New Ranger derivative berths in sub-Sahara Africa

By January next year, the Ford Ranger XL-Plus Derivative 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 load box.

 Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) said the Ranger XL-Plus which will go on general sale early 2015, is bringing with it 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.

 During a chat with BusinessDay recently inside the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg,  Mark Kaufman, vice president of marketing, sales and service at Ford sub-Saharan Africa, said, “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.”

Mark Kaufman stated that  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 $1.8m investment, Ranger XL-Plus will be sold in South Africa as well as exported to other markets with similar requirements. It will be available in both left hand and right hand drives.

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 mining operators. In addition to that, it has a steel bull-bar as standard that is designed to work in conjunction with its existing safety systems, thereby 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 it 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 it that will take a lot more punishment, as well as offer integration with technical equipment used on sites.”

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.

For the manufacturer, 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

MIKE OCHONMA