First rumoured has happening two years ago, the plug-in hybrid Ranger has now been confirmed as being made in South Africa. Image: Ford
In a confirmation of rumours unearthed three years ago, Ford Motor Company South Africa has announced it will be producing the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Ranger from its Silverton Plant outside Pretoria from next year.
Announced at its 100th year celebration festivities at Silverton on Wednesday, the confirmation of the plug-in hybrid forms part of a R5.2-billion investment on top of the record R15.8-billion into facility for production of the current T6.2 Ranger two years ago.
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Reported in 2020 as forming part of the then still-to-be revealed Ranger range, the Ranger PHEV, which will be made solely in South Africa as reports from earlier this year alleged, will be exported to among other markets, Europe, New Zealand and Australia, with local sales still to be approved.
Until now, models bound for Australasia originate from the Rayong plant in Thailand, with the selection of Silverton representing the first time Ford South Africa will export vehicles to the markets in question in more than two decades.
“The additional investment in the Silverton Assembly Plant for the Ranger PHEV takes our total manufacturing investment in South Africa over the past 14 years to around $1.72-billion, or nearly R33- billion,” Ford International Markets Group Operations Director, Andrea Cavallaro, said.
“It signals our commitment to the country, our employees and our extensive supplier network”.
Showed in September this year based on the double cab Wildtrak, the Ranger PHEV combines the 2.3 EcoBoost petrol engine from the North American Ranger, Mustang and Australia-only new Volkswagen Amarok with an electric motor and battery pack of unknown capacity and power delivery.
Offering an all-electric range of 45 km, the system, according to a 2021 report by Australia’s carexpert.com.au, produces an alleged 270kW/680Nm, which, if accurate, will make the Ranger PHEV torquier than the current Ranger Raptor, whose twin-turbo 3.0 EcoBoost V6 develops 292kW/583Nm in South African-spec.
A projected uptake of 86kW/80Nm on the 3.0-litre Lion turbodiesel V6, the PHEV’s manufacturing will involve the dedicated battery facility at Silverton and sourcing the EcoBoost from the Valencia Engine Plant in Spain as the Struandale Engine Plant in Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha, only makes the turbodiesel Puma and Panther engines, as well as the mentioned Lion bent-six.
Known to be hooked to the unique automatic transmission called MHT or Modular Hybrid Transmission, the Ranger PHEV will retain the diesel model’s 3 500 kg towing capacity, but offer three driving modes; the default hybrid EV Auto, EV Charge that uses the EcoBoost to charge to the battery as a generator, and EV Now which sees only the electric motor being utilised.
Differentiated from the standard Wildtrak by a secondary flap hiding the charging port and PHEV badges on the front wings, the plug-in hybrid also features model specific alloy wheels, and underneath, recalibrated power steering, standard four-wheel-drive and a strengthened chassis to support the battery and electric motor.
Similar to the F-150 and electric F-150 Lighting, the Pro Power Onboard system, made-up of power outlets and a generator integrated into the loadbed wall, will be offered depending on market requirements.
The announcement now officially made, expect power and torque specifications to be made once production commences next year.
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