The first Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute has been spied on Australian roads, ahead of its planned arrival in local showrooms next year.
Images uploaded to the Next Gen Ranger Owners Australia group on Facebook show the Ford Ranger PHEV parked outside a Bunnings in Victoria.
While its exterior appears almost identical to the traditional turbo-diesel dual-cab, the Ranger PHEV can be identified by its two filler flaps above the passenger-side rear wheel arch – one for the fuel tank and one for the electric charging port.
Ford has previously confirmed the Ranger PHEV will be built in South Africa, as the Thailand factory which produces the turbo-diesel model for Australia doesn’t have the tooling for the plug-in hybrid’s petrol engine.
This petrol engine is found in the Ranger’s Volkswagen Amarok twin-under-the-skin, which is exclusively built in South Africa at the Silverton Assembly Plant.
The turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is mated to an electric motor and high-voltage battery. Ford is yet to confirm outputs from the system, however it claims the Ranger PHEV is capable of driving for more than 45km on electric-only power, based on WLTP lab testing.
Additional changes under the skin include more rear frame bracing to support the high-voltage battery, heavy-duty suspension and retuned steering.
The Ford Ranger PHEV is due in Australia during 2025. Pricing hasn’t yet been confirmed, though it’s known the electrified dual-cab will incur a five per cent import duty as we don’t have a free-trade agreement with South Africa.
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