By Khulekani Dumisa

Ford South Africa has announced another unique iteration of its popular Ford Ranger bakkie, the Ranger Stormtrak. The new addition is based on the sporty Wildtrak.

Exterior

In Stormtrak guise, the Ranger gains several muscular design elements, including a striking black mesh grille with red inserts, a black insert in the lower section of the front bumper, black decals for the bonnet and doors, black roof rails and 18-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss black.

Setting apart this limited edition Ranger’s special status even further are three-dimensional Stormtrak logos on the lower sections of the front doors, as well as on the rear tailgate.

The Ranger Stormtrak also sees the addition of a vibrant new paint colour, Lucid Red. The limited edition bakkie can also be specified in Sea Grey, Frozen White and Blue Lightning.

Ford says the bakkie doesn’t just improve looks but everyday practicality is also elevated too thanks to the standard fitment of Ford’s new Power Roller Shutter for the rear load compartment.

Adding further versatility is the adjustable bed divider kit that makes it easy for the owner to compartmentalise the cargo area according to the size of the items being carried – thus preventing goods from shifting around when driving. A drop-in bedliner provides a useful 12-volt socket for powering accessories such as a camping fridge.

Interior

Inside goodies include illuminated front scuff plates and leather seats which incorporate red stitching, as well as the Stormtrak logo on the front seat backrests. Red stitching is used throughout the leather-trimmed cabin, including on the dashboard upper, steering wheel and gear lever. A SYNC3 infotainment system with embedded navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is also part of the deal.

Safety

The new Stormtrak is offered with an extensive list of innovative active and passive safety systems and driver aids, such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Forward Collision Alert, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keeping Alert and Lane Keeping Aid, Driver Alert System, and Semi-Automatic Parallel Park Assist.

Power

The Ford Ranger Stormtrak is powered by a 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo engine which produces 157kW and 500Nm. The engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Pricing and launch

The Ranger Stormtrak is priced at R790,300 for the 4×2 model whilst 4×4 model costs R846,500. All prices include VAT. All new Ford Rangers come standard with Ford Protect, comprising a four-year/120,000km comprehensive warranty, three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. A six-year/90,000km service plan is included which covers six services.