Latest news with #Ranger
Malaysian Reserve
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Malaysian Reserve
Standard Motor Products Expands Turbocharger Program
Key Takeaways The Standard® Turbocharger program features complete, all-new, no-core Turbocharger Kits for gas and diesel vehicles Standard® Turbocharger Kits include all of the related parts and accessories required to perform a complete repair Standard® also offers a full line of turbocharger-related components such as Bypass Valves, Coolant Lines, Wastegate Solenoids and more NEW YORK, July 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Standard Motor Products, Inc. (SMP) has added to its extensive Turbocharger program with the recent introduction of Turbocharger Kits and related components for gas and diesel-powered vehicles. Standard® New, No-Core Turbocharger Kits for import and domestic vehicles include everything needed for a complete turbo repair, including new gaskets and fasteners. All Standard® Turbochargers are extensively tested in the lab for performance and durability and undergo on-vehicle testing at SMP's Testing Center in Texas. Recent introductions include new Turbocharger Kits for the 2019-16 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick Encore, and other popular General Motors, Ford and Volvo vehicles. Standard® New, No-Core Turbocharger Kits contain all-new components, including the Turbocharger; nothing has been remanufactured. Technicians can trust the part will perform with the added benefit that there is no core to process. All Standard® Turbocharger Kits include a 3-year / 36,000-mile warranty and are supported by a comprehensive Drop Ship Program. Standard® continues to deliver the aftermarket's most comprehensive Turbocharger Program which includes Bypass Valves, Coolant Lines, Gasket Sets, Hoses, Intercoolers, MAP Sensors, Oil Drain Tubes, Oil Lines, Oil Line Filters, Pressure Sensors, Solenoids, Speed Sensors, Temperature Sensors, Turbocharger Actuators and Wastegate Actuators. Intercoolers have recently been added for popular Ford vehicles like the 2021-19 Ranger. Turbocharger Coolant Lines are new for nearly four million Ford vehicles, and Oil Drain Tubes are new for Audi, Volkswagen, Ford and Dodge vehicles. MAP Sensors have also been added for popular vehicles like the 2023-19 Jeep Renegade and 2025-21 Ford Bronco Sport. John Herc, Vice President of Vehicle Control Marketing, SMP, stated, 'We have worked hard to develop all-new, no-core, engine-specific Turbo Kits that include all of the components required for a complete turbo service. These kits really save technicians time but more importantly, they help ensure a complete repair and optimize the performance of turbocharged vehicles.' All new Standard® Turbochargers and related components are listed in the catalog found at and in electronic catalog providers. About Standard® Standard® provides unmatched coverage for all import and domestic vehicle applications equipped with gas, hybrid, and electric powertrains. Standard's line offers premium automotive products in multiple product categories for vehicle systems such as electric, safety, fuel, and ignition. Product categories include Ignition Coils, Sensors, Switches, VVT Components, ADAS Products, TMPS Sensors, Fuel Injection and much more. For additional information, contact an SMP® sales representative or visit About SMP With over 100 years in business, Standard Motor Products, Inc. is a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of premium replacement parts in the automotive aftermarket and a custom-engineered solutions provider to vehicle and equipment manufacturers in diverse non-aftermarket end markets. SMP sells its products primarily to retailers, warehouse distributors, original equipment manufacturers and original equipment service part operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Mexico and other Latin America countries. For more information, download the SMP Parts App or visit
7NEWS
2 days ago
- 7NEWS
South African man Jonathan Green fighting for life after horror crash on Capricorn Hwy in Queensland's Central Highlands
A man fighting for life after a head-on crash on a Queensland highway that claimed the lives of four people has suffered a series of horrific injuries — including rupturing the largest artery in the human body. Jonathan Green, 27, and his friend, 28, were in a Toyota Hilux that was hit head-on by a Holden Commodore on the Capricorn Hwy, between Comet and Blackwater in the state's Central Highlands, just before 11am on Sunday. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: One of the worst weekends on Queensland roads. All four occupants of the Commodore — Corey Bietzel, 32, his friend Shaun Ranger, 28, and Ranger's two children Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6 — died at the scene. Green was airlifted to Brisbane, while the 28-year-old was taken to a local hospital in a serious but stable condition. It is believed the pair had been travelling for work. Green is originally from Randfontein, Gauteng, in South Africa, but is understood to have lived in Australia for several years. His sister Elizma Van Zyl said her brother has suffered significant injuries and is expected to have ongoing surgeries over the next four to five months as he recovers from the crash. 'He ruptured his aorta and lost all of his stomach muscles,' she said. 'He also has dead tissue and muscle that needed to be removed.' Van Zyl said her brother was 'fortunate' to have survived the accident and her heart 'goes out to the families that lost their loved ones'. She has started a Givealittle fundraiser to help cover the costs of her brother's medical care, recovery costs, and basic necessities once he is stable. The horror crash tore apart a family of five, with Ranger's fiancee, Renee Carla, now a single mother to the couple's youngest daughter, Saphora, 2. The group in the Holden Commodore had been returning home from a camping trip, with Carla and Saphora travelling behind them in another car. Chantel Semple, a friend of Carla's, said Baylee had a cheeky smile and a love for horses, while Chandler 'was a sweet and kind-hearted little boy' who enjoyed the outdoors. 'Shaun (was) a dedicated and selfless father, supportive friend and loving partner,' Semple said in a fundraiser she set up for the family. 'We are all very heartbroken over this unexpected loss and want to give them the send-off they deserve, a meaningful goodbye, surrounded by the people who love them.' On Monday, Bietzel was identified as the fourth deceased victim of the crash as his family shared a touching tribute describing him as a 'loving son, grandson, a devoted father, brother, cousin and friend'. His cousin Taya-Marie Harper said he 'touched the hearts of many people and left an irreplaceable void' and the family are 'heartbroken over this unexpected loss'. 'Corey was loved and cherished by many and brought much joy and light to people's lives,' she said. Harper has launched a GoFundMe to help support her family as they prepare to give Bietzel 'the send off he deserves'. Following the crash, the Capricorn Hwy was closed in both directions for several hours while police remained at the scene. The Holden was completely destroyed in the crash and the wreckage was left crumpled on the side of the highway while the ute had flipped onto its roof. Inspector Ben Wiltshire said both of the vehicles had caught fire on impact. He said it was a 'high-speed' crash but that the exact circumstances were still being investigated. Wiltshire said the injuries the victims sustained were 'horrific'. 'There is a complex investigation that takes place for every fatal traffic accident and this was no exception,' he said. 'We need to conduct a thorough investigation before we make any decisions about charges.' Wiltshire said the tragedy would reverberate throughout the entire Central Highlands community. As a result of the accident, police will be ramping up traffic enforcement efforts throughout the region. 'This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of road safety,' Wiltshire said. 'These lives were cut short far too soon leaving families and loved ones to grapple with the unimaginable grief.' Eleven people were killed on Queensland's roads over the weekend, including three teens who crashed into another car while trying to overtake a semi-trailer in Mackay on Friday night. Two of the teens have been identified as T-Jay Petrass and Liam Doumergue, both 19, while a 19-year-old girl also travelling in their car was killed. Also on Friday a 21-year-old girl was killed in a head-on collision in the Gympie Region, while a 26-year-old man died falling out of a car in Tamborine. Police are also investigating after a car hit and killed an 18-year-old man lying on the road in the South Burnett region on Saturday morning. Later that morning a 45-year-old motorbike rider died when he crashed into a trailer being towed by a ute in Mackay. Wiltshire urged motorists to drive to the conditions and said a split-second decision could be a matter of life or death. 'Don't speed, drive to the conditions, avoid distractions and ensure that you're well rested before embarking on any long journey,' he said. 'Our families, our friends and our children are depending on you.'
7NEWS
2 days ago
- 7NEWS
Fourth victim of horror crash on Capricorn Hwy in Queensland's Central Highlands identified
The fourth victim of a horrific head-on crash on a Queensland highway has been identified. Corey Bietzel was returning home from a camping trip with his friend Shaun Ranger and Ranger's two children Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6, when they were involved in a collision on the Capricorn Hwy, between Comet and Blackwater in the state's Central Highlands, just before 11am on Sunday. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The group were travelling in a Holden Commodore towards Blackwater when it struck a Toyota Hilux ute driving in the opposite direction. All four were declared dead at the scene. It is understood Ranger's fiancee, Renee Carla, was travelling in another car behind. Carla has been left a single mother to the couple's youngest daughter, Saphora, 2. Bietzel's family on Monday revealed he was also involved in the crash as they shared a touching tribute, describing him as a 'loving son, grandson, a devoted father, brother, cousin and friend'. His cousin Taya-Marie Harper said he 'touched the hearts of many people and left an irreplaceable void' and the family are 'heartbroken over this unexpected loss'. 'Corey was loved and cherished by many and brought much joy and light to people's lives,' she said. Harper has launched a GoFundMe to help support her family as they prepare to give Bietzel 'the send off he deserves'. The tributes for Bietzel come after it was revealed earlier on Monday a family of five had been torn apart by the deaths of Ranger and his two children. Chantel Semple, a friend of Carla's, said Baylee had a cheeky smile and a love for horses, while Chandler 'was a sweet and kind-hearted little boy' who enjoyed the outdoors. 'Shaun (was) a dedicated and selfless father, supportive friend and loving partner,' Semple said in a fundraiser she set up for the family. 'We are all very heartbroken over this unexpected loss and want to give them the send-off they deserve, a meaningful goodbye, surrounded by the people who love them.' The two men inside the ute were both taken to hospital. A 28-year-old man is in a serious but stable condition, while a 27-year-old man was airlifted to Brisbane and is fighting for life. It is believed the pair had been travelling for work. The Capricorn Hwy was closed in both directions for several hours while police remained at the scene. The Holden was completely destroyed in the crash and the wreckage was left crumpled on the side of the highway while the ute had flipped onto its roof. Inspector Ben Wiltshire said both of the vehicles had caught fire on impact. He said it was a 'high-speed' crash but that the exact circumstances were still being investigated. Wiltshire said the injuries the victims sustained were 'horrific'. 'There is a complex investigation that takes place for every fatal traffic accident and this was no exception,' he said. 'We need to conduct a thorough investigation before we make any decisions about charges.' Wiltshire said the tragedy would reverberate throughout the entire Central Highlands community. As a result of the accident, police will be ramping up traffic enforcement efforts throughout the region. 'This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of road safety,' Wiltshire said. 'These lives were cut short far too soon leaving families and loved ones to grapple with the unimaginable grief.' Eleven people were killed on Queensland's roads over the weekend, including three teens who crashed into another car while trying to overtake a semi-trailer in Mackay on Friday night. Two of the teens have been identified as T-Jay Petrass and Liam Doumergue, both 19, while a 19-year-old girl also travelling in their car was killed. Also on Friday a 21-year-old girl was killed in a head-on collision in the Gympie Region, while a 26-year-old man died falling out of a car in Tamborine. Police are also investigating after a car hit and killed an 18-year-old man lying on the road in the South Burnett region on Saturday morning. Later that morning a 45-year-old motorbike rider died when he crashed into a trailer being towed by a ute in Mackay. Wiltshire urged motorists to drive to the conditions and said a split-second decision could be a matter of life or death. 'Don't speed, drive to the conditions, avoid distractions and ensure that you're well rested before embarking on any long journey,' he said. 'Our families, our friends and our children are depending on you.'
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
We take on Iceland in the Ford Ranger PHEV
If you can survive in Iceland, you can survive anywhere. That applies to people… and cars. So, what better place to launch a go-anywhere dual-cab ute? That's exactly how Ford saw it, as the American manufacturer invited us to fly all the way from Melbourne to Reykjavik, Iceland to experience the new Ranger PHEV. Sold alongside regular diesel versions of the Ranger in Australia, the PHEV makes all the same promises of unrivalled towing capacity, off-road capability and liveability. That's right, Ford says it'll 'still do ute things'. It'll also do plug-in hybrid things, like drive solely on electric power, offer exportable electricity, and consume less fuel than your standard dual-cab. The extent to which it can do those things (particularly the EV thing) is limited, however, by a relatively small 11.8kWh (usable) lithium-ion drive battery. But it can still do ute things! Which brings us back to Iceland, and the day-long drive curated to demonstrate the PHEV's prowess, both on- and off-road. Our starting point was the capital city of Reykjavik, home to a population of roughly 140,000 people. For context, that's less than you'll find in Geelong, Cairns or Newcastle. In other words, it's more of a sleepy coastal town than a sprawling metropolis. Still, it feels positively bustling compared to what lies outside the city limits. The first leg of our drive involved a northbound highway stint on Route 1, the main national road that circles the entire island, and it quickly became clear that Iceland is made up of barely-touched wilderness broken up by small towns, none of which have names that can easily be pronounced by Aussies like you or me. Traffic was minimal and the highway relatively straight, so our attention quickly turned to the Ranger and its new party tricks. Among those is the battery and electric motor pairing, which allow for both hybrid and EV driving. Ford claims that the Ranger PHEV can travel up to 49km on electric power alone. We tested that and fell well short, managing just 33km with two passengers and minimal baggage onboard. However, most of those kilometres were chalked up on the highway – a demanding test of EV range. In Australia, the Ranger PHEV is compared to the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. My takeaway from our little experiment was that if you're planning to circumnavigate Iceland's ring road without expelling any CO2, those plug-in hybrid ute alternatives come up trumps. We also clocked a 0-100km/h sprint of 8.95 seconds – make of that what you will. On-road performance and fuel efficiency is important, but Ford was more interested in proving that the Ranger PHEV is a proper workhorse worthy of the badge, an intent proven during our morning breakfast stop at Kleif Farm. Situated about 40 minutes north of Reykjavik, Kleif Farm is a getaway villa situated among high peaks, flowing water and dirt tracks, the latter providing a perfect opportunity to load up the Ranger PHEV for a quick towing test. Somewhat remarkably this was my first time towing, and while hazards were few and far between, I was a little nervous. Thankfully, the Ranger was up to the task, with enough grunt to drag a trailer full of heavy hay bales around the property. Given my inexperience, we then had a play around with the Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature, which allows you to 'steer' the trailer using the outer ring of the drive mode controller on the centre console. It feels quite unnatural at first, but after some practice I earned a pat on the back for neatly backing the trailer into a creekside parking spot. The Ranger PHEV is rated to tow up to 3.5 tonnes like its diesel-powered siblings, but it's worth noting that we've previously observed the smaller EcoBoost petrol engine feels particularly strained when trying to haul anything above 2.0 tonnes. Ford also used the stop off at Kleif Farm to demonstrate 'Pro Power Onboard', otherwise known as exportable power in the form of two 15A power outlets built into the Ranger PHEV's tub. These can be used to power a wide array of power tools, electronics and camping equipment – in this case a big circular saw. It's a feature that Ford is pushing as part of the Ranger PHEV sales pitch, and it's not the only manufacturer to do so. Just last year I attended the BYD Shark 6 launch in Broken Hill, during which we were served coffee out of the tubs of the test vehicles – a neat touch. Both models can serve as a mobile cafe, but Ford has BYD and GWM covered for output capacity. There's only so much you can do with a stationary ute though, so we hit the highway again in search of a new challenge. Looping around east towards the centre of the island, the natural beauty of Iceland once again took centre stage. June marks the beginning of summer here, and that means the melting of ice, yellowing of grass and seemingly endless 20-hour days. Glaciers and volcanoes also dot the barren landscape, hence why Iceland is known as 'the land of fire and ice'. I spent most of this leg in the passenger seat, gazing out the window with camera in hand, awestruck. However, a quick glance across at the instrument cluster revealed our test vehicle was now running on an empty battery, and consuming upwards of 9.0L/100km as a result. That sort of figure will be familiar to diesel Ranger owners, but it's not quite what you're after from a hybrid. The takeaway here is that PHEVs need a charged battery to make sense, especially when that battery plays a part in so many key vehicle functions. The second leg of our journey wrapped up in 'Springfield'. No, not that Springfield, for all you Simpsons fans out there. Rather, this was a small town at the base of a not-so-small volcano. And, unlike the setting of The Simpsons, here you'll find geothermal hot springs bursting up through the earth. This shouldn't have come as a surprise, as Iceland is the most volcanic island in the world. Eruptions occur roughly every five years, although the frequency of such events has increased in recent years. The Reykjanes Peninsula has seen nine eruptions since 2023, the first of which resulted in the evacuation of 4000 people from the town of Grindavík in the country's south. Most of the town's residents have not returned since, with many homes sold to the state. Thankfully, the Grensdalur Volcano remained sedate during our visit, allowing for some nearby off-roading in the Ranger PHEV. Ford's planned route included a mix of river crossings, gravel tracks, and proper mountain ascents, all of which brought out different characteristics of the Ranger. We cycled through the four-wheel drive drive modes throughout – 4H for flatter sections of dirt, 4L for the steeper, more aggressive climbs, and even turned to Hill Descent Control (HDC) on the way back down the mountain. None of the water crossings we made were particularly treacherous, as you'll probably notice in the images below. However, it was comforting to know the battery is protected by its position above the rear axle. The Ranger PHEV retains all the important kit fitted to standard diesel variants, including a rear differential lock, the aforementioned 4WD modes, and underbody protection. One key difference between the models is that the PHEV is capable of silent EV off-roading, although our depleted battery wasn't really in a state to offer this. Nevertheless, the turbo-petrol engine in the PHEV is quieter than its diesel counterpart, and we were able to reach the final peak without making a distasteful racket. The summit provided an elevated vantage point of a landscape we had only previously seen from ground level, and boy was it an enlightening view. Not because there was plenty to see – quite the opposite, in fact. Our guide shared that arctic foxes were the only creatures to be found on the island when the Vikings first arrived some 12 centuries ago, and not much seems to have changed since. Bar the native horses and a few sheep, wildlife is hard to come by. Because for all its rugged charm, Iceland is still a desolate and harsh place to call home. Its unforgiving nature has given rise to impressive feats of human innovation, including a geothermal energy network made up of large pipelines that transport both hot water and steam, the latter used to generate electricity for the nation. We came across some of these pipes during our descent, but I wouldn't recommend getting too close – the presence of hydrogen sulfide makes the air smell like rotten eggs… no thanks! Moving swiftly onward, a spaghetti-like set of loose gravel trails led us back to the base of the mountain, all cars still in good health. Ford hardly asked us to beat on their brand-new machines, but the Ranger PHEV seems a welcome addition to the dual-cab ute market, and a worthy rival to the two big name plug-in hybrids from China. A final highway stint brought our expedition to an end, no more than eight hours after it begun. Short and sweet, as they say. For me, that meant boarding a plane back to Melbourne the next morning, but the same couldn't be said for our Blue Oval chariots. That's because the Ranger PHEV is set to be a staple of Iceland's ute market, although it won't come cheap – a diesel Ranger Wildtrak retails for the equivalent of A$155,000, as all cars are generally dearer here. Without being an expert on the Icelandic car market, I couldn't tell the locals whether that's decent value. But what I can say is that the Ford Ranger PHEV might be a little different, but it can still do 'ute things'. MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom Content originally sourced from: If you can survive in Iceland, you can survive anywhere. That applies to people… and cars. So, what better place to launch a go-anywhere dual-cab ute? That's exactly how Ford saw it, as the American manufacturer invited us to fly all the way from Melbourne to Reykjavik, Iceland to experience the new Ranger PHEV. Sold alongside regular diesel versions of the Ranger in Australia, the PHEV makes all the same promises of unrivalled towing capacity, off-road capability and liveability. That's right, Ford says it'll 'still do ute things'. It'll also do plug-in hybrid things, like drive solely on electric power, offer exportable electricity, and consume less fuel than your standard dual-cab. The extent to which it can do those things (particularly the EV thing) is limited, however, by a relatively small 11.8kWh (usable) lithium-ion drive battery. But it can still do ute things! Which brings us back to Iceland, and the day-long drive curated to demonstrate the PHEV's prowess, both on- and off-road. Our starting point was the capital city of Reykjavik, home to a population of roughly 140,000 people. For context, that's less than you'll find in Geelong, Cairns or Newcastle. In other words, it's more of a sleepy coastal town than a sprawling metropolis. Still, it feels positively bustling compared to what lies outside the city limits. The first leg of our drive involved a northbound highway stint on Route 1, the main national road that circles the entire island, and it quickly became clear that Iceland is made up of barely-touched wilderness broken up by small towns, none of which have names that can easily be pronounced by Aussies like you or me. Traffic was minimal and the highway relatively straight, so our attention quickly turned to the Ranger and its new party tricks. Among those is the battery and electric motor pairing, which allow for both hybrid and EV driving. Ford claims that the Ranger PHEV can travel up to 49km on electric power alone. We tested that and fell well short, managing just 33km with two passengers and minimal baggage onboard. However, most of those kilometres were chalked up on the highway – a demanding test of EV range. In Australia, the Ranger PHEV is compared to the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. My takeaway from our little experiment was that if you're planning to circumnavigate Iceland's ring road without expelling any CO2, those plug-in hybrid ute alternatives come up trumps. We also clocked a 0-100km/h sprint of 8.95 seconds – make of that what you will. On-road performance and fuel efficiency is important, but Ford was more interested in proving that the Ranger PHEV is a proper workhorse worthy of the badge, an intent proven during our morning breakfast stop at Kleif Farm. Situated about 40 minutes north of Reykjavik, Kleif Farm is a getaway villa situated among high peaks, flowing water and dirt tracks, the latter providing a perfect opportunity to load up the Ranger PHEV for a quick towing test. Somewhat remarkably this was my first time towing, and while hazards were few and far between, I was a little nervous. Thankfully, the Ranger was up to the task, with enough grunt to drag a trailer full of heavy hay bales around the property. Given my inexperience, we then had a play around with the Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature, which allows you to 'steer' the trailer using the outer ring of the drive mode controller on the centre console. It feels quite unnatural at first, but after some practice I earned a pat on the back for neatly backing the trailer into a creekside parking spot. The Ranger PHEV is rated to tow up to 3.5 tonnes like its diesel-powered siblings, but it's worth noting that we've previously observed the smaller EcoBoost petrol engine feels particularly strained when trying to haul anything above 2.0 tonnes. Ford also used the stop off at Kleif Farm to demonstrate 'Pro Power Onboard', otherwise known as exportable power in the form of two 15A power outlets built into the Ranger PHEV's tub. These can be used to power a wide array of power tools, electronics and camping equipment – in this case a big circular saw. It's a feature that Ford is pushing as part of the Ranger PHEV sales pitch, and it's not the only manufacturer to do so. Just last year I attended the BYD Shark 6 launch in Broken Hill, during which we were served coffee out of the tubs of the test vehicles – a neat touch. Both models can serve as a mobile cafe, but Ford has BYD and GWM covered for output capacity. There's only so much you can do with a stationary ute though, so we hit the highway again in search of a new challenge. Looping around east towards the centre of the island, the natural beauty of Iceland once again took centre stage. June marks the beginning of summer here, and that means the melting of ice, yellowing of grass and seemingly endless 20-hour days. Glaciers and volcanoes also dot the barren landscape, hence why Iceland is known as 'the land of fire and ice'. I spent most of this leg in the passenger seat, gazing out the window with camera in hand, awestruck. However, a quick glance across at the instrument cluster revealed our test vehicle was now running on an empty battery, and consuming upwards of 9.0L/100km as a result. That sort of figure will be familiar to diesel Ranger owners, but it's not quite what you're after from a hybrid. The takeaway here is that PHEVs need a charged battery to make sense, especially when that battery plays a part in so many key vehicle functions. The second leg of our journey wrapped up in 'Springfield'. No, not that Springfield, for all you Simpsons fans out there. Rather, this was a small town at the base of a not-so-small volcano. And, unlike the setting of The Simpsons, here you'll find geothermal hot springs bursting up through the earth. This shouldn't have come as a surprise, as Iceland is the most volcanic island in the world. Eruptions occur roughly every five years, although the frequency of such events has increased in recent years. The Reykjanes Peninsula has seen nine eruptions since 2023, the first of which resulted in the evacuation of 4000 people from the town of Grindavík in the country's south. Most of the town's residents have not returned since, with many homes sold to the state. Thankfully, the Grensdalur Volcano remained sedate during our visit, allowing for some nearby off-roading in the Ranger PHEV. Ford's planned route included a mix of river crossings, gravel tracks, and proper mountain ascents, all of which brought out different characteristics of the Ranger. We cycled through the four-wheel drive drive modes throughout – 4H for flatter sections of dirt, 4L for the steeper, more aggressive climbs, and even turned to Hill Descent Control (HDC) on the way back down the mountain. None of the water crossings we made were particularly treacherous, as you'll probably notice in the images below. However, it was comforting to know the battery is protected by its position above the rear axle. The Ranger PHEV retains all the important kit fitted to standard diesel variants, including a rear differential lock, the aforementioned 4WD modes, and underbody protection. One key difference between the models is that the PHEV is capable of silent EV off-roading, although our depleted battery wasn't really in a state to offer this. Nevertheless, the turbo-petrol engine in the PHEV is quieter than its diesel counterpart, and we were able to reach the final peak without making a distasteful racket. The summit provided an elevated vantage point of a landscape we had only previously seen from ground level, and boy was it an enlightening view. Not because there was plenty to see – quite the opposite, in fact. Our guide shared that arctic foxes were the only creatures to be found on the island when the Vikings first arrived some 12 centuries ago, and not much seems to have changed since. Bar the native horses and a few sheep, wildlife is hard to come by. Because for all its rugged charm, Iceland is still a desolate and harsh place to call home. Its unforgiving nature has given rise to impressive feats of human innovation, including a geothermal energy network made up of large pipelines that transport both hot water and steam, the latter used to generate electricity for the nation. We came across some of these pipes during our descent, but I wouldn't recommend getting too close – the presence of hydrogen sulfide makes the air smell like rotten eggs… no thanks! Moving swiftly onward, a spaghetti-like set of loose gravel trails led us back to the base of the mountain, all cars still in good health. Ford hardly asked us to beat on their brand-new machines, but the Ranger PHEV seems a welcome addition to the dual-cab ute market, and a worthy rival to the two big name plug-in hybrids from China. A final highway stint brought our expedition to an end, no more than eight hours after it begun. Short and sweet, as they say. For me, that meant boarding a plane back to Melbourne the next morning, but the same couldn't be said for our Blue Oval chariots. That's because the Ranger PHEV is set to be a staple of Iceland's ute market, although it won't come cheap – a diesel Ranger Wildtrak retails for the equivalent of A$155,000, as all cars are generally dearer here. Without being an expert on the Icelandic car market, I couldn't tell the locals whether that's decent value. But what I can say is that the Ford Ranger PHEV might be a little different, but it can still do 'ute things'. MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom Content originally sourced from: If you can survive in Iceland, you can survive anywhere. That applies to people… and cars. So, what better place to launch a go-anywhere dual-cab ute? That's exactly how Ford saw it, as the American manufacturer invited us to fly all the way from Melbourne to Reykjavik, Iceland to experience the new Ranger PHEV. Sold alongside regular diesel versions of the Ranger in Australia, the PHEV makes all the same promises of unrivalled towing capacity, off-road capability and liveability. That's right, Ford says it'll 'still do ute things'. It'll also do plug-in hybrid things, like drive solely on electric power, offer exportable electricity, and consume less fuel than your standard dual-cab. The extent to which it can do those things (particularly the EV thing) is limited, however, by a relatively small 11.8kWh (usable) lithium-ion drive battery. But it can still do ute things! Which brings us back to Iceland, and the day-long drive curated to demonstrate the PHEV's prowess, both on- and off-road. Our starting point was the capital city of Reykjavik, home to a population of roughly 140,000 people. For context, that's less than you'll find in Geelong, Cairns or Newcastle. In other words, it's more of a sleepy coastal town than a sprawling metropolis. Still, it feels positively bustling compared to what lies outside the city limits. The first leg of our drive involved a northbound highway stint on Route 1, the main national road that circles the entire island, and it quickly became clear that Iceland is made up of barely-touched wilderness broken up by small towns, none of which have names that can easily be pronounced by Aussies like you or me. Traffic was minimal and the highway relatively straight, so our attention quickly turned to the Ranger and its new party tricks. Among those is the battery and electric motor pairing, which allow for both hybrid and EV driving. Ford claims that the Ranger PHEV can travel up to 49km on electric power alone. We tested that and fell well short, managing just 33km with two passengers and minimal baggage onboard. However, most of those kilometres were chalked up on the highway – a demanding test of EV range. In Australia, the Ranger PHEV is compared to the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. My takeaway from our little experiment was that if you're planning to circumnavigate Iceland's ring road without expelling any CO2, those plug-in hybrid ute alternatives come up trumps. We also clocked a 0-100km/h sprint of 8.95 seconds – make of that what you will. On-road performance and fuel efficiency is important, but Ford was more interested in proving that the Ranger PHEV is a proper workhorse worthy of the badge, an intent proven during our morning breakfast stop at Kleif Farm. Situated about 40 minutes north of Reykjavik, Kleif Farm is a getaway villa situated among high peaks, flowing water and dirt tracks, the latter providing a perfect opportunity to load up the Ranger PHEV for a quick towing test. Somewhat remarkably this was my first time towing, and while hazards were few and far between, I was a little nervous. Thankfully, the Ranger was up to the task, with enough grunt to drag a trailer full of heavy hay bales around the property. Given my inexperience, we then had a play around with the Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature, which allows you to 'steer' the trailer using the outer ring of the drive mode controller on the centre console. It feels quite unnatural at first, but after some practice I earned a pat on the back for neatly backing the trailer into a creekside parking spot. The Ranger PHEV is rated to tow up to 3.5 tonnes like its diesel-powered siblings, but it's worth noting that we've previously observed the smaller EcoBoost petrol engine feels particularly strained when trying to haul anything above 2.0 tonnes. Ford also used the stop off at Kleif Farm to demonstrate 'Pro Power Onboard', otherwise known as exportable power in the form of two 15A power outlets built into the Ranger PHEV's tub. These can be used to power a wide array of power tools, electronics and camping equipment – in this case a big circular saw. It's a feature that Ford is pushing as part of the Ranger PHEV sales pitch, and it's not the only manufacturer to do so. Just last year I attended the BYD Shark 6 launch in Broken Hill, during which we were served coffee out of the tubs of the test vehicles – a neat touch. Both models can serve as a mobile cafe, but Ford has BYD and GWM covered for output capacity. There's only so much you can do with a stationary ute though, so we hit the highway again in search of a new challenge. Looping around east towards the centre of the island, the natural beauty of Iceland once again took centre stage. June marks the beginning of summer here, and that means the melting of ice, yellowing of grass and seemingly endless 20-hour days. Glaciers and volcanoes also dot the barren landscape, hence why Iceland is known as 'the land of fire and ice'. I spent most of this leg in the passenger seat, gazing out the window with camera in hand, awestruck. However, a quick glance across at the instrument cluster revealed our test vehicle was now running on an empty battery, and consuming upwards of 9.0L/100km as a result. That sort of figure will be familiar to diesel Ranger owners, but it's not quite what you're after from a hybrid. The takeaway here is that PHEVs need a charged battery to make sense, especially when that battery plays a part in so many key vehicle functions. The second leg of our journey wrapped up in 'Springfield'. No, not that Springfield, for all you Simpsons fans out there. Rather, this was a small town at the base of a not-so-small volcano. And, unlike the setting of The Simpsons, here you'll find geothermal hot springs bursting up through the earth. This shouldn't have come as a surprise, as Iceland is the most volcanic island in the world. Eruptions occur roughly every five years, although the frequency of such events has increased in recent years. The Reykjanes Peninsula has seen nine eruptions since 2023, the first of which resulted in the evacuation of 4000 people from the town of Grindavík in the country's south. Most of the town's residents have not returned since, with many homes sold to the state. Thankfully, the Grensdalur Volcano remained sedate during our visit, allowing for some nearby off-roading in the Ranger PHEV. Ford's planned route included a mix of river crossings, gravel tracks, and proper mountain ascents, all of which brought out different characteristics of the Ranger. We cycled through the four-wheel drive drive modes throughout – 4H for flatter sections of dirt, 4L for the steeper, more aggressive climbs, and even turned to Hill Descent Control (HDC) on the way back down the mountain. None of the water crossings we made were particularly treacherous, as you'll probably notice in the images below. However, it was comforting to know the battery is protected by its position above the rear axle. The Ranger PHEV retains all the important kit fitted to standard diesel variants, including a rear differential lock, the aforementioned 4WD modes, and underbody protection. One key difference between the models is that the PHEV is capable of silent EV off-roading, although our depleted battery wasn't really in a state to offer this. Nevertheless, the turbo-petrol engine in the PHEV is quieter than its diesel counterpart, and we were able to reach the final peak without making a distasteful racket. The summit provided an elevated vantage point of a landscape we had only previously seen from ground level, and boy was it an enlightening view. Not because there was plenty to see – quite the opposite, in fact. Our guide shared that arctic foxes were the only creatures to be found on the island when the Vikings first arrived some 12 centuries ago, and not much seems to have changed since. Bar the native horses and a few sheep, wildlife is hard to come by. Because for all its rugged charm, Iceland is still a desolate and harsh place to call home. Its unforgiving nature has given rise to impressive feats of human innovation, including a geothermal energy network made up of large pipelines that transport both hot water and steam, the latter used to generate electricity for the nation. We came across some of these pipes during our descent, but I wouldn't recommend getting too close – the presence of hydrogen sulfide makes the air smell like rotten eggs… no thanks! Moving swiftly onward, a spaghetti-like set of loose gravel trails led us back to the base of the mountain, all cars still in good health. Ford hardly asked us to beat on their brand-new machines, but the Ranger PHEV seems a welcome addition to the dual-cab ute market, and a worthy rival to the two big name plug-in hybrids from China. A final highway stint brought our expedition to an end, no more than eight hours after it begun. Short and sweet, as they say. For me, that meant boarding a plane back to Melbourne the next morning, but the same couldn't be said for our Blue Oval chariots. That's because the Ranger PHEV is set to be a staple of Iceland's ute market, although it won't come cheap – a diesel Ranger Wildtrak retails for the equivalent of A$155,000, as all cars are generally dearer here. Without being an expert on the Icelandic car market, I couldn't tell the locals whether that's decent value. But what I can say is that the Ford Ranger PHEV might be a little different, but it can still do 'ute things'. MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom Content originally sourced from: If you can survive in Iceland, you can survive anywhere. That applies to people… and cars. So, what better place to launch a go-anywhere dual-cab ute? That's exactly how Ford saw it, as the American manufacturer invited us to fly all the way from Melbourne to Reykjavik, Iceland to experience the new Ranger PHEV. Sold alongside regular diesel versions of the Ranger in Australia, the PHEV makes all the same promises of unrivalled towing capacity, off-road capability and liveability. That's right, Ford says it'll 'still do ute things'. It'll also do plug-in hybrid things, like drive solely on electric power, offer exportable electricity, and consume less fuel than your standard dual-cab. The extent to which it can do those things (particularly the EV thing) is limited, however, by a relatively small 11.8kWh (usable) lithium-ion drive battery. But it can still do ute things! Which brings us back to Iceland, and the day-long drive curated to demonstrate the PHEV's prowess, both on- and off-road. Our starting point was the capital city of Reykjavik, home to a population of roughly 140,000 people. For context, that's less than you'll find in Geelong, Cairns or Newcastle. In other words, it's more of a sleepy coastal town than a sprawling metropolis. Still, it feels positively bustling compared to what lies outside the city limits. The first leg of our drive involved a northbound highway stint on Route 1, the main national road that circles the entire island, and it quickly became clear that Iceland is made up of barely-touched wilderness broken up by small towns, none of which have names that can easily be pronounced by Aussies like you or me. Traffic was minimal and the highway relatively straight, so our attention quickly turned to the Ranger and its new party tricks. Among those is the battery and electric motor pairing, which allow for both hybrid and EV driving. Ford claims that the Ranger PHEV can travel up to 49km on electric power alone. We tested that and fell well short, managing just 33km with two passengers and minimal baggage onboard. However, most of those kilometres were chalked up on the highway – a demanding test of EV range. In Australia, the Ranger PHEV is compared to the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. My takeaway from our little experiment was that if you're planning to circumnavigate Iceland's ring road without expelling any CO2, those plug-in hybrid ute alternatives come up trumps. We also clocked a 0-100km/h sprint of 8.95 seconds – make of that what you will. On-road performance and fuel efficiency is important, but Ford was more interested in proving that the Ranger PHEV is a proper workhorse worthy of the badge, an intent proven during our morning breakfast stop at Kleif Farm. Situated about 40 minutes north of Reykjavik, Kleif Farm is a getaway villa situated among high peaks, flowing water and dirt tracks, the latter providing a perfect opportunity to load up the Ranger PHEV for a quick towing test. Somewhat remarkably this was my first time towing, and while hazards were few and far between, I was a little nervous. Thankfully, the Ranger was up to the task, with enough grunt to drag a trailer full of heavy hay bales around the property. Given my inexperience, we then had a play around with the Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature, which allows you to 'steer' the trailer using the outer ring of the drive mode controller on the centre console. It feels quite unnatural at first, but after some practice I earned a pat on the back for neatly backing the trailer into a creekside parking spot. The Ranger PHEV is rated to tow up to 3.5 tonnes like its diesel-powered siblings, but it's worth noting that we've previously observed the smaller EcoBoost petrol engine feels particularly strained when trying to haul anything above 2.0 tonnes. Ford also used the stop off at Kleif Farm to demonstrate 'Pro Power Onboard', otherwise known as exportable power in the form of two 15A power outlets built into the Ranger PHEV's tub. These can be used to power a wide array of power tools, electronics and camping equipment – in this case a big circular saw. It's a feature that Ford is pushing as part of the Ranger PHEV sales pitch, and it's not the only manufacturer to do so. Just last year I attended the BYD Shark 6 launch in Broken Hill, during which we were served coffee out of the tubs of the test vehicles – a neat touch. Both models can serve as a mobile cafe, but Ford has BYD and GWM covered for output capacity. There's only so much you can do with a stationary ute though, so we hit the highway again in search of a new challenge. Looping around east towards the centre of the island, the natural beauty of Iceland once again took centre stage. June marks the beginning of summer here, and that means the melting of ice, yellowing of grass and seemingly endless 20-hour days. Glaciers and volcanoes also dot the barren landscape, hence why Iceland is known as 'the land of fire and ice'. I spent most of this leg in the passenger seat, gazing out the window with camera in hand, awestruck. However, a quick glance across at the instrument cluster revealed our test vehicle was now running on an empty battery, and consuming upwards of 9.0L/100km as a result. That sort of figure will be familiar to diesel Ranger owners, but it's not quite what you're after from a hybrid. The takeaway here is that PHEVs need a charged battery to make sense, especially when that battery plays a part in so many key vehicle functions. The second leg of our journey wrapped up in 'Springfield'. No, not that Springfield, for all you Simpsons fans out there. Rather, this was a small town at the base of a not-so-small volcano. And, unlike the setting of The Simpsons, here you'll find geothermal hot springs bursting up through the earth. This shouldn't have come as a surprise, as Iceland is the most volcanic island in the world. Eruptions occur roughly every five years, although the frequency of such events has increased in recent years. The Reykjanes Peninsula has seen nine eruptions since 2023, the first of which resulted in the evacuation of 4000 people from the town of Grindavík in the country's south. Most of the town's residents have not returned since, with many homes sold to the state. Thankfully, the Grensdalur Volcano remained sedate during our visit, allowing for some nearby off-roading in the Ranger PHEV. Ford's planned route included a mix of river crossings, gravel tracks, and proper mountain ascents, all of which brought out different characteristics of the Ranger. We cycled through the four-wheel drive drive modes throughout – 4H for flatter sections of dirt, 4L for the steeper, more aggressive climbs, and even turned to Hill Descent Control (HDC) on the way back down the mountain. None of the water crossings we made were particularly treacherous, as you'll probably notice in the images below. However, it was comforting to know the battery is protected by its position above the rear axle. The Ranger PHEV retains all the important kit fitted to standard diesel variants, including a rear differential lock, the aforementioned 4WD modes, and underbody protection. One key difference between the models is that the PHEV is capable of silent EV off-roading, although our depleted battery wasn't really in a state to offer this. Nevertheless, the turbo-petrol engine in the PHEV is quieter than its diesel counterpart, and we were able to reach the final peak without making a distasteful racket. The summit provided an elevated vantage point of a landscape we had only previously seen from ground level, and boy was it an enlightening view. Not because there was plenty to see – quite the opposite, in fact. Our guide shared that arctic foxes were the only creatures to be found on the island when the Vikings first arrived some 12 centuries ago, and not much seems to have changed since. Bar the native horses and a few sheep, wildlife is hard to come by. Because for all its rugged charm, Iceland is still a desolate and harsh place to call home. Its unforgiving nature has given rise to impressive feats of human innovation, including a geothermal energy network made up of large pipelines that transport both hot water and steam, the latter used to generate electricity for the nation. We came across some of these pipes during our descent, but I wouldn't recommend getting too close – the presence of hydrogen sulfide makes the air smell like rotten eggs… no thanks! Moving swiftly onward, a spaghetti-like set of loose gravel trails led us back to the base of the mountain, all cars still in good health. Ford hardly asked us to beat on their brand-new machines, but the Ranger PHEV seems a welcome addition to the dual-cab ute market, and a worthy rival to the two big name plug-in hybrids from China. A final highway stint brought our expedition to an end, no more than eight hours after it begun. Short and sweet, as they say. For me, that meant boarding a plane back to Melbourne the next morning, but the same couldn't be said for our Blue Oval chariots. That's because the Ranger PHEV is set to be a staple of Iceland's ute market, although it won't come cheap – a diesel Ranger Wildtrak retails for the equivalent of A$155,000, as all cars are generally dearer here. Without being an expert on the Icelandic car market, I couldn't tell the locals whether that's decent value. But what I can say is that the Ford Ranger PHEV might be a little different, but it can still do 'ute things'. MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom Content originally sourced from:
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Ford dealers in South Africa commit nearly R1bn to facility upgrades
'Retail facilities that align with Ford's global design standards consistently outperform non-upgraded sites on key customer-facing metrics.' He added that rather than focusing on outright scale, Ford's strategy will be to right-size facilities, optimise location, improve digital readiness and upgrade aftersales infrastructure to better serve tech-savvy and time-conscious customers. Ford has 118 facilities across South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Eswatini, ranking the brand among the top three by size in South Africa. This year 20 new Ford dealer projects and facility upgrades are starting or scheduled for completion, and the network supports more than 10,000 direct jobs in South Africa, said Hill. 'Dealers play a critical role in bringing the brand to life, ensuring Ford's values, service standards and customer promises are upheld across every touchpoint.' Ford is a volume brand with the locally built Ranger holding the position of South Africa's best-selling double cab. Dealer sales across all brands accounted for more than 85% of all new vehicle sales in South Africa during the first half of the year, with the balance split between the rental market (8.2%), corporate fleets (3.2%) and government procurement (2.7%). New-vehicle sales recorded their ninth successive year-on-year improvement in June and there have been 236,914 new vehicles sold in South Africa for the year to date — a 12.9% increase compared to the same period last year. 'Though coming off a low base in 2024, the numbers are not just a rebound, they are a show of force from South African motor dealers,' said Brandon Cohen, chair of the National Automobile Dealers' Association (Nada) after the release of June sales figures. 'When you consider the layered complexity of our operating environment — from domestic politics to global supply pressures — these figures reflect the unmatched responsiveness and customer focus of our dealer networks across the country. 'South African consumers are showing remarkable resolve and our dealer community is matching that with operational excellence and customer-centric innovation. If these trends hold, 2025 may yet prove to be a landmark year for our sector.'
