New Ford Ranger Platinum launched in South Africa – Pricing and specifications

Ford has finally launched the new Ranger Platinum in South Africa, bringing an additional level of luxury to its popular bakkie series.

The Platinum has a starting price of R1,119,000, placing it as the new flagship of the standard Ranger units and making it the second-most-expensive Ranger overall behind the halo-model Raptor.

Each purchase includes a 4-year/120,000km warranty and a 4-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance plan. The warranty can be extended up to a 7-year/200,000km plan while the roadside assistance can be increased by one or two years.

An optional service or maintenance plan is also available for a duration of up to eight years or 135,000km.

Engine

The Platinum is one of only two Rangers to gain access to the brand’s 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 diesel engine, alongside the top-spec Wildtrak.

This gives the flagship a total of 184kW and 600Nm to work with, which is transmitted to the advanced all-wheel-drive (AWD) system through a 10-speed automatic gearbox.

The bakkie can tow 3,500kg and carry 944kg in the back, and the AWD system has settings for 2H, 4H, 4L, and 4A, the latter of which is an automatic setting that adjusts power between the wheels to suit the terrain.

It also has seven different driving modes for Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl.

Features

It’s in the equipment department that the Platinum sets itself apart, as the Blue Oval has described the new model as the most luxurious offering in the bakkie’s family.

For starters, it and the Raptor are the only units to feature Matrix LED headlights that can boost their high beam’s range by up to 30%, and can swivel as much as 15% to curve the light around a bend or to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers.

It has a unique silk chrome grille with a 3D Platinum badge, exclusive 20-inch ebony alloy rims, all-season tyres, C-clamp LED daytime running lights, a cargo management system for the load box, and silver roof rails, with the option to add a powered roller shutter.

Buyers also have five colours to choose from: Iconic Silver, Frozen White, Carbonized Grey, Lucid Red and Agate Black.

Inside, there is a quilted and perforated high-quality leather upholstery with accented stitching and Platinum logos, and the front seats have 10-way electronic adjustability with heating and ventilation functions.

Other items include a heated multifunction leather steering wheel, keyless entry and start, a 12.0-inch portrait Sync4 infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, dual-zone climate control, a wireless charger, an “e-Shifter” gearstick, a Black Maple dashboard, an upper glovebox, ambient lighting, a 400W inverter, 240V and 12V outlets, USB ports, and a 12.4-inch LCD instrument cluster that was previously exclusive to the Raptor.

It also has adaptive cruise control with stop & go and lane centering, active park assist with autonomous parallel and perpendicular parking, a tyre pressure monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera, and Pro Trailer Back-up Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance, the latter of which is also found on the Tremor, Wildtrak X, and Raptor.

Finally, the Platinum is the first Ranger to come with far-side airbags in addition to the standard dual front, side curtain, and driver’s knee airbags.