A new and tougher derivative of the Ranger bakkie is now available in South Africa, and is aimed at mining customers.

Toughness combined with world-class-safety

According to company, the new variant – the Ford Ranger XL-Plus – is a new entry-level proposition into the line-up while offering a new dimension of toughness to the range.

“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 FMCSA.

“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 XLT and Wildtrak derivatives boast.”

In order to comply with the safety requirements determined by international mine operators, the model is fitted with airbags for both the driver and passenger, as well as side-impact, curtain, and a driver-side knee airbag. In addition, it has an optional bullbar designed to work in conjunction with the car’s existing safety systems, thus not compromising airbag deployment.

Additional modifications and enhancements include a frame tested for an increased towing load of 3500kg, an optional heavy duty front bumper, extruded aluminium side steps and front mud flaps, as well as a lockable fuel filler cap.

Coming inside, the Ford Ranger XL-Plus benefits from 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,” said 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.”

The vehicle will be available in three body styles with two chassis cab models in single and double-cab variations, and a double cab model with a loadbox.

Power will come from a Duratorq 2.2-litre TDCi engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, while all models will have four-wheel drive and will be fitted with an electronic locking rear differential.

Ford Ranger XL-Plus price in South Africa

The model is built at the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, and will be sold in South Africa as well exported to other markets such as Australia and New Zealand with mining operations.

Ford Ranger XL-Plus Single Chassis Cab: R319 900

Ford Ranger XL-Plus Double Chassis Cab: R334 900

Ford Ranger XL-Plus Double Cab: R379 900

All Ranger derivatives come with a comprehensive 4-year / 120 000km warranty and a 5-year / 90 000kms service plan with service intervals of 15 000kms. Customers will also benefit from 3-years of roadside assistance and a 5-year corrosion warranty as part of the Ford Ranger package.