Ford’s new Ranger goes platinum, but not for SA | Rare Techy

Ford has just unveiled a new luxury variant of its 2023 double-cab Ranger entry-level range, which sits between the Wildtrack and Raptor, offering more premium finishes and features. Here’s what’s included in the new Ford Ranger Platinum, which won’t be coming to South Africa initially.

The Platinum edition is visually distinguished by a unique chrome grille, platinum lettering on the hood, standard Matrix LED headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels, silk chrome accents, and a version-specific Equinox Bronze exterior shade available as an option. The Platinum Ranger has practical features such as Ford’s new flexible frame system with folding roof racks and a power sunroof with a soft-close tailgate.

Many of the Ranger Platinum’s extras are shared with the similar Ford Everest Platinum SUV, including the same chrome exterior trim with a new grille and platinum hood badging. A black painted roof treatment is also available on the Ranger as a free option, giving the new ranger a distinctive look.

The new luxury Ranger is powered by the same 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine as other high-end Ranger versions. Capable of producing 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque, sending power to all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic gearbox.

Stepping into the cabin, you’ll find uniquely branded quilted leather upholstery on the front seats, accent stitching throughout the cabin, and Premium-badged floor mats. There’s also a Bang and Olufsen sound system with a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, ventilated 10-way power front seats with memory function and a heated steering wheel.

Andrew Birkic, president of Ford Australia, said the range-topping Ranger was a response to customer demand: “We listened carefully to our customers throughout the design and development of the next-generation Ranger, and in doing so, reinvented the pickup truck segment.” he said.

Birkic also mentioned, “We’ve seen an increase in top-of-the-line variants in this segment in recent years, so we challenged ourselves to create a vehicle that would satisfy all of our customers’ wants and needs.” The 2023 Ford Ranger Platinum is currently available to order in Europe, the UK and Australia, with first deliveries expected in May 2023, while in South Africa there is no confirmation as to whether this tasty bakkie will make it to our shores.