Ford, the auto manufacturer, is celebrating 100 years in South Africa this month. At a celebration event at the Silverton manufacturing plant in Pretoria today, the company announced that it would begin production of a new type of Ranger in 2024 – a plug-in hybrid.
Can you af-Ford one?
Since production has yet to start, Ford hasn’t given out any pricing but expect them to be a little more costly than a stock Ranger. It’ll have a 2.3 litre EcoBoost engine alongside its EV components but the company reckons that you’ll be able to drive it in full EV mode. Should be handy for traffic.
Ford’s Silverton plant will get a new battery pack assembly facility on site and the company will invest a total of R5.2 billion in the new venture.
The PHEV Ranger will also be exported to Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. It’ll be the first time in two decades for local exports to the latter two.
More than Ranger
Also on the cards for the country in the months and years ahead are the new Mustang GT Fastback and something called the Mustang Dark Horse that will get proper petrolheads salivating. The engine noise alone is worth signing up for. The fact that Ford claims it’ll feature its more powerful naturally aspirated 5.0l engine is also a draw.
Just launched is the Puma, a neat little hatchback with some interesting tech features. We’ll be trying to get a test model as soon as possible. Ford will bring two new vans to SA.
The Tourneo is a family van with configurable seats and a reduced roof height. The Transit is the business version, intended for logistics and basic transport. The Ford Territory will return to South Africa in the middle of 2024. A large SUV, it’ll land with a new look and more powerful engine.
The standard Ranger isn’t being neglected. Two new trim options are inbound. The Ranger Tremor is aimed at the more active driver, with enhanced suspension and an interior that’ll shrug off dirt and mess more easily. The Ranger Platinum, as with other models with the same trim, is all about luxury.
Finally, the automaker is also bringing the Ford Mustang Mach-E EV to South Africa in 2025. As with everything else (besides the Puma), pricing will show up closer to launch.
