Ford Ranger PHEV goes into production, but you can’t buy one
With big plug-in hybrids such as the Jeep Wrangler 4xe gaining popularity, Ford fans have been wondering “Where are our plug-in hybrids?” Well it won’t be the new Ford Ranger PHEV. Even though it makes more torque than the Ranger Raptor, Ford isn’t offering that powertrain in the U.S.
The Ford Ranger PHEV debuts in other markets
Ford fans first spotted the Ranger PHEV testing in Australia. Now, it’s officially going into production in South Africa. Drivers will be able to buy it in a range off places: from New Zealand to The Netherlands. Sadly, the U.S.A. isn’t on that list.
“The addition of the high-tech new Ranger PHEV to our production portfolio is an important milestone in Ford’s manufacturing history in South Africa. This makes the Silverton Manufacturing Plant central to Ford’s Ranger sustainability efforts, as we are the global source for both the new plug-in hybrid and the established Ranger line-up exported to over 100 markets.”
— Ockert Berry, VP Operations, Ford South Africa
Why do I say sadly? Because this truck is shaping up to be amazing. For your commute, you can plug it in overnight and save money with Ford’s claimed 30 miles of all-electric range.
On the internal combustion side, the Ford Ranger PHEV has a 2.3-liter I4. But it also has a 75-kilowatt electric drive unite. The resulting powertrain may offer 275 horsepower, but has oodles of low-end grunt. How much? 509 lb-ft of torque.
The Ranger Raptor, on the other hand, has a fuel burning 3.0-liter V6 and only turns out 430 lb-ft of torque. And unlike the Ford Ranger PHEV, that torque doesn’t kick in until the engine revs up.
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe pioneered this surprising phenomenon, making 470 lb-ft of torque which is more than the V8-equipped Wrangler 392 special edition.
If the Ford Ranger PHEV truly has enough real-world battery power to complete the average commute–and its electric motor can hit highway speeds without firing up the I4–it will prove a compelling powertrain indeed. It would be equally cool in the full-frame Bronco, which shares other powertrains with the Ranger. But unfortunately it seems the U.S. is the last country in the world where you can’t buy it.
See Ford’s specs on the Ranger plug-in hybrid in the video below:
