The recently-announced Ranger Stormtrak makes its debut in South Africa this September. Based on the luxuriously appointed Wildtrak, the Stormtrak is poised to continue the success of Ford’s popular recent limited-edition model, the Ranger Thunder.
“When it was launched in 2020, the Ranger Thunder added distinctive styling and enhanced functionality to the already trendy and popular Ranger Wildtrak on which it was based,” said Doreen Mashinini, General Manager for Marketing at Ford South Africa. “The Thunder proved itself a tremendous success, surpassing all expectations with a sales tally of well over 2,000 units during its 12-month production run,” she added.
Exterior upgrades and features
The Ranger Stormtrak gains several outlandish design elements, including a striking black mesh grille with red inserts, a black insert in the lower section of the front bumper, black decals for the bonnet and doors, black roof rails and 18-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss black.
Three-dimensional Stormtrak logos on the lower sections of the front doors, as well as on the rear tailgate identify the newcomer, along with an attention-grabbing model-specific Lucid Red paint colour. The Stormtrak will also be available in Sea Grey, Frozen White and Blue Lightning.
The styling upgrades to the Stormtrak are matched with carefully considered convenience features to aid day-to-day practicality, including a Power Roller Shutter for the rear load compartment. This new roller shutter allows drivers to electronically open or close the protective shutter over the loadbox and provides a convenient method to securely stow cargo out of sight. While the manual roller shutter can be locked only in specific predetermined positions, the intelligent Power Roller Shutter can be securely locked in any position and has also been designed with an anti-pinch feature to prevent injury or damage when contact is made with an object.
Another great additional feature is the tailgate locking mechanism being integrated into the vehicle’s central locking system. What’s more, the addition of an adjustable bed divider kit makes it easy for owners to compartmentalise the cargo area according to the size of the items being carried — thus preventing goods from shifting around when driving. A drop-in bedliner provides a useful 12-volt socket for powering accessories such as a camping fridge.
What’s new inside the cabin?
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Inside the cabin, Stormtrak drivers will get illuminated front scuff plates, premium leather seats replete with striking red stitching, as well as the Stormtrak logo taking pride of place on the front seat backrests. Red stitching is used throughout the leather-trimmed cabin, including on the soft-touch dashboard upper, steering wheel and gear lever, further enhancing the sporty ambience.
As with the Ranger Wildtrak, drivers also get the premium level standard features in the Stormtrak, including the Sync 3 infotainment system with embedded navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a nifty USB charging port located in the rearview mirror to allow for easy fitment of a dash cam.
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The Stormtrak is also equipped with Ford’s innovative FordPass functionality that allows owners to remotely access numerous vehicle features from their phone — such as remote and scheduled starts to either cool or heat the cabin. Using the FordPass app’s Vehicle Status feature, owners can also check key information like fuel level, oil life status, tyre pressures and mileage through the convenience of their smartphone.
The Ranger Stormtrak is priced at R790 300 for the 4×2 model while the off-road ready 4×4 model costs R846 500.
All new Ford Rangers come standard with Ford Protect, comprising a four-year/120 000km comprehensive warranty, three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. A six-year/90 000km service plan is included which covers six services. The recommended service interval is 15 000km or annually, whichever occurs first.
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