New Ranger Derivative Tougher Than Ever
- Ford Ranger XL-Plus now available to customers in Sub Saharan Africa
- Brings world-class safety to mining sites
- Tested extensively in harsh environments to meet quality requirements
PRETORIA, South Africa, 18 July 2014 – Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) today introduced a rugged new version of its popular Ranger to the Sub Saharan Africa region. The new variant – the Ranger XL-Plus – will go on general sale early next year*. It brings a new dimension of toughness to the line-up, making it of particular interest to mining companies, farmers and other business owners with very specific requirements.
“The Ranger XL-Plus was born out of particular requirements from the mining industry, as well as other business owners whose main concerns were rugged capability and impeccable safety standards,” says Mark Kaufman, vice president of marketing, sales and service at Ford Sub Saharan Africa. “The vehicle is already extremely capable, and big mining companies have committed to using only vehicles that have five-star ENCAP and ANCAP ratings, which Ranger XL-Plus derivative boasts.”
Built at the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, following a $1.8 million investment, Ranger XL-Plus will be sold in South Africa as well as being exported to other markets with similar requirements. It will be available in both Left Hand Drive and Right Hand Drive.
With airbags for both the driver and passenger, as well as side impact, curtain, and a driver-side knee airbag, Ranger XL-Plus complies with the safety requirements determined by international mine operators. In addition to that, it has a steel bullbar as standard that is designed to work in conjunction with the veh’s existing safety systems, thus not compromising airbag deployment.
An extensive list of modifications have also been tested to ensure the Ranger XL-Plus will stand up to the harsh environments seen in mining operations such as those in Australia, New Zealand and here in Africa.
External modifications and enhancements include a frame tested for an increased towing load of 3 500kg, extruded aluminium side steps, front mud flaps, and a lockable fuel filler cap.
Inside and under the skin, the Ranger XL-Plus gains a Crew Chief mounting bracket paired to an expanded wiring harness for accommodating more switches and circuits, a heavy duty second battery, vinyl floor covering, and heavy duty seat covers.
“Modifications developed for the Ranger XL-Plus came from extensive testing in real-world scenarios,” says Kaufman. “We took feedback from our customers on what more they need from the Ranger in applications such as mining, and built a version of Ranger that will take a lot more punishment, as well as offer integration with technical equipment used on sites.”
By January next year, Ranger XL-Plus will be available to customers in Sub Saharan Africa in three body styles with two chassis cab models in single and double-cab variations, and a double cab model with a loadbox. Drive comes from the Duratorq 2.2-litre TDCi engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. All models have four-wheel drive and are fitted with an Electronic Locking Rear Differential.
“We’re buidling the Ranger XL-Plus in South Africa, meaning we can give our customers on the continent a factory-ready version of a vehicle that meets their demands. Modifications for this version of the Ranger can be rolled out during production, so customers don’t have to wait for aftermarket customisations,” ends Kaufman.
The Ranger XL-Plus comes with a comprehensive 3-year/60 000km warranty with service intervals of 10 000kms.
*Ranger XL-Plus is already available in some Dealerships in Sub Saharan Africa
