Ranger finds its dark side
KNOWING very well how South Africans like to accessorise their Ranger bakkies, Ford South Africa has introduced a new limited edition model, based on the 3.2 TDCi Double Cab 4x4 manual and auto models, but adding an assortment of stylistic bits and pieces.
Here the Fx4, as it’s called, takes a black-is-the-new-black approach with unique Panther Black 17-inch alloy wheels, while the grille, fog lamp bezels, exterior mirrors, side steps, roof rails, door/tailgate handles and the rear bumper are, as you’ve guessed by now, all finished in Darth Vader’s favourite colour.
That said, the Fx4 does avoid doing the full Henry Ford salute as it is offered with four body colours: Frozen White, Moondust Silver, Sea Grey and Panther Black.
The edition also gets a tubular ‘sports bar’, fitted bedliner and Fx4 decals on the sides and back of the vehicle.
Nothing changes mechanically, the Fx4 being powered by the familiar 147kW/470Nm 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel engine. It’s only available in 4x4 form, but buyers do get to choose between six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
Interior specification is also as per the regular Ranger XLT, which recently gained the Sync3 intotainment system with navigation as a standard feature.
But what does that name mean? According to Ford SA, the ‘F’ part is a nod to the F-Series pick-ups offered in North America. They resisted the temptation to fit one of those Raptor-style grilles though.
The Fx4 is priced at R593 900 in manual form and R608 900 as an auto, and that’s a R20 000 premium over the regular XLT models.