The all-new Ford Ranger Stormtrak makes its local debut to continue success of Ranger Thunder
There is something about Ford’s Ranger line-up that I simply cannot get enough of, writes Women On Wheel’s, Leigh-Ann Londt. The announcement recently of the Ranger Stormtrak definitely had me riled up with excitement and the model has made its debut in South Africa.
According to Quickpic, the model is based on the luxurious Wildtrak and will continue the success of Ford’s popular recent limited-edition, the Ranger Thunder.
According to Quickpic, the Ranger Stormtrak has gained seven design elements, including a black mesh grille with red inserts, a black insert in the lower part of the front bumper, black decals for the bonnet and doors, black roof rails and 19-inch alloy wheels finished in a glossy black.
The Stormtrak is also available in Sea Grey, Frozen White and Blue Lightning, all formulated to appeal to the varied personalities of Ranger customers.
Its Power Roller Shutter adds to day-to-day practicality, allowing the customer to electronically open or close the shutter of the loadbox in the rear. The intelligent Power Roller Shutter can be securely locked in any position and has also been designed with an anti-pinch feature to prevent injury or damage when contact is made with an object.
Inside the cabin, customers can expect pure luxury and attention to detail, including illuminated front scuff plants. This theme is continued on the premium leather seats replete with striking red stitching, as well as the Stormtrak logo taking pride of place on the front seat backrests.
Red stitching is used throughout the leather-trimmed cabin, including on the soft-touch dashboard upper, steering wheel and gear lever giving it a sporty ambience.
The premium level of standard features in the Stormtrak is exceptional, including the SYNC®3 infotainment system with embedded navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a USB charging port located in the rearview mirror for the easy fitment of a dashcam.
The Stormtrak is also equipped with Ford’s innovative FordPass functionality that allows owners to remotely access numerous vehicle features from their phone – such as remote and scheduled starts to either cool or heat the cabin. Through the FordPass app’s Vehicle Status feature owners can also check their vehicle’s key variables including fuel level, oil life status, tyre pressures (on models fitted with a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) and mileage through the convenience of their smartphone.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Forward Collision Alert, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keeping Alert and Lane Keeping Aid, and Driver Alert System comes standard for innovative active and passive safety systems and driver aids.
Safety is further aided by the fitment of LED headlamps as standard for improved safety when driving at night. Daytime visibility is also improved with the inclusion of the distinctive LED daytime running lights.
The new Stormtrak further inherits Ford’s innovative Semi-Automatic Parallel Park Assist (SAPPA), which has been carried over from Ford’s range-topping models, including the Ranger Wildtrak and Everest Limited sport utility vehicle (SUV). The system takes the hassle out of parallel parking by using ultrasonic sensors on the front and rear bumpers that search for parking spaces that are big enough to park the vehicle and alerts the driver when a suitable spot is found.
The system then steers the vehicle into the slot using the Ranger’s electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and sensors. All the driver needs do is operate the accelerator and brake, and select the appropriate gear as prompted by Park Assist.
The Ranger Stormtrak is powered by a 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo engine which produces 157kW with 500Nm of torque, paired with an advanced 10-speed automatic transmission. The Ranger’s towing capacity of 3 500kg remains unchanged, along with the 800mm water wading depth and 230mm ground clearance.
Pricing including VAT:
Ranger Stormtrak 4×2 R790 300
Ranger Stormtrak 4×4 R846 500.
All new Ford Rangers come standard with Ford Protect, comprising a 4-year/120 000km comprehensive warranty, 3-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance, 5-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty and a 6-year/90 000km service plan is included which covers six services.