Ford Motor Company recently announced that it would be producing a performance variant of the popular Ranger bakkie, known as the Ford Ranger Raptor.
We noted that the reaction to this announcement on our social media platforms was a lively one and managing director of Ford in Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Casper Kruger says that the response that Ford received has “been absolutely phenomenal”. He also stated that they are “exceptionally proud to now confirm that this highly anticipated performance model will be assembled in South Africa.”
In conjunction with this announcement, Ford SA said that it is investing R3-billion ($220-million) to expand production capacity in South African to meet the growing local and international demand for the popular Ford Ranger. This cash injection will also be channelled into the production of the first-ever Ford Ranger Raptor (which will be available in 2019) at Ford’s Silverton assembly line.
Ford describes the Ranger Raptor as “a purpose-built, desert-racing inspired model that builds on the unrivalled heritage of Ford Performance’s legendary F-150 Raptor, the world’s most extreme production pickup.”
The new addition to the Ford Performance family has been “designed and engineered to deliver an adrenaline-pumping driving experience.”
Ford SA also noted that the current Ranger programme has been extremely successful, with “all-time record deliveries” of 10 117 Rangers customers during September 2017 (both local and exported) and 8 646 units in October.
“Looking further ahead, the expanded production capacity will ensure that we are geared up and fully prepared to respond to additional future market demands for the Ranger by ramping up our production even further,” said Ockert Berry, vice president Operations, Ford Middle East and Africa.