WATCH: 10 things you need to know about new Ford Ranger

The highly-anticipated new Ford Ranger was finally officially unveiled this week. And by the looks of things, the Toyota Hilux will have some serious competition next year.

Bakkie country South Africa will have to wait until next year for local pricing and specifications of the new Ford Ranger to be announced.

Production of the new Ranger is set to start in early 2022 at the Silverton Assembly Plant, which feeds the local as well as a large chunk of the international market. No date has yet been set on when the first models will be rolled out locally.

But in the meantime, it’s well worth taking a good look at the new Ford Ranger that resembles the top-selling American F-150’s exterior.

The Ford Ranger is South Africa’s second best-selling bakkie behind the Toyota Hilux, and also held the distinction of being the top-selling local double cab from 2014 to 2019.

Large scale assemble plant upgrades in anticipation of the new model has seen the Ranger;s sales take a knock in the last few months. As a result, the Ford Ranger has fallen behind the Isuzu D-Max top number three in the pecking order.

ALSO READ: Wait finally over: All-new Ford Ranger officially revealed

Closing in on the top three best-selling one-tonners is the new Nissan Navara and the GWM P-Series. A first-ever single cab has just been added to the Navara line-up which should help it consolidate the fourth place.

With the introduction of the new Isuzu D-Max also around the corner, the local bakkie warfare is set to get a lot more heated in 2022.

The new Ford Ranger should not only boost the Ranger’s poor sales of late, but also help the bakkie to win back some ground it lost on the Toyota Hilux over the last few years. The Toyota Hilux has been untouchable and is not only South Africa’s top selling light commercial vehicle, but also top selling vehicle overall.

For more information on the new Ford Ranger, click here.