At the start of 2018, Ford revealed an updated version of the Ranger specifically for the North American market. And now the Blue Oval brand has released more details about the refreshed bakkie set to debut in other markets (including ours).
The big news? The fact that the 2,0-litre turbodiesel from the new Raptor will be offered in other Ranger derivatives further down the line-up, as confirmed by the brand’s Australian arm.
As in the Raptor, this twin-turbo, four-cylinder oil-burner is worth 157 kW and 500 N.m, and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. It boasts a braked towing capacity of 3 500 kg, the same as the current 3,2-litre models and better than the 2 500 kg limit offered by the Raptor (the latter’s towing capacity is stifled by the special suspension arrangement).
While Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa could not confirm details of the local version of the refreshed Ranger, it did indicate that SA could expect a launch at some point in 2019. Of course, in March 2018, Ford’s local arm announced an expansion of operations at its Struandale engine plant in Port Elizabeth, adding that it would start building this very diesel engine.
So, what else do we know about the updated Ranger? Well, the 2,2-litre four-cylinder (118 kW/385 N.m) and 3,2-litre five-cylinder (147 kW/470 N.m) turbodiesel engines will carry over unchanged, as will the six-speed automatic and manual gearboxes.
In terms of styling, the updates appear fairly subtle, led by a new grille and broader air-intakes up front. From what we understand, changes to the cabin are minor, too. Interestingly, however, Ford has revised the Ranger’s suspension setup in a bid to reduce body roll and improve both comfort levels and steering precision.
