By Otsile Kadiege

After recreantly confirming the local introduction of the the beefier version of the Wildtrak – the Wildtrak X – Ford South Africa has now announced the pricing of the latest Ranger derivative. The Wildtrak X is an off-road focused version that features unique exterior and interior styling, improved off-road capability and Ford’s Flexible Rack System.

Wildtrak X exterior

Ford Ranger Wildtrak X sends a powerful visual message with a wider stance, underbody protection and increased ground clearance compared to the existing Wildtrak. Its distinctive look is further enhanced by a unique Asphalt Black grille surround and bumper H-bar, wheel arch trim and rear bumper. Customers can opt for matrix LED headlamps with auxiliary lamps in the grille. Chunky Wildtrak X badges, blacked-out Ford ovals and matching black 17-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain white-lettered tyres complete the more hardcore off-road styling.

Wildtrak X interior

Inside, occupants benefit from unique Miko suede-trimmed seats with exclusive Wildtrak X embroidery, supported by soft-touch Terra suede with contrast Cyber Orange stitching on the upper dashboard, door trims and centre console. Built-in connectivity as standard to FordPass and Ford Pro services such as FORDLive enhance the ownership experience.

Wildtrak X performance

Powering the Wildtrak X is Ford’s 2.0-litre EcoBlue bi-turbo diesel engine producing 150kW of power and 500Nm of torque from 1,750rpm. It’s paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. An advanced new full-time four-wheel drive system with a reassuring set-and-forget mode is standard, designed to deliver capability when and where customers need it.

Improved off-road capability

The Wildtrak X builds on the Wildtrak model with a 26mm ride height increase and 30mm wider track width for sure-footedness on rugged terrain. Standard Bilstein high-performance position-sensitive dampers are said to provide the right amount of damping force throughout their travel to enhance off-road ability without compromising on-road performance. Ford says the Wildtrak X has an uprated heavy-duty power steering system and a protective steel bash plate to deliver even more confidence off-road.

Standard new off-road technologies include Trail Turn Assist, which uses brake-based torque vectoring to reduce turning radius by up to 25 per cent when tight turns are needed. Trail Control operates in a similar way to cruise control: the driver can select a speed below 20mph and the vehicle will automatically manage acceleration and braking to maintain the selected speed while the driver concentrates on steering through difficult terrain.

The Wildtrak X can be specified with Ford’s innovative new Flexible Rack System. The unique feature’s folding roof rack and adjustable sliding rear load hoop allow long items to be carried above the roof rather than wedged between the tailgate and cab. This improves load security and frees up the load bed for other items. Flexible Rack System will also be available as an option for Ranger Wildtrak series from March 2023.

Pricing and warranty

Ranger Wildtrak X 2.0L BiT 4×4 10AT – R1,013,000

Included as standard is Ford Protect comprising a four-year/120 000km warranty, four-year/unlimited distance Roadside Assistance and five-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty. The recommended service interval is 15 000km or annually, whichever occurs first.

Customers have the option of purchasing service or maintenance plans up to eight years or 135 000km. The warranty can be extended up to seven years or 200 000km, while the Roadside Assistance can be extended for an additional one or two years