Are you looking for a bakkie for getting rid of garden refuse, for taking Rover to the vet, for parking up on the kerb in front of Checkers, for rushing some sheep to the market and for hauling the family off the Kalahari on a 4x4 holiday? If so, the new Ford Ranger is your kind of vehicle, says Barnie Louw.

Let’s be honest: The new Ford Ranger won’t be turning many heads in Sandton. It just looks too much like… well, a bakkie.

There’s not much to make you go: “Wow, will you look at that!” However, there’s nothing to make you say: “No thanks, those Ford design guys must be sniffing glue”, either. It’s just what you’d expect of a bakkie.

The techies at Ford obviously knew what they were doing when they sat down at the drawing board. There’s nothing ostentatious; no overstated lines or electronics. It’s like they simply took the existing Ranger series and improved it in a straightforward, practical way.

They thoroughly did their homework (and lots of it) when they said: “Let’s put the Ranger series under the microscope and adjust, improve and change everything problematic. And then we’ll design something that’ll lick the competition.”

Almost everything on the Ranger series has been revamped: it looks different and can carry a bigger load. It handles better, is less noisy with less vibration, gives you a smoother ride and is far more stylish. The new 3-litre turbo-diesel common-rail direct-injection has heaps of power and torque. But the designers resisted the urge to go over the top.

The new Ranger (you can choose between single cab, super cab and double cab models) is still an honest, no-frills bakkie, just like bakkies used to be and like they should remain... only better.

AT FIRST GLANCE
A few changes are immediately apparent on the exterior – Ford’s marketers describe it as a  “powerful, aggressive, muscular appearance”.

The most obvious of the changes are the larger grille, rectangular headlamps and a prominent power dome on the bonnet. Less obvious are the open-grip door handles and a two-piece bumper with fog lamps (which will cost less to repair if damaged).

The side walls of the cargo box are now 6 cm taller (which means you can load
an extra sheep or two) and the tailgate now has a centre-mounted handle.

According to Ford’s people, the interior of the Ford Ranger has been completely redesigned to “cater for the demanding lifestyles of modern families”.

What that really means is that it’s more ‘shiny’, but you will find more car-like features including a MP3/CD/radio sound system in some models, as well as more cup holders and storage space for CDs, sunglasses and whatever bits and bobs the modern family drags along.

You’ll still find the familiar (and somewhat aged) team of horses under the hood: 2.5 D (64 kW and 174 Nm), 2.5 TD (80 kW and 257 Nm) and 4.0 V6 (154 kW and 323 Nm) and a soon to be released 2.2i (68 kW and 160 Nm).

“FRANKLY MY DEAR…”
But the one thing that’s sure to make Ford’s competition sit up and take notice is their new 3-litre turbo-diesel common-rail direct-injection engine.

If you’re used to your neighbour’s dogs going berserk whenever you clack-clack-clack down the street in your diesel, this engine will astonish you (and the dogs). Thanks to the common-rail direct-injection technology, your neighbour will be forgiven for thinking you’re driving a petrol bakkie.

Beside the fact that it’s quieter, the 16-valve DOHC engine now develops a substantial 115 kW at 3 200 rpm (and 380 Nm at just 1 800 rpm).

The secret? Fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber under extremely high pressure (1 600 bar). Add a variable geometry turbocharger that reduces turbo lag, and you’ve got an engine like Clark Gable: the strong, silent type.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE…
Smoothed out. Ensuring a smoother and quieter ride, the new range has a car-like double-wishbone front suspension, larger wheels, larger diameter shock absorbers and longer leaf springs. So feel free to leave the kidney belt at home.

Say what? Just so that you can better appreciate Kris Kristofferson at 120 km/h,
the seals around the doors and windows have been improved, as has airflow over the wing mirrors.

No worries. If you should accidentally hit the broad side of the barn coming home from an agricultural fair, rest assured that the new Ranger has side airbags for both the driver and front passenger. The front side-impact airbags (exclusive to certain models) are another first for local bakkies.

For the veld. Don’t think the new Ranger is only about “clean, modern lines and ergonomics”. Improved ground clearance and ramp-over angles, a steel fuel tank located forward of the rear axle and protected by a solid steel plate and a strengthened ladder frame platform make the Ranger even more capable of taking on the great outdoors.

Drive Out says:
With a strong, silent engine like Clark Gable, a muscular body like Charlton Heston and a smooth interior like George Clooney, it is sure to weaken more than just a few knees.

*The 3.0 TDCi is already at dealerships and the rest of the models will be available from August.