With
Ford investing over R10 billion in their Silverton, Pretoria manufacturing facility in anticipation of the all-new
Ranger model that will be built there, it has fallen on the current car to keep the sales register ticking. A vehicle with a decade of life under its belt can be a hard sell, especially in these times of high prices and tough competition.
Ford then, has introduced the
Ranger Stormtrak to assist in these challenges.
According to the company, the
Stormtrak is a limited edition model, which tells us that it will be the last special edition before the all-new shape is launched. Where does the
Stormtrak differentiate itself from the likes of
Wildtrak,
Thunder,
Raptor and
FX4 then? The changes are purely cosmetic. They include a black mesh front grille with red inserts on the nostrils, black accents, and custom 3D decals on the side. On the bonnet there are two thick sporty stripes. The side profile also shows us those special 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels and roof rails.
While it is not unique to the
Ranger, the power roller shutter on the load bed is quite a useful tool, especially for owners who are not interested in manual applications. It opens and closes via either the key fob itself, or a button located just below the multifunction steering wheel. Further to that is the load bed divider which assists in keeping items placed at the back from sliding around.
Getting inside we see familiar settings and an environment that is easy on the eye.
Premium leather/ Alcantara-feel seats with red stitching,
Stormtrak l
ogos on the back rests and side sills. Soft touch materials are used on the dashboard, as well as smooth dark plastic surfaces.
The SYNC3 infotainment system comes with the FordPass app, as well as Apple Carplay and Android Auto. USB ports and a two-pin plug at the back make a completely usable vehicle.
Ford has picked the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine to power the Ranger Stormtrak. It delivers a strong pouch of 157kW and 500Nm of torque, same as the Wildtrak and Raptor. It pulls very well off the line, in overtaking and off-road, thanks in part to the 4x4 system and 10-speed automatic transmission. We averaged 11.2 litres per 100km driving this vehicle in mixed driving conditions.
