Ford South Africa has released the first official glimpse of the #NextGenRanger, which will be revealed later this year and launch in 2022.
The latest model of the wildly popular bakkie is described as “the smartest, most versatile, and most capable Ranger ever”.
Minesh Bhagaloo (GM Communications) says in a press release: “Embracing superior off-road credentials and Ford’s dynamic driving DNA, customers will rejoice at the toughest, most capable and connected Ranger pickup yet developed by Ford.
“At its core, the next-generation Ranger will be the ideal pickup partner for work, family and play. This is not just a Built Ford Tough truck, but the smartest, most capable and most versatile Ranger yet.
“We are pleased to present the highly capable next-gen Ranger in its natural habitat.”
Take a look at Ford’s first official release teaser for the Next Generation Ranger here:
In other Ranger news, Ford South Africa is also celebrating after the Ford Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria produced its 500 000th Ranger for export at the beginning of September.
Exports of locally assembled Ford Rangers initially commenced in 2000 for the previous-generation model, but it was the 2009 announcement of a R3.4-billion investment in Ford’s local operations that transformed the Silverton Assembly Plant to build the current and, at the time, most advanced Ranger yet.
The then all-new Ranger was launched in South Africa in October 2011, and has gone on to become one of the country’s best-selling vehicles
Neale Hill, MD of Ford South Africa, says: “The launch of the new Ford Ranger in 2011 was a watershed moment for Ford South Africa, for the domestic market and the broader pickup segment internationally. It immediately set entirely new benchmarks in the pickup sector for performance, technology, safety, comfort, refinement and capability.
“Having shifted the goalposts for the segment, the Ranger was a key driver in the rapid growth in popularity of double cab pickups as practical, lifestyle-oriented vehicles that are equally at home in the urban jungle as they are traversing the most challenging off-road terrain.
“The Ranger double cab helped redefine the concept of a family vehicle, while the versatile Ranger SuperCab and trusty Single Cab models bolstered the line-up for leisure and workhorse applications.”
At launch in 2011, the installed capacity for local Ranger production was 110 000 vehicles per annum, but ongoing investment in Ford’s local operations ramped up production capacity to 168 000 units by 2018.
Ockert Berry, VP Operations at Ford South Africa, adds: “Achieving 500 000 exports for Ranger is a fantastic milestone for the South African team.
“The investment and subsequent launch of the current Ranger in 2011 transformed our manufacturing operations, and put South Africa firmly on the map as a high-volume single platform manufacturer for Ranger, both for the domestic market and, crucially, for exports to more than 100 global markets, including Europe where Ranger is now the top-selling pickup.
“Although the milestone 500 000 exports extends from 2000 to 2021, the start of the new Ranger export programme in 2011 took our manufacturing operations to new heights.
“We went from a total export volume of around 16 500 units of the previous Ranger between 2000 and 2011 to just shy of half a million units of the current model between 2011 and 2021. We are exceptionally proud of the legacy that has been built for Ford in South Africa, and our ongoing commitment to the country.”
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