The Ford Ranger (T6) Thread

2027 Ford Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition revealed as limited-run performance bakkie

Ford has whipped the wraps of the Ranger MS-RT Champion Edition, a new limited-run version of the Blue Oval brand’s street-focused performance bakkie.

Ford has whipped the wraps off the latest Ranger MS-RT (M-Sport Road Technology), with the Blue Oval brand unveiling the Champion Edition at the 2026 Paris Motor Show. Celebrating on- and off-road racing, the limited-run model builds on the original MS-RT formula of its forebears, featuring a selection of street-focused upgrades, while gaining several model-specific design elements. Exclusive to the European market, only 500 examples will be made.

Finished in Agate Black paint – replete with decals featuring gold-coloured stripes on the bonnet, doors, and tailgate – the Champion Edition is also distinguished from the standard variants via the fitment of gold-coloured 21-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. Similar to its stablemates, the Champion Edition features honeycomb inserts in the front grille, extended front and rear wheel arches, revised side skirts, a new rear diffuser, and a ‘ducktail’-style rear spoiler. The updated sports suspension, replete with firmer front dampers and a “specially tuned” rear configuration, has been lowered by 40 mm.


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I don't know the price, but that screen replacement is going to be eye watering!

Mine developed a rattle behind the screen glass when it was cold. It meant every winter morning, the screen made the sound of sagex box packing material being rubbed together. If I pushed on the glass, the noise went away.

The dealer had a tough time getting the warranty claim for a new screen authorised. Ford SA made us all jump through hoops to prove the issue. Eventually I had to make a video one morning and in that video with no cuts, I had to drive the vehicle and record the noise, record my pushing finger stopping the noise and then I had to swing the phone around to show the door sill sticker proving it was my vehicle by capturing the printed VIN on the video.

I eventually got my new screen and all has been fine. But they fought hard to make me go away rather than replacing.
 
Why Ford hasn’t (yet) launched the Ranger PHEV in SA

The head of Ford in South Africa has explained why the locally built Ranger PHEV is still not sold in Mzansi, before revealing the brand is looking at a potential introduction “very carefully”…

- SA-built Ranger PHEV still not sold here
- Ford’s local boss calls for NEV incentives
- Brand “continues to evaluate” derivative

The Ford Ranger PHEV was revealed over 3 years ago and is (for the time being, anyway) exclusively produced at the Blue Oval brand’s factory in Silverton, right here in South Africa. Why then is this plug-in hybrid bakkie – which has since been surpassed in the power stakes by a handful of Chinese PHEV contenders – still not available to new-vehicle buyers in Mzansi?

Well, Neale Hill, President of Ford Motor Company Africa, laid out the reasons during a wide-ranging interview in Cars.co.za’s custom-built podcast booth at Naamsa’s SA Auto Week 2026 event in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal earlier in October.

“It comes back to the fact that we don’t have any incentives or any drive within South Africa that’s pushing for the adoption of new-energy vehicles. So, if you look at markets where there’s been dramatic growth in new-energy vehicles, there’s not only a production element – in terms of encouraging production – but there’s also a demand-side stimulation,” he said.

This suggests that without local-market incentives, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa believes the Ranger PHEV would potentially be priced higher than is feasible – despite being built locally. Interestingly, this model (which Ford’s SA factory currently exports to Europe and Australia) is due to enter production at the brand’s Pacheco plant in Argentina in 2027.

 
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