Philippine Daily Inquirer

HOW FAR CAN YOU GOINA HYBRID?

FUEL-SIPPING BEHAVIOR GOES TOGETHER WITH LONG RANGE

- By Jason K. Ang

There are two main benefits of owning a hybrid car: excellent fuel economy, and long range. Expect at least 22km/liter of gasoline, and with that, extended driving range between fill-ups. Let's take a look at the hybrid cars currently available, or perhaps soon-tobe-available, in the Philippine­s:

Hyundai Ioniq

•Engine:

1.6 liter inline-four gasoline with electric motor assist

•Fuel mileage: 24.7 km/liter

•Range:

1000km

The Hyundai Ioniq has been rated by the US Environmen­tal Protection Agency as the most fuel-efficient car that's not a plug-in. Its 1.6-liter gasoline engine is good for 104hp and 148 Nm, and is assisted by a 43hp electric motor with 170Nm of torque. The motor is powered by a lithium-ion polymer battery. Thanks to this system and a relatively low curb weight, the Ioniq is good for more than 900km on a single tank of fuel. Notably, the powertrain uses a dual-clutch transmissi­on. The Ioniq is also

We’ve gotten so used to seeing pickup trucks running around in the concrete jungles that we’ve sometimes forgotten what pickups were really made for. Some pickups have been so “dressed to the nines” for docile urban uses that their owners seem loath to let them frolic in their true natural habitats and performing work that they were really designed for.

Let’s get down to business with the true-blue pickups immune to such kind of identity crisis. We’re talking about trucks that were created precisely with the word “tough” programmed as the first word in its automotive vocabulary, and its owners who’ve seen past the fancy accoutreme­nts and the marketing hype of other trucks, and placed their hardearned money on decades upon decades of proven field worthiness.

Let’s read what two owners of the Ford Ranger have to say.

Mud and rebels

Evenboon Galang Bacamante, 24, married with one child, is a farm owner who buys fertilizer­s and banana tissues for his farm. He travels to the city twice a week, and picks up his wife at her office everyday. Before settling for a Ford Ranger XLS 4x4, he was also taking a serious look at a Nissan Navara.

“The first thing we did (with the Ranger) was to test the power of its 2.2-liter engine on our way home from Davao to Digos City, a 57-km long mixed-city and highway drive, and from Digos to Kapatagan, a 24-km uphill drive,” Evenboon recalled. Evenboon took the truck even farther when he drove his Ford Ranger on a round trip from Kapatagan in Digos to Kabacan in North Cotabato on the Calinanto-arakan route in just one day.

Evenboon’s 8-month-old Ranger has given him some memorable drives, such as that round trip between Digos and Kabacan. “That area was critical because it was rebel-infested, and there were 67 km of rough roads. Without the Ranger’s 4x4 capability we couldn’t have made it through and we would have gotten stuck in the mud.”

Evenboon’s favorite feature in the Ranger is the cruise control. “Not all trucks have that. It makes me more relaxed on the highway, and gives better fuel economy. I got 10.2km/liter in the city and 21km/liter in the highway using cruise control. Overall, I get 14km/liter in mixed city and highway.”

Evenboon says he owns two

Elf trucks. His Ranger serves as a backup when any of the two trucks experience trouble.

Why did he choose the Ranger XLS 4x4? Evenboon replied: “The leaf spring suspension of this variant can carry more load than coil springs, and its 4x4 capabiliti­es make my drives possible even in muddy terrain. And I do encounter a lot of mud because I’m a farmer. The Ranger, for me, provides the most comfortabl­e leaf springs and cabin space— especially the leg and head rooms—which also make my passengers more comfortabl­e while traveling.”

Evenboon sums it up: “Having a Ranger is like owning a truck and a sedan at the same time. There’s also more hightech features than what the price suggests. Among competitor­s, my Ranger offers the most affordable 4x4, with its features that you can’t find in others, such as the cruise control and the speed limiter. It has the lightest power steering among all others, and the 800mm wading depth is very helpful, especially in flood-prone areas.”

Evenboon stresses that the Ranger is also ideal for family use. “It also serves as a leisure vehicle for my family, and we love going on road trips when on vacation. With this truck, all things are accessible for all members of my family.”

Evenboon’s only wish for his Ranger is that there could be second-row vents for the airconditi­oning. “The air-con vents work just fine at the front, but my passengers at the back should experience the same level of cooling comfort.” 800-kg marble slab a piece of cake

HAVING A RANGER IS LIKE OWNING A TRUCK AND A SEDAN AT THE SAME TIME. THERE'S ALSO MORE HIGH-TECH FEATURES THAN WHAT THE PRICE SUGGESTS. AMONG COMPETITOR­S, MY RANGER OFFERS THE MOST AFFORDABLE 4X4, WITH ITS FEATURES THAT YOU CAN'T FIND IN OTHERS

For Jose Maria “JM” Sian, 29, married, who owns a sewing business, a heavy-duty pickup to weave together a solution for his needs for both business and family was provided by the Ford Ranger. He needed a pickup that could be strong and reliable enough to regularly transport big, heavy rolls of fabric from the warehouse to his shop, but comfy enough for his family. He looked first at a Toyota Hilux, but his gaze was transfixed on a Ford Ranger XLT. His decision was made after reading up on vehicle reviews and owners’ feedback.

A day after purchasing his Ranger XLT, he drove it up to Antipolo Church with his family to have it blessed.

Both the pickup and the high-altitude anointment seemed to be manna from heaven, because after a few weeks, another income-generating endeavor came his way: Transporti­ng household appliances, and some more substantia­lly heftier stuff, like an 800-kilogram slab of marble for sanding purposes.

“It was most memorable for me because carrying that block was effortless for the Ranger. It felt like nothing,” JM exclaimed.

JM, who rides his motorbike in his free time, says, “I get to use my Ford Ranger to transport my motorcycle from Bulacan to Taytay, Rizal.”

JM says he is more than satisfied with his Ranger XLT, the pickup being his one and only four-wheeled vehicle. He has never seen the need to buy a second vehicle, “because it perfectly fits into everything I do. The Ford Ranger has made my life easier.”

JM doesn’t see any areas needed for improvemen­t, though he says, “I’m looking forward to what Ford designers have in store for future Rangers.”

SUB-P1M Ranger up to Nov. 30 only

If you intend to join Everboon and JM’S company of happy Ranger owners, this may be your best, and easiest, chance yet to own one. Ford Philippine­s said, in its effort to expand its ownership of the segment-defining “Built Ford Tough” pickup truck among Filipino customers, it’s bringing the Ford Ranger below the P1million mark up to Nov. 30 only. Its Ranger XLT, for instance, is now available with a P125,000 cash discount or zero percent for 24 months.

Starting today until Nov. 30, 2019, the Ford Ranger 2.2L XLS 4x2 MT would be available starting at P943,000. The Ford Ranger 2.2L XLT 4x2 AT and MT variants now come with a cash discount of P125,000, compared to the P55,000 cash discount offered last month. Customers can also opt to get these variants on a financing scheme with zero percent interest rate for 24 months.

With 11 available Ford Ranger variants, Ford is offering a wide array of pickup trucks in its vehicle lineup, including the Ranger Raptor, Ranger Wildtrak, Ranger XLT and Ranger XLS, with every product complement­ing a customer’s need, budget, and lifestyle.

“We’ve made solid headway in our pickup truck business this year, and we aim to sustain the momentum by having the Ford Ranger accessible to more customers by making the Ranger XLS more affordably­priced at below P1-million, and the Ranger XLT available with a bigger cash discount or at zero percent interest,” shares Ryan Lorenzo, marketing director of Ford Philippine­s. “With these great deals for the Ranger, more Filipinos will experience its versatilit­y, toughness, and worldclass capability.”

The Ranger XLS and XLT variants are equipped with the 2.2L TDCI engine and six-speed manual or automatic transmissi­on, delivering 159hp and 385Nm of torque. The Ranger XLS and XLT are perfect mobility partners for customers with workhorse and utility needs with the segment-leading 800mm water wading capability, as well as its towing and payload capabiliti­es.

The Ranger XLS 4x2 variants boast of a towing capacity of 2,500 kg, while the XLS 4x4 manual variant has a towing capacity of 3,500 kg. All variants of the Ranger XLT 4x2 have a towing capacity of 2,500 kg. Meanwhile, all Ranger XLS and XLT variants have a 1,120-kg payload capacity.

The Ranger XLS and XLT variants are also equipped with driver-assist technologi­es such as cruise control, anti-lock braking system with electronic brake force distributi­on, and adjustable speed limiter.

To know more about the Ford Ranger and the special deals available this month, visit a Ford dealership nearest you.

Ford Philippine­s is offering gigantic deals for the Ford Ranger XLS and XLT available on this month. Starting today until Nov. 30, 2019, the Ford Ranger 2.2L XLS 4x2 MT is now available at a starting retail price of P943,000, bringing the base Ranger manual variant below the P1-million price mark and making it more competitiv­ely-priced for pickup customers.

On the other hand, the Ford Ranger 2.2L XLT 4x2 AT and MT variants now come with a cash discount of P125,000 versus

P55,000 cash discount offered last month. Customers can also opt to get these variants on a financing scheme with zero percent interest rate for 24 months.

With 11 available Ford Ranger variants, Ford is offering a wide array of pickup trucks in its vehicle lineup, including the Ranger Raptor, Ranger Wildtrak, Ranger XLT and Ranger XLS, with every product complement­ing a customer’s need, budget, and lifestyle.

Visit https://www.ford.com.ph /shopping/hotdeals/2019/thegiganti­cdeal/ to know more about these gigantic deals for the Ford Ranger.

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 ??  ?? Evenboon Galang Bacamante, Ford Ranger XLS owner
Evenboon Galang Bacamante, Ford Ranger XLS owner
 ??  ?? Sian JM, Ford Ranger XLT owner
Sian JM, Ford Ranger XLT owner

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