- Ranger Tremor and Platinum
- Territory
- 7th-gen Mustang GT and Dark Horse
- Tourneo and Transit Custom
- Mustang Mach-E
At the anniversary of its 100th year in South Africa, Ford announced no fewer than eight exciting new cars that will reach local soil within the next two years.
This includes two special-edition models of the Ranger double cab, the all-new Territory SUV, the next-generation Tourneo and Transit Custom vans, and three Mustangs comprising the seventh-generation GT and Dark Horse, as well as the fully-electric Mach-E.
Ranger Tremor and Platinum
The new Ford Ranger Tremor and Platinum are scheduled to arrive at domestic dealers in the first half of 2024.
Based on the Ranger XLT, the Tremor features a 2.0-litre, bi-turbo diesel powertrain producing 154kW and 500Nm, a specially-tuned chassis, and unique Bilstein position-sensitive dampers -akin to the new Wildtrak X but with a more affordable price tag.
Similarly, it offers Trail Control that is comparable to off-road cruise control, all-terrain tyres, larger wheel arches, and a steel underbody bash plate; and the interior is focused on durability with vinyl seating that is tough to stain.
The Ranger Platinum, on the other hand, enhances luxury and comfort to “an entirely new level in the Ranger family,” said Ford.
It wears upmarket finishes such as chrome detailing and is equipped with a range of amenities that aim to enhance the vehicle’s status, including a soft-close tailgate, privacy glass, and signature daytime running lights matched with Ford’s advanced matrix LED headlamps.
The Platinum’s cabin benefits from perforated and quilted leather seats with 10-way power adjustment and heating and cooling functions, which are complemented by contrast stitching, open-grain dark maple wood textures, and “sophisticated” ambient interior lighting.
This special-edition model will be powered by the new 3.0-litre, V6, turbo-diesel powerplant that puts out 184kW and 600Nm.
Territory
The Ford Territory will be an all-new entry into the South African market and will land before the end of the second quarter of 2024.
It promises to be the most spacious five-seater SUV in its segment and brings equipment such as a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch central infotainment system, and several advanced driver assistance features.
The Territory further boasts a coast-to-coast integrated grille and LED daytime running lights that create a signature lighting effect.
For propulsion, the Ford gets a 1.8-litre, turbo-petrol motor delivering 140kW and 320Nm to the front wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission.
7th-gen Mustang GT and Dark Horse
Ford states that local buyers will be able to get behind the wheel of the seventh-generation Mustang GT in “early 2024” while the uprated Dark Horse is penned in to arrive in Q2 of the same year.
“The most exhilarating and visceral Mustang yet,” the new pony car has been fully redesigned and boasts a more horizontal brow, a 1960s-inspired grille, tri-bar LED headlamps, an extended tail, widened rear haunches, and a redesigned rear diffuser for improved aerodynamic balance.
Despite being developed in the age of electrification, the new GT is still driven by a refined version of Ford’s 5.0-litre, Coyote V8 engine pushing out 362kW and 567Nm, whose aggression can be tamed with six drive modes namely Normal, Sport, Slippery, Drag, Track, and a driver-customisable setting.
Following the GT, the Blue Oval will introduce the menacing Dark Horse.
Using the same power unit as its sibling, this aggressive ‘Stang generates a higher 372kW and is honed for track use through the addition of improved aerodynamics, tyres, and steering; unique chassis tuning; larger rear sway bars; and MagneRide shocks capable of monitoring wheel and tyre movement 1,000 times per second.
Inside, it features a thicker flat-bottomed steering wheel wrapped in suede and finished with Bright Indigo Blue accent stitching, anodised silver paddle shifters, a dedicated drive mode button at thumb’s reach, and a 12.4-inch digital driver’s display with customisable screens.
Tourneo and Transit Custom
The base models of the next-generation Tourneo Custom and Transit Custom vans are reaching South Africa in the first quarter of 2024, with higher-spec offerings to arrive in the middle of the year.
The passenger-focused Tourneo will be available in standard and long-wheelbase body styles and feature enhanced interior functionality including a new track-mounted flexible seating system in the second and third rows.
The all-new architecture also achieves a lower floor height and a reduced overall height of under two metres for many variants allowing access to garages and multi-storey car parks that are often inaccessible to the current-generation van.
A new integrated side step further makes ingress and loading easier, and it now comes with a 13-inch central screen supporting wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The new commercially-aligned Transit Custom then provides “innovative features to help maximise productivity during the working day” such as a new tilting steering wheel that transforms into a practical work surface for the driver.
In addition, a redesigned side door aperture improves loading, and it now features a new integrated access step to make entering the load compartment even easier, as well as an optional power sliding side door with hands-free operation.
Both the Tourneo and Transit are driven by a 2.0-litre, single-turbo diesel engine delivering up to 131kW.
Mustang Mach-E
A Mustang by name, not by nature, South Africans looking to take delivery of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E will have to wait until 2025, said Ford, by which time the supporting infrastructure will hopefully be up to scratch.
The Mach-E’s local selection is yet to be confirmed, but it is available globally in Select, Premium, and GT specification and performance levels, with the dual-motor GT being able to smash the 100km/h barrier in 3.73 seconds.
Standard equipment on all models includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, emergency lane-keeping, and an advanced speed assistance system.
Exclusive to the flagship GT are the MagneRide adaptive suspension, high-performance Brembo brakes, front sports seats, 20-inch alloy wheels, and unique body styling.
Keyword: New Ford bakkies, SUVs, sports cars, and vans coming to South Africa in 2024