Back in August 2018, ahead of the Ford Ranger’s official return to North America, the Blue Oval brand confirmed the US-spec bakkie would be powered exclusively by a 2,3-litre EcoBoost engine. And now the automaker has revealed a little more about this model…
Yes, Ford has finally announced the four-cylinder petrol engine (mated with a ten-speed automatic transmission) will churn out 201 kW and 420 N.m, with the latter figure eclipsing that of all of its V6 petrol rivals in the United States.
Furthermore, the brand claims the Ranger will deliver “best-in-class” payload and towing capability, with the former pegged at 844 kg and the latter at 3 402 kg, when “equipped with the tow package and a trailer brake controller”.
Production of the US-spec Ranger is due to begin before the end of 2018 at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant.
In South Africa, of course, the Ranger is offered solely in turbodiesel guise, with the current 2,2-litre four-cylinder and 3,2-litre five-pot set to be joined by a new twin-turbo 2,0-litre (as debuted by the Ranger Raptor) in 2019.
In 2019, an updated version of the Ranger is scheduled to launch in South Africa, bringing the new engine, updated styling and bolstered safety credentials.
