. The Blue Oval brand furthermore said its commercial vehicle range in Europe would also be “100 percent zero-emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid, by 2024”.

Of course, the next-gen Ranger sold in European markets will again come from South Africa’s Silverton assembly plant (like the current model), after a recent $1,05-billion (R15,8-billion) investment in the company's local operations.

According to CarExpert.com.au, a Ford Europe spokesperson has confirmed the new Ranger will be “zero-emission capable” by 2024.

 
2021 Ford Ranger FX4 officially hits SA: prices and specs confirmed

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has officially rolled out fresh FX4 derivatives of its popular Ranger bakkie.

Of course, we were the first to bring you pricing for the two new locally built FX4-badged models, which are offered in double-cab configuration with the Blue Oval brand’s 2,0 SiT powertrain (with the choice of 4x2 or 4x4). This 2,0-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine makes 132 kW and 420 N.m, delivered either to the rear axle or all four wheels via a ten-speed automatic transmission.

As a reminder, the new Ranger FX4 slots in below the Wildtrak and Thunder models but just above the XLT on which it is based. The Ranger 2,0 SiT XLT FX4 4x2 starts at R618 900, while the Ranger 2,0 SiT XLT FX4 price kicks off from R687 900. A spot of quick maths suggests the FX4 package thus effectively costs R30 000.

Interestingly, the local launch of the FX4 derivatives signals the arrival of FordPass Connect (and the FordPass smartphone application) to the automaker’s broader bakkie line-up. The system now ships standard on all new Ranger XL, XLS, XLT, FX4, Wildtrak and Raptor models.

Pricing:

Ford Ranger 2,0 SiT Double Cab XLT FX4 10AT 4x2: R618 900
Ford Ranger 2,0 SiT Double Cab XLT FX4 10AT 4x4: R687 900


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Ford Ranger FX4 (2021) Launch Review

Ford South Africa has welcomed an FX4 double-cab derivative to its Ranger line-up and, apart from offering unique styling elements, the newcomer introduces a nifty connectivity feature – FordPass Connect. Cars.co.za journalist Gero Lilleike travelled to the Wild Coast to experience the Ranger FX4 in the metal.

Ford is on a roll! Earlier this month, the brand announced a massive R15.8-million investment in its local operation that will see significant upgrades made to its Silverton production facility ahead of the production of the all-new Ranger, as well as the all-new Volkswagen Amarok (which is based on the Blue Oval's next-gen bakkie), both of which are due for local release around 2023, perhaps sooner.

As the current-gen Ranger nears the end of its product lifecycle, Ford has been quite eager to capitalise on strong demand for uniquely-styled and kitted-out leisure double-cabs. As such, Ford has been rolling out a number of upgraded Ranger derivatives that cater for various budgets and, based on the market uptake, this strategy is creating a win-win situation, not only for the brand – customers too.

Just a few months ago, Ford South Africa introduced the Ranger Thunder (based on the Ranger Wildtrak) and then, towards the end of 2020, followed it up with the launch of the Ranger XL Sport (based on the Ranger XL), which catered for the high- and low ends of the Ranger’s customer base respectively.

Now, with the introduction of the new Ranger FX4 (based on the Ranger XLT), the Blue Oval is looking to satisfy the needs of buyers who would ordinarily be interested in middle-of-the-range derivatives in the bakkie line-up. The FX4 nameplate first arrived on the local market in 2017 (pre-facelift) and this latest Ranger FX4 is bound to resonate with local buyers too.

Ford Ranger FX4 Price in South Africa (February 2021)

2.0 Single Turbo Double Cab XLT FX4 10AT 4x2 R618 900
2.0 Single Turbo Double Cab XLT FX4 10AT 4x4 R687 900


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Another happy ford client!
 

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