There's no denying the popularity of the Ford Ranger. Regularly finding itself in contention for the top spot on the LCV sales charts, the Ford Ranger, in its current iteration, is finding a home in a number of South African driveways. We're especially fond of the model and believe that it is one of the best bakkies on offer today.
Related: How much are car repayments on a new Ford Ranger?
Ford is supplementing the existing Ranger lineup with the introduction of two new variants, each with a specific niche within the Ranger lineup. The Ford Ranger Platinum and Ford Ranger Tremor join the existing lineup that includes the Ranger XL, XLT, Wildtrack, Wildtrak X, and Raptor. Here's what you have to look forward to from these new variants.
Ford Ranger Platinum
Coming in as the non-performance flagship offering, the Platinum takes the same recipe found in the Ford Everest Platinum and applies it to the Ranger double cab. It builds on a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel powertrain, coupled with a 10-speed automatic and full-time all-wheel-drive by adding elegant accoutrements best suited for the urban environment. As such, you can look forward to the following features on the Ford Ranger Platinum:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Silk-chrome exterior trims
- Sports hoop
- Integrated side step
- Cargo Management System
- 400W inverter system
- Matrix LED headlights
- Premium leather upholstery
- B&O Play amplifier, subwoofer, and speakers (10-speakers in total)
- 9 airbags
- 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Full driver assistance package with Pro Trailer Back-up Assist
Engine
The Platinum is powered by the same 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine that is found in the Wildtrak. This unit produces 184 kW at 3250 RPM and 600 Nm torque between 1750 and 2250 RPM. It's mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox that allows for "gear-hopping" and features a manual override.
Power is sent to all four wheels through a full-time all-wheel-drive system with variable settings and an Auto function that allows it to automatically detect the requirements and adjust the drive accordingly. It includes a 2WD mode and low range.
Price
Expect to pay R1 119 000 for the Ford Ranger Platinum. In addition, you receive the Ford Protect 4-year/120 000 km warranty, 4-year/Unlimited km Roadside Assistance, 5-year/Unlimited distance corrosion warranty and the option or purchasing a service or maintenance plan for up to 8-years/135 000 km. Warranties can be extended to 200 000 km.
Ford Ranger Tremor
For the off-road and adventure enthusiasts, comes the Ford Ranger Tremor. This variant slots in between the Wildtrak and Wildtrak X, incorporating the best of both worlds but doing so based on the XLT design to make it more affordable. The Tremor has an off-road bias and is ideal for the adventurous spirit who enjoys modifying their double cab for overlanding adventures. As such, the Ford Ranger Tremor has the following features:
- Black honeycomb grille
- Grey detailing
- Grey extended wheel arch mouldings
- Tremor branding
- 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Tubular sports bar
Engine
The Ford Ranger Tremor is powered by the 2.0-litre BiTurbo turbodiesel engine that produces 154 kW and 500 Nm torque. It sends this power to all four wheels through Ford's full-time all-wheel-drive system that provides an auto mode, 2H, 4H, and 4 low range settings. It also employs an electromagnetic transfer case. Several drive settings are made available to the driver as well; Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl.
Off-road enhancements
As the Tremor is designed to be an off-road-ready machine, and as such, it comes pre-equipped with some of the things you would possibly want and need. The off-road enhancements include the following:
- Bilstein Position-Sensitive Dampers
- General Grabber AT3 in 265/70R17 size
- Increased ride height by 24mm
- Increased track width by 30 mm
- Steel bash plate, underbody, transfer case, and fuel tank protection
- LED Auxilary lights
- Roof-mounted switches
- Water-resistant vinyl upholstery
Price
The Ford Ranger Tremor will cost you R977 500 and is sold with a Ford Protect plan that consists of a 4-year/120 000 km warranty, 4-year/unlimited km Roadside Assistance and 5-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty. Customers have the option of purchasing a service or maintenance plan of up to 8-years/135 000km. The warranty can be extended up to 7-years/200 000km, while the Roadside Assistance can be extended for an additional one or two years.
