Locally-built Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid – Specifications revealed

Ford has officially unveiled the specifications for the newest member of the Ranger family, which will be built right here in South Africa.

The new bakkie will be the first in the series’ history to feature a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, consisting of a petrol engine and an electric motor.

The semi-electric double cab made an appearance at the 2024 IAA Transport Expo in Hannover, Germany this week, where the carmaker finally divulged the technical aspects of its latest creation.

Heading into the future

The backbone of the new Ford is the brand’s 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, which can already be found on both the Ranger and its VW Amarok sibling in overseas markets.

The petrol plant already generates a sizeable 201kW and 420Nm all on its own, but the PHEV system combines it with a 75kW electric motor and an 11.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

As a result, the electrified bakkie develops a sizeable combined output of 205kW and 690Nm – giving it the highest torque stat of any model in the roster.

To put it into perspective, the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel found in the Wildtrak and Platinum pumps out 184kW and 600Nm, while the high-performance Raptor’s 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol mill has access to 292kW and 583Nm.

Of course, the real benefit of the plug-in is that it can temporarily be driven as a fully-electric vehicle, as the 11.8kWh cell affords a range of 45km.

Charging the battery takes roughly four hours, which can also be used to power various tools using either a 2.3kWh socket, or dual 3.45kWh outlets in the load bed.

Speaking of, the double cab hasn’t lost any of its hauling potential, as it can still carry 1,000kg in the rear tray and tow up to 3,500kg.

The 10-speed automatic gearbox will once again be making an appearance on the Ford, connecting to an electronic four-wheel-drive system.

It also still comes with a low-range transfer case with settings for 2H, 4H, 4L, and 4A; a rear diff lock; and all of the vehicle’s driving modes for Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Tow/Haul, Mud/Ruts and Sand.

Furthermore, the PHEV has four hybrid modes to choose from, including EV Now (all-electric driving), EV Later (reserve a portion of the battery), EV Charge (use regenerative brakes to top-up the battery), and Auto EV (selects best mode for either performance or efficiency).

As for the model line-up, the 2.3-litre pickup will be sold in XLT, Wildtrak, and Stormtrak guises depending on the market, which will determine the bakkie’s equipment sheet.

The Ford Ranger PHEV will be exclusively built at the company’s Silverton Plant in Pretoria, South Africa, following a R5.2-billion investment, but it is not currently confirmed for our market.

At a media event held earlier this year, Ford representatives explained that it will only start talking about a possible introduction at a later date, meaning that it has not been ruled out either.

For now, the electrified bakkie is set to be produced solely for export to Europe, but the Blue Oval will hopefully provide an update on its South African launch prospects in the near future.