Ford releases a limited edition Ranger Thunder

Photo credit: Naresh Maharaj

Photo credit: Naresh Maharaj

It asserts a very pronounced, aggressive stance and entices the driver to take on the long and winding road. I could not wait to get into the driver's seat. The roads I drove on were indeed long and winding with large potholes.

A notch up

Ford has bolstered the standard specification on almost its entire Ranger line-up, most notably introducing LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights and front fog lamps as standard on the new Ranger Thunder, and on all XLT, Wildtrak and Ranger Raptor derivatives.

In addition, Ford's Connected Touch Radio (CTR) with an eight-inch touchscreen replaces the smaller four-inch display and entry-level Sync1 system previously fitted to XLS models. All easy to use.

Days of thunder

The Thunder creates a storm with greater style, on and off-road capabilities and luxury to the brand which has evolved from the Ranger Wildtrak. Numerous distinctive design features are unique to the Ranger Thunder, starting with a revised honeycomb-style front grille incorporating red accents for the side vents, which gives this new derivative a distinctly sportier look.

This is accentuated by black detailing for the side mirror housings, and bold three-dimensional "Thunder" signage at the base of the front doors and on the rear tailgate. The new 18-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels are finished in black which adds to the Ranger Thunder's assertive and sporty character.

Black leather interior

From black sporty rims to a black leather interior, the Ranger Wildtrak is already renowned for its luxuriously appointed premium cabin, but the Thunder raises the bar even further. The extensive swathes of black leather that adorn the seats, dashboard, steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake shrouds now feature striking red contrast stitching which is very noticeable. The front seats have the Thunder decals embroidered in red. Remember what the late Henry Ford said about the colour black?

Load it and lock it

Visual enhancements aside, the Ranger Thunder benefits from numerous practical additions in the load compartment too, including a lockable 'Mountain Top' black roller shutter to safely secure goods being carried. There's also a cargo area management system with a bed divider that allows the owner to easily compartmentalise the available space for securely holding different-sized items. This proved to be so ideal for me as I travel with a golf cart, golf bag and other luggage. Accessing these items proved to be a breeze.

Colour me bad and start me up

Sea Grey, Frozen White, Absolute Black and Moondust Silver are the colours exclusive to the Ranger Thunder models.

As with the Wildtrak and Ranger Raptor, the Thunder is powered by the 2l bi-turbo diesel engine which produces 157kW and 500Nm and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

This combination, which benefits from the transmission's Progressive Range Select (PRS) function by giving the driver the ability to lock out gears from the automatic shifting range, makes the Ranger Thunder ideal for towing or when driving in slippery conditions or climbing steep gradients.

The Ranger's exceptional towing capacity of up to 3,500kg remains unchanged in the Thunder, as is the 800mm water wading depth and 230mm ground clearance.

Verdict: The Ranger life

The Ford Ranger is already a trend-setter in the South African market and one of the top-selling vehicles in the country. Now, continuing its ongoing evolution and offering customers a wider range of features and options, an exclusive limited-edition Ranger Thunder hits the market, which includes several enhancements to one of the most popular vehicles in South Africa.

The long and winding drive from Gauteng to Durban in a fully loaded Ford Ranger Thunder was more than comfortable and an overall and impressive 7.7l per 100km was achieved.

Price and warranty

• Ranger 2l Bi-T Double Cab Thunder 10AT 4×2 – R736,000
• Ranger 2l Bi-T Double Cab Thunder 10AT 4×4 – R787,000

The Ford Ranger Thunder comes with a four-year/120,000km warranty, three-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited-kilometre corrosion warranty. A six-year/90,000km service plan is also included.