New SA-built Ford Ranger PHEV: peak outputs revealed
Key figures for the new Ford Ranger PHEV – a plug-in bakkie to be produced at the Silverton plant in SA – have been revealed. Meet the torquiest Ranger yet…
Unveiled a year ago, the Ford Ranger PHEV has finally made its show debut at the IAA Transportation event in Germany, with the Blue Oval brand also using the occasion to release key information (including power and torque figures) for this plug-in hybrid bakkie.
As a reminder, the Ranger PHEV will be built at the Silverton assembly plant in South Africa (the only plant worldwide handed this task) following a R5.2-billion investment announced in November 2023. Though Ford SA has yet to officially confirm this electrified derivative for our market, it seems only a matter of time.
According to the Dearborn-based automaker, the new plug-in hybrid electric double-cab bakkie is a “no-compromise new model” that offers “full Ranger towing, payload and off-road performance, with electric-only driving ability”.
The PHEV powertrain combines Ford’s turbocharged 2.3-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine and 10‑speed automatic transmission with a 75 kW electric motor and an 11.8 kWh (usable capacity) battery pack. Peak system outputs stand at 205 kW and 690 Nm, with this torque figure described as the “highest of any production Ranger ever” (eclipsing even the high-performance Raptor’s 583 Nm).
The electric motor is integrated into the transmission bellhousing, while the battery takes “less than 4 hours to charge using a single-phase 16-amp charger”, according to Ford. Interestingly, the company has still not provided a confirmed single-charge electric-only range, saying only that it has a target of “over 45 km”.
Ford adds that buyers can expect a payload of “up to 1 tonne” and a braked towing capacity of 3 500 kg. The Ranger PHEV employs a new “e-4WD” system along with a dual-range transfer box and rear differential lock. The traction battery, meanwhile, is packaged between “specially engineered” frame rails.
The plug-in hybrid Ranger also features something Ford calls “Pro Power Onboard”, which enables owners to power tools and appliances on a worksite or remote campsite by plugging them into power outlets in both the cargo bed and the cabin.
In Europe, the Ranger PHEV will be offered in XLT and Wildtrak form, along with the “PHEV-exclusive” Stormtrak launch edition pictured here. The latter is set apart by model-specific design features, such as 18-inch alloy wheels, a honeycomb grille, fender vents and a decal kit, along with Matrix LED headlamps and a 360-degree camera system.
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