The new Ford Ranger has been on sale for less than a year, with the halo-model Raptor and single and super cab variants following in short order, but the blue oval doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon as the next-generation Stormtrak has just been revealed.
The new bakkie made its first appearance at the 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show in Thailand – the same country that South Africa currently imports the Everest SUV and the Ranger Raptor from.
Given that the Ranger has been out in South Africa for all of four months as of the time of writing, it’s no surprise that the company’s local branch has not yet confirmed that it will be bringing the special derivative to local shores.
On the other hand, the fact that the previous-generation Stormtrak was brought to South Africa, and that the new car was revealed in the same country where most Ford imports are sourced, it seems like a reasonable bet to assume that the high-rider will one day make an appearance on the tip of Africa.
Special-edition Ranger
The Stormtrak is one of several limited-edition versions of the Ranger that Ford has put out over the years, alongside other names like the FX4 and Thunder.
Based on the range-topping Wildtrak derivative, the Stormtrak differentiates itself with a handful of new features and styling cues. As such, the previous model was priced between the Wildtrak and the high-octane Raptor, which is likely to be true of the new unit as well.
The double cab Wildtrak has a local starting price of R778,300, while the Raptor is currently retailing for R1,094,900, which means the Stormtrak will probably fall somewhere between these two figures if and when it comes to South Africa.
In Thailand, the Stormtrak is shown to have the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel plant under the hood which produces 154kW and 500Nm, which is currently found on both the XLT and Wildtrak trim levels.
So far, there has been no indication that the special model will be offered with the 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 diesel fitted to the top-spec Wildtrakwhich generates 184kW and 600Nm.
It’s in the features department that the Stormtrak starts to differentiate itself, with exclusive items like performance LED headlights, 20-inch black alloy wheels with red inserts, and a black grille with a set of auxiliary LED lights.
The exterior sports a number of Stormtrak decals and badges, and the same treatment has been afforded to the cabin with a model-specific upholstery featuring a new red colour scheme and appropriate logos on the seats and dashboard.
The highlight of the package is a roller shutter for the back and a flexible rack system allowing users to carry longer items.
Ford Ranger Stormtrak
